This article is part of our DraftKings NHL series.
There are 12 games in the NHL on Thursday. Here are a handful of selections across multiple price ranges to consider while assembling your DraftKings lineups.
GOALIE
Sergei Bobrovsky, CLM at COL ($8,000): The Avalanche are averaging the second-fewest goals per game (2.24) in the league and generating the eighth-fewest high-danger scoring chances per 60 minutes (9.03). Columbus is allowing 30 shots per game, which should enable Bobrovsky to face enough volume to justify on his salary. He also sports a target-worthy .930 save percentage and has three shutouts this year.
CENTER
Ryan Kesler, ANA at VAN ($6,000): It's been an excellent start for Kesler, as he's scoring at an 82-game pace of 64 points. Additionally, he's logging huge minutes (22:29 per night with 3:40 on the power play) and has four goals, eight points and 27 shots over his past 10 games. Meanwhile, Vancouver is allowing 3.0 goals per game and has a minus-17 goal differential.
Leon Draisaitl, EDM at WPG ($5,200): Projected to skate with Connor McDavid in all situations, Draisaitl receives a significant fantasy boost for the duration of his stay on the No. 1 line. Drasaitl's 2.09 points per 60 minutes at five-on-five over the past two seasons rank 20th in the league among skaters with at least 1,250 minutes, too.
WING
Mike Hoffman, OTT vs. PHI ($5,900): A notoriously streaky scorer, Hoffman has nine points through his past five games with 14 shots on net. He's scored an impressive 2.64 points per 60 minutes over the past two years, which ranks 24th in the league among skaters with at least 1,500 minutes. Philadelphia's allowed 3.25 goals allowed per game, the second-highest mark in the league.
Brandon Saad, CLM at COL ($5,800): Over the past three years, Saad's 2.17 points per 60 minutes at five-on-five rank 15 among all skaters with at least 2,000 minutes. The Avalanche allowed the fourth-most goals per game (3.07) in the league in November, and Saad has been providing impressive fantasy results with 16 points -- six goals -- and 36 shots over his past 17 games.
Anthony Mantha, DET vs. FLA ($4,300): Still affordable despite his solid start to the year, Mantha is worth a long look as an upside source of cap relief Thursday. He's combined with linemates Henrik Zetterberg and Tomas Tatar to post a 63.63 Corsi For Percentage, and Mantha's tallied four points -- three goals – to go with 20 shots over his past five games.
DEFENSE
Dustin Byfuglien, WPG vs. EDM ($5,800): Averaging 27:49 of ice per night with 4:02 on the power play, Byfiglien stands out as a discounted option in a juicy matchup against Edmonton on Thursday. The Oilers are allowing the second-most high-danger scoring chances per 60 minutes (12.29) in the league, and Byfuglien has five points, 20 shots and 14 blocked shots over his past eight games, further evidence (not that you needed it) of his high fantasy floor.
Duncan Keith, CHI vs. NJD ($5,000): With a 12th-ranked 1.56 points per 60 minutes among defensemen with at least 4,000 minutes over the past four years, Keith is a high-floor offensive rearguard who logs major ice time and doesn't break the bank Thursday. Keith has averaged 26:06 of ice per night with 3:47 on the power play this year, not to mention 2.21 shots per game. The Devils have also lost six of their past seven games, and goalie Cory Schneider's been stuck in a skid, posting five consecutive sub-.900 save percentages.
