This article is part of our DraftKings NHL series.
It's a busy 10-game night in the NHL on Thursday, so it shouldn't be difficult to differentiate your players. Here are a handful of selections across multiple price ranges to consider while assembling your DraftKings lineups.
GOALIE
Chad Johnson, CGY at ARI ($7,700): Despite sporting an active 9-2 run with an incredible .946 save percentage and 1.63 GAA and facing a team that's lost 10 of its past 13 games, Johnson carries a low salary. There is a strong chance Johnson is highly owned, but dating back to last season, his .923 save percentage and a 2.27 GAA are strong numbers.
CENTER
Evgeni Malkin, PIT at FLA ($7,400): With two goals, 10 points and 21 shots over his past five games, Malkin is scorching hot. He's also posted the second-highest points per 60 minutes (3.53) among all skaters with 5,000 minutes over the past five seasons. Also, with the Panthers likely keying on Sidney Crosby's line, Malkin should find softer matchups at five-on-five.
Vladislav Namestnikov, TAM vs. VAN ($4,700): Over the past three seasons, Nikita Kucherov has been Namestnikov's most frequent five-on-five linemate, and the duo have combined for a 3.18 goals for per 60 minutes and a 56.1 Corsi For percentage. Namestnikov practiced with Kucherov on Wednesday, and they've got a cushy matchup against the Canucks. Vancouver is 3-7 over its past 10 road games and has allowed 2.92 goals per away game.
WING
Phil Kessel, PIT at FLA ($6,700): Outside of the 2015 calendar year, Kessel has been an elite scorer, and through 90 games in 2016 -- including the playoffs -- he's got 34 goals, 87 points and 310 shots on net. Kessel has combined with his projected center, Malkin, for 2.98 goals per 60 minutes at five-on-five over the past two years – and as noted, the duo should face softer in-game matchups.
Marian Gaborik, LOS vs. CAR ($5,000): With 14 shots over his past three games, Gaborik is settling back into form alongside Anze Kopitar atop the depth chart. The duo has combined for a solid 2.77 goals per 60 minutes and an impressive 60.9 Corsi for percentage at five-on-five over the past four years. While Gaborik has collected two assists, he's still looking for his first goal of the campaign. Carolina's road save percentage (.900) at five-on-five ranks 29th in the league, and the Hurricanes are playing their second away game in as many nights.
Michael Raffl, PHI vs. EDM ($4,200): Currently riding shotgun on the No. 1 line with Claude Giroux and Jakub Voracek, Raffl is a potential low-priced flier against Edmonton. The Oilers are allowing the third-most high-danger scoring chances per 60 minutes (11.84) this season, and the Giroux-Voracek-Raffl trio has combined for 8.37 scoring chances per 60 minutes at five-on-five over the past three years.
DEFENSE
Drew Doughty, LOS vs. CAR ($5,400): The production is trending up of late, as Doughty has seven points, 16 shots and 11 blocked shots while averaging 26:43 of ice time (3:21 with the man advantage) over his past seven games. The Hurricanes are also on the second-leg of back-to-back road games after losing 6-5 in a shootout to Anaheim on Wednesday.
Tyson Barrie, COL at BOS ($4,500): In Colorado's first game without Erik Johnson (leg), Barrie logged 26:14 of ice and 4:50 on the power play while picking up an assist and registering three shots and two blocked shots. Barrie posted 1.79 points per 60 minutes from 2013-14 through 2015-16 (fourth among defensemen with at least 4,000 minutes), so an uptick in opportunity should aid positive regression toward his previous offensive production.
