This article is part of our DraftKings NHL series.
There are seven games in the NHL on Friday. Here are a handful of selections across multiple price points to consider while assembling your DraftKings lineups.
GOALIE
Matt Murray, PIT vs. LOS ($8,200): There isn't enough of a price gap between other goalies to write off Murray on Friday. He owns a 12-2 record with a .935 save percentage and a 1.93 GAA, and the Kings enter on the wrong end of back-to-back road games after winning in Detroit on Thursday. Los Angeles has averaged just 2.43 goals per road game this year, too.
CENTER
Jack Eichel, BUF vs. NYI ($7,500): Not only do the Islanders allow the most scoring chances per 60 minutes, they're also entering Friday's outing on the wrong end of back-to-back games. Eichel is also averaging 3.29 shots per game and 3:29 of power-play time with eight points -- five goals -- through his first seven showings since returning from his ankle injury.
Evgeny Kuznetsov, WAS at CAR ($5,700): In the midst of a rebound stretch with seven assists and 10 shots during a five-game point streak, Kuznetsov presents decent value Friday. Carolina is a middle-of-the road opponent, allowing 26.58 scoring chances per 60 minutes (11th fewest in the league) and 2.72 goals per game (15th). However, Kuznetsov should prove to be a lowly owned pivot, which increases the upside.
WING
Phil Kessel, PIT vs. LOS ($6,900): With a fifth-ranked 3.32 points per 60 minutes among skaters with at least 500 minutes this season, Kessel has returned to being an elite offensive scorer. He has seven multi-point games over his past 17 outings with seven goals, 13 helpers and 47 shots. He and Evgeni Malkin have combined for 4.0 goals per 60 minutes at five-on-five this year, and Kessel is also rolling with the No. 1 power-play unit and has 12 points with the man advantage already.
Jonathan Drouin, TAM vs. VAN ($5,700): With three goals, six points and 11 shots through five December games, Drouin checks out nicely against the Canucks. Vancouver has allowed the fourth-most high-danger scoring chances per 60 minutes (11.6) and third-most goals per game (3.1), after all.
Gabriel Landeskog, COL vs. FLA ($5,000): Now three games removed from his lower-body injury, Landeskog owns excellent DFS value. He's locked into a top-six role with power-play time and is coming off a three-shot showing. The Panthers are also on the wrong end of back-to-back road games after losing to the Jets in a shootout Thursday, and Landeskog has a respectable 2.34 points per 60 minutes over the past four years.
DEFENSE
Rasmus Ristolainen, BUF vs. NYI ($5,900): The Islanders are allowing the most scoring chances per 60 minutes in the league (33.73) and killing penalties at just 79.0 percent. They're also playing their second game in consecutive nights and traveling to Buffalo. Most importantly, though, since Eichel has returned to the lineup and kick-started the power play, Ristolainen has 10 points (five on the power play), 18 shots and 15 blocked shots while hitting the scoresheet in six of seven games.
Trevor Daley, PIT vs. LOS ($4,000): Justin Schultz will be the popular grab from the Pittsburgh blue line now that Kris Letang (lower body) is out, but Daley is having a nice run of late, too. The 32-year-old defenseman has a goal, two assists, four shots and four blocked shots over his past three games, and Daley projects to see an expanded role for the duration of Letang's injury.
