This article is part of our DraftKings NHL series.
With seven games, it's a lighter Thursday night than usual in the NHL, so you won't find the cavernous player pool you're used to. Here are a handful of recommendations across multiple price points to consider for your DraftKings lineups.
GOALIE
Jake Allen, STL vs. CAR ($8,200): The Hurricanes have won only five games on the road all season and average just 2.33 per away game. Meanwhile, Allen has been dominant at the Scottrade Center with a 41-17-4 record, .920 save percentage and 2.05 GAA during his career. The Blues are also significant favorites in this plus matchup, yet with many looking to find better value in goal, Allen's ownership might be lower than it deserves to be.
CENTER
Tyler Johnson, TAM vs. NAS ($5,400): Over the four games since Nikita Kucherov returned from a lower-body injury, Johnson has two goals and two assists while averaging 20:09 of ice per night (3:53 with the man advantage). The duo has combined for an impressive 3.62 goals per 60 minutes at five-on-five over the past three years, too.
Anze Kopitar, LOS vs. DET ($5,300): The veteran enters the game with a 10-game goalless drought and just three tallies on 74 shots (4.1 shooting percentage) for the year. Kopitar logs huge minutes (21:01 and 3:11 on the power play), so with a 12.4 career shooting percentage entering this season, positive regression is ahead in the goal column. This might be the right spot, too, as Detroit enters on the wrong end of back-to-back road games.
WING
Nikita Kucherov, TAM vs. NAS ($7,100): In this winger pool, you're fading Kucherov at your own risk. Since returning from a lower-body injury four games ago, the star winger has two goals, eight points and 18 shots on net. He's obviously not going to maintain the pace over the long haul, but Kucherov also boasts a sixth-ranked 3.15 points per 60 minutes over the past three years among all skaters with at least 3,000 minutes. He's an elite scorer, and this salary isn't prohibitive enough to ignore him.
Leon Draisaitl, EDM at BOS ($5,900): While this isn't a dream matchup with Boston allowing just 2.4 goals per game and the fewest scoring chances per 60 minutes (23.97) in the league, Draisaitl is expected to flank Connor McDavid in all situations Thursday. It's been a nice fit, as the duo has combined for a rock-solid 3.2 goals per 60 minutes and 60.4 Corsi For percentage at five-on-five this year.
Kevin Fiala, NAS at TAM ($3,900): The 20-year-old winger has posted solid rate stats (1.02 goals and 10.85 shots per 60 minutes), and he's projected to play with Mike Ribeiro on Thursday. Fiala and the veteran have clicked to the tune of 2.64 goals per 60 minutes and a 61.0 Corsi For percentage at five-on-five this season, and Tampa Bay has allowed 38 goals over its past 12 games. The kid's worth considering as a low-priced flier.
DEFENSE
Duncan Keith, CHI vs. BUF ($5,100): A workhorse on the blue line, Keith has posted the seven-highest points per 60 minutes (1.56) among rearguards with at least 6,000 minutes the past four years. Keith has also posted solid results of late: eight points, 16 shots and nine blocks over his last eight games. Additionally, after the Sabres topped the Rangers on Tuesday, this is a favorable spot for Chicago, as Buffalo's primed for a letdown showing in its third straight road game.
Anton Stralman, TAM vs. NAS ($3,600): With five shots in his last game and an average of 22:56 on ice (2:25 on the power play) for the campaign, Stralman's fantasy stock is trending in the right direction. At this price, he can justify DraftKings usage without hitting the scoresheet, too. The 30-year-old veteran presents a cross-category profile, and after consecutive 30-point showings, Stralman should have positive regression ahead offensively.
