This article is part of our DraftKings NHL series.
In case you have forgotten, there are sports other than college basketball. Why, there are even five NHL games Monday. More than that, you can play daily fantasy using the players from those five games. If that sounds like something you'd be up for, the players below could be the kind of values that lead you to success.
GOALIE
Robin Lehner, BUF at DET ($7,700): Lehner has faced a lot of shots, but he's done his best to keep the puck out of the net, as he's put up a .921 save percentage. This may be a little easier game than usual for hiim, though, as the Wings have only averaged 2.41 goals and 28.2 shots on net per contest. Both Buffalo and Detroit have had rough years but Detroit's offense, and particularly their 28th-ranked penalty kill, shouldn't bother Lehner too much. He also has a decent shot at picking up a win, which is huge for a goalie in fantasy.
CENTER
Joe Thornton, SAN at DAL ($4,800): Thornton doesn't really shoot the puck much anymore, but that hasn't stopped him from having fantasy value. He's tallied 42 assists in 71 games, including 17 on the power play. Overall, Thornton has averaged 3:26 per game with the extra man, and he's started 35.2 percent of his shifts in the offensive zone, most of any San Jose forward. That power-play time is a good thing heading into a matchup with the Stars, as Dallas has the league's worst penalty kill. More than that, they've allowed 3.27 goals per game, most in the league.
Frans Nielsen, DET vs. BUF ($4,400): Nielsen has started 39.6 percent of his shifts in the offensive zone, second most of any Detroit forward, and he's also been the rare Red Wing to succeed on the power play. He's notched 12 power-play points in 67 games while he's averaged 2:35 per contest with the extra man. Buffalo has the 29th-ranked penalty kill, so perhaps Nielsen will have more power-play success in this matchup. Plus, the Sabres have allowed 34.3 shots on net per contest, most in the NHL.
WING
Viktor Arvidsson, NAS vs. ARI ($6,400): Arvidsson has piled the pucks on net, as he's notched 216 shots on goal in 69 games. That makes him enticing heading into this matchup, as the Coyotes have allowed 33.7 shots on net per contest. Arvidsson has also been hot recently, as he's notched eight goals and five assists in his last 13 games.
Radim Vrbata, ARI at NAS ($5,700): Vrbata remains the one impressive forward on the Coyotes, and he's averaged 3.3 fantasy points per game. He's notched 51 points and 206 shots on goal in 71 games, and he's tallied 14 power-play points as well. On top of that Vrbata has potted 16 points in his last 19 contests. Nashville has been in the middle of the pack defensively. They've allowed 2.77 goals and 30.5 shots on net per game, and they also have the 17th-ranked penalty kill. Even though Arizona has been very lackluster this season, don't overlook Vrbata.
Frank Vatrano, BOS at TOR ($4,400): Vatrano has started a whopping 40.3 percent of his shifts in the offensive zone, most of any Boston forward. He's used that favorable starting position to notch 10 goals on 95 shots in 37 games. The Maple Leafs have allowed 32.8 shots on goal per game, the third most in the NHL, and they've also allowed 2.86 goals per game. Vatrano is on the cheaper side, and against a Toronto team that allows so many shots, he's got some real fantasy potential.
DEFENSE
Torey Krug, BOS at TOR ($5,100): As noted, Toronto has allowed 32.8 shots on goal per game, and Krug is not shy about trying to put the puck on net. He's tallied 185 shots on goal in 71 games, which is quite impressive for a defenseman. He has also been enjoying a strong run of play, as he's notched 15 points in his last 17 contests. He's also tallied 21 power-play points, and while Toronto's penalty kill ranks ninth overall, since the All-Star Game the Leafs rank 20th. Toronto is also third in shot attempts per 60 minutes (60.6), which increases Krug's chances of picking up a block or two.
Anthony DeAngelo, ARI at NAS ($3,200): Despite the low price, DeAngelo has averaged 2.2 fantasy points per game. There are other reasons to like him from a fantasy perspective. He has started 36.4 percent of his shifts in the offensive zone, and he's averaged 2:44 per game on the power play. So far, he's tallied seven points in 31 games on the extra man, and Nashville's penalty kill ranks 17th. DeAngelo has also blocked 40 shots, and the Predators have attempted 58.6 shots per 60 minutes, eighth most in the NHL.
