This article is part of our DraftKings NHL series.
GOALIE
Carey Price, MON vs. CLS ($7,900): Between Price and Curtis McElhinney ($7,900) facing the Rangers at home, we'll go with the one with the stronger pedigree. Price has lost three straight games, but all three were on the road, and the last time he faced the Jackets he allowed just one goal on 35 shots, continuing his dominance against them throughout his career. James Reimer ($7,800) isn't a bad choice against the suddenly toothless Sabres, but there's a higher risk with him.
CENTER
Sidney Crosby, PIT at NJ ($7,700): There's nothing wrong with simply picking the best in class. The league's most complete player is rolling on a five-game point streak, three of which were three-point games. He has traditionally dominated the Devils and they're expected to start embattled starter Cory Schneider. The Sabres and Jack Eichel ($7,600) are unreliable, and Auston Matthews ($7,500) and John Tavares ($7,000) have to face Jordan Binnington, who's secured two straight shutouts.
Sebastian Aho, CAR vs. NYR ($6,900): With five points in his past four games, Aho's line with Justin Williams and Nino Niederreiter suddenly looks like a bona fide top line. Of course, Aho's doing most of the work, but against the Rangers there shouldn't be much heavy lifting. The problem with the Hurricanes offense this season is their lack of finish, but that hasn't been the trend recently. Aho has 28 points in his past 21 games and Nino's shooting percentage is five percent higher with Carolina than Minnesota.
WING
Vladimir Tarasenko, STL vs. TOR ($7,300): Could it be possible that Tarasenko's numbers fell because the puck was always in the Blues' zone? Since Jordan Binnington took over in January, Tarasenko has scored 29 points in 20 games, after scoring just 22 through the first three months of the season. Tarasenko is on a five-game multi-point streak, including three three-point efforts. Even with a bolstered blue line, nothing's stopping Tarasenko when he plays like this.
Filip Forsberg, NSH at DAL ($6,500):Viktor Arvidsson costs $7,400, so I think there's a bargain to be had here. Both play on the same line and produce at roughly the same pace, but Forsberg is the more dynamic offensive player and also shoots a lot. The Stars have lost by nine goals in their past two games and they're not expected to have Ben Bishop back in net.
Alex Galchenyuk, ARI at EDM ($5,000): His stats have just been okay recently, but it's the way he's been scoring goals that's caught everyone's attention. He ripped one against Dallas that felt like he had put the entire weight of Montreal's expectations into it, and in his past five games has scored four goals and six points. Mikko Koskinen, loser of seven straight, is expected to start with Anthony Stolarz presumably backing him up.
DEFENSE
Oliver Ekman-Larsson, ARI at EDM ($3,900): Defensemen are notoriously hard to predict outside of the handful of elite. In OEL, you get a top power-play quarterback and a good shooter who's having a tough season, but the upside is that he's playing against the league's second-worst penalty kill. At this price, it's a fair gamble for someone who is getting an A-plus opportunity to score a few points.
Mikhail Sergachev, TB at PHI ($3,400):Victor Hedman exited last night's game with a lower-body injury and did not return, which means Sergachev is inheriting his spot on the top power-play unit. I can't imagine a better assignment for the talented rearguard, who should automatically jump to the top of everyone's lists feeding Steven Stamkos and Nikita Kucherov all night. Hands down, Sergachev is the best value pick of the night if he stays at this price.
