DraftKings NHL: Friday Picks

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Updated on March 1, 2019 2:47PM EST

GOALIE

Cory Schneider, NJ vs. PHI ($7,300): Picking Schneider kind of scares me, but when there isn't really a standout option it may be just time to roll the dice a little. Schneider has been more good than bad recently, winning four of his past five games, including a 30-save shutout. We'll concede that his competition – Habs, Rangers, Sens, Sabres, Wild – has been easy, the Devils have won two of their past three meetings against the Flyers.

CENTER

Sebastian Aho, CAR vs. STL ($6,900): He played just 14 minutes against the Kings but it was a blowout win anyway, and in three games has scored three points, giving him 70 on the season and becoming just the second Hurricane since Eric Staal to score that many before his 22nd birthday. Jordan Binnington is a concern, but the Hurricanes have scored 13 goals in their past three games.

Paul Stastny, VGK at ANA ($4,900): He collected another two points last night against Florida, giving him five points in three games. Seriously, that second line with Stastny and Max Pacioretty and Mark Stone on his wings might be the best second line in hockey, while the Ducks have lost four straight and languished near the bottom of the standings all season.

WING

Claude Giroux, PHI at NJ ($6,500): We recommended Schneider earlier but perhaps hedging a little might not be a bad idea. Giroux is coming off back-to-back two-point games, including the overtime winner at the Stadium Series. He's back over a point-per-game and has 43 points in 47 career games against the Devils.

Patrik Laine, WPG vs. NSH ($6,100): The beast has awoken! The league's most frustrating goal scorer scored just once in 12 games in January but four in his past three games. Laine's getting hot, and last time he got hot he scored 18 goals in a month. When Laine gets hot, he's unstoppable, so it won't make a difference who he's playing against.

Gustav Nyquist, SJ vs. COL ($4,800): His Sharks debut in a 4-1 loss to the Bruins was just okay; he played 17 minutes with Joe Thornton and Kevin Labanc, and registered just one shot on goal. That was the Bruins in Boston, though, and the Sharks will have an easier matchup hosting the Avs. The Sharks score by committee but usually all three scoring lines pitch in, and Nyquist's play will only improve from here as he adjusts after eight seasons with the Red Wings.

DEFENSE

Brent Burns, SJ vs. COL ($7,000): There's a huge premium for Burns with Kris Letang still not skating, Erik Karlsson missing another week and Dustin Byfuglien on injured reserve. The Av's penalty kill is ranked 26th, so that's also priced in, but looking up and down the list there's not many enticing names. John Carlson ($6,300) faces the stingy Isles, and Shea Weber ($5,900) and Roman Josi ($6,100) have not scored much lately.

Nate Schmidt, VGK at ANA ($5,300): We like Schmidt for the same reasons we like Burns, except this is a poor, poor, poor man's version of Burns. Schmidt plays a lot and gets time on the power play, and the Ducks' troubles have been well-documented this season. Schmidt has four points, nine shots and 12 blocked shots in his past four games.

The author(s) of this article may play in daily fantasy contests including – but not limited to – games that they have provided recommendations or advice on in this article. In the course of playing in these games using their personal accounts, it's possible that they will use players in their lineups or other strategies that differ from the recommendations they have provided above. The recommendations in this article do not necessarily reflect the views of RotoWire.