This article is part of our DraftKings NHL series.
SLATE PREVIEW
DraftKings featured contests consist of Sunday's middle games beginning with the matchup between New Jersey at Vancouver starting at 5 p.m. EST and excluding the evening finale featuring the Oilers and Ducks.
It's an interesting slate because the Golden Knights, Maple Leafs, Blackhawks and Flyers are all playing for the second consecutive night, and there is also not a considerable favorite on the docket. The bouts between Philadelphia and Boston, and Toronto and Chicago project to be the higher-scoring affairs.
GOALIES
Vegas lost 5-2 in Washington on Saturday, so Malcolm Subban ($8,000) is far from a sure thing. However, he played well against Toronto on Thursday stopping 35 of 37 shots, and the Golden Knights draw a soft matchup. Detroit enters with a 2-11-1 record and a league-low 1.78 goals per 60 minutes through its past 14 outings.
With the Bruins losing consecutive road games, this checks out as a bounce-back spot for Boston and Jaroslav Halak ($8,400). Philadelphia pulled off a road win in overtime Saturday against Toronto, so the Flyers could also be ripe for a letdown showing. Halak's 26-12-5 record, .921 save percentage and 2.41 GAA with the Bruins only solidifies his case.
Similarly, Toronto doesn't have much time to worry about Saturday's loss, and will turn to Michael Hutchinson ($7,800) in goal. Chicago lost in Pittsburgh on Saturday, so the Blackhawks also traveled following their game. Hutchinson is a complete flyer, as his .885 save percentage and 4.25 GAA shouldn't instill any confidence.
Carter Hart's ($7,000) low salary opens up plenty of room to spend up on skaters, and he's won three consecutive starts with a .929 save percentage. As noted, the Bruins have also lost consecutive games. Perhaps, Boston is in the beginning stages of a mini slump.
VALUE PLAYS/ONE-OFFS
Dylan Larkin ($5,600) has been a streaky scorer this season, and he's underachieved compared to last year's breakout showing. With his salary down and in a tough matchup against Boston, there's contrarian appeal. Larkin's current 2.05 points and 16.43 shot attempts per hour are both lagging behind previous numbers.
After missing the scoresheet in each of his first six games in the league, Jack Hughes ($4,100) appears to have found his groove at the highest level. The rookie has collected four goals, five assists and 17 shots through his past nine outings, yet his salary remains a bargain. The Canucks have also lost three straight, including allowing nine goals in their two most recent defeats.
With Mitch Marner ($6,600) already ruled out for Sunday, look for Kasperi Kapanen ($4,000) to be leaned on more offensively. While the speedster has only marked the scoresheet once in the past seven games, it was a multi-point effort. Additionally, the Blackhawks have surrendered the second most high-danger scoring chances per hour this season.
After a solid start to the campaign, Cody Glass ($2,800) has recorded just a single goal and seven shots through his past seven outings. However, he's still logging power-play minutes and has already proven capable of cashing in his offensive opportunities. With his salary so low, he's a prime candidate to turn to as an upside source of cap relief.
FORWARD LINE STACKS
As noted, Chicago serves up high-quality chances in bunches, and Auston Matthews ($8,100), William Nylander ($5,300) and Andreas Johnsson ($5,400) have been clicking of late. Through the past nine contests, they've scored an impressive 5.2 goals per 60 minutes at five-on-five and combined for 11 tallies, 25 points and 75 shots. Mitch Marner's ($6,600) absence should also land them together on the No. 1 power-play unit as well.
Here's the obligatory pitch for Brad Marchand ($7,300) Patrice Bergeron ($7,700) and David Pastrnak ($8,100). Their long-standing chemistry and scorching start to the 2019-20 campaign have them in play until they slow down. Philly is playing its second road game in consecutive nights, and Boston's top line has been better at home with 9.48 goals per hour this season.
There's a notable gap between the expected goals per hour (4.38) and actual goals per hour (3.17) for Reilly Smith ($5,800), William Karlsson ($6,700) and Jonathan Marchessault ($6,000). So, with the cushy matchup against Detroit, look for positive offensive regression. Detroit has also surrendered a league-high 4.21 goals per 60 minutes through its past 14 games.
DEFENSEMEN
Sporting a five-game point streak and the most points per hour among regular defensemen over the past three years, Torey Krug ($5,900) is a go-to option in the shallow player pool. His salary doesn't price him out of a Boston stack, either.
With six shots against Philadelphia on Saturday, the offensive results are coming for Tyson Barrie ($4,200). Look for him to build on that showing and snap out of his current offensive funk. The veteran is too talented to be limited to just a single assist through his past 13 contests, and his salary is a notable discount in relation to his track record and current role of 21:53 of ice time per game with 2:17 on the power play.
Sami Vatanen's ($4,800) injury should pave the way for P.K. Subban ($5,000) to receive top-unit looks with the man advantage. It's been a cool start for Subban in New Jersey, as he's been held to just two tallies, three helpers and no power-play points. However, he impressed with seven shots last time out, and his boost in opportunity should lead to better offensive production.
Shea Theodore's ($4,000) current 0.93 points per hour considerably trail his 1.4 mark over the previous two seasons, and his underlying statistics suggest there's improvement coming. He's also been on the ice for an impressive 15.9 high-danger scoring chances and 4.18 goals per 60 minutes this season and his salary has plummeted.
