DraftKings NHL: Monday Breakdown

DraftKings NHL: Monday Breakdown

This article is part of our DraftKings NHL series.

SLATE PREVIEW

Eight games are on the docket Monday night after a fun weekend of outdoor hockey at Lake Tahoe. There won't be any teams playing tonight that played yesterday, and the Sabres are the only team that play Tuesday, as well. 

Five of the games have a 5.5 O/U, and another game between the Ducks-Coyotes received a rare 5.0 O/U, so it figures to be a low-scoring slate. That's backed up by the fact that only two teams rank in the bottom-10 in terms of xGA/60. However, Toronto-Calgary predictably features a 6.5, so we'll be targeting those two teams, particularly the Maple Leafs.

All advanced statistics are courtesy of Natural Stat Trick.

GOALIES

Jordan Binnington, STL vs. LA ($8,500): Binnington is the chalk in this matchup coming off his fourth loss in regulation of the season. It was a rough performance, but Binnington handles adversity well and will get a favorable matchup against the Kings. Over eight games in February, the Kings rank 28th in the league with 1.86 xGF/60.

Semyon Varlamov, NYI vs. BUF ($8,400): This feels like it could be another Ilya Sorokin ($8,200) game, in which case, play him. This is purely about an ideal matchup, as the Sabres have been atrocious this year with just 2.36 goals per game -- 27th in the league.

Philipp Grubauer, COL vs. VGK ($7,700): Grubauer has a ton of risk against the Golden Knights, so he's best fit for tournaments as a contrarian play. The 29-year-old sports a .936 save percentage and a 1.67 GAA -- both second in the league. The Golden Knights are a heavyweight in the Western Division. However, they don't generate an elite amount of chances, ranking 18th in the league this month with 2.11 xGF/60. 

John Gibson, ANH at ARI ($7,300): The Coyotes started the year with strong numbers, but they've dropped off severely, as they sit 30th in the league over the last nine games with a 1.84 xGF/60. While Gibson's in a bit of a slump himself, it's naturally the right time to put him in your fantasy lineup, as he still boasts a .912 save percentage this year.

VALUE PLAYS/ONE-OFFS

Jonathan Huberdeau, FLA vs. DAL ($5,300): Huberdeau's on a tear once again, piling up 22 points through the first 16 games, including nine power-play points. The reliance on the man advantage provides a legitimate concern. However, the Stars' PK (78.0 percent) won't be a major impediment for Huberdeau's upside.

Mikael Backlund, CGY at TOR ($4,600): If Sean Monahan (lower body) stays out, Backlund likely will stay on the top line centering Matthew Tkachuk. Backlund's on a five-game pointless streak, but he's fired 23 shots on net over seven contests. He should garner a significant opportunity against Toronto's inconsistent defensive system.

Travis Boyd, TOR vs. CGY ($3,200): Boyd has received time on the top power play recently, and he's tallied two goals over the last four games. He's never been an offensive menace, but Boyd's presence on the man advantage with Auston Matthews is enough to make him a superb value against Calgary's 20th-ranked PK (77.1 percent).

Trevor Zegras, ANH at ARI ($2,500): Zegras is a blue-chip prospect who looks poised to make his NHL debut. He's dominated at every level. There are some concerns about his smaller frame, but the Ducks look comfortable inserting him into a premier role immediately. Zegras could be a difference-maker for the Ducks and your DFS lineup alike. 

LINE STACKS

Maple Leafs vs. Flames

Auston Matthews (C - $9,000), Mitch Marner (W - $8,100), Joe Thornton (W - $4,700)

Thornton's career has been reinvigorated on the top line, as the 41-year-old has produced nine points in as many games this year. Luckily for DFS players, that makes the Maple Leafs stack more affordable. When Matthews gets going, it's impossible to win DFS tournaments without him, and he's red-hot with a 16-game goal streak with 18 goals in that stretch. Meanwhile, the Flames' choices in net are a rattled Jacob Markstrom or an underqualified David Rittich.

Blues vs. Kings  

Ryan O'Reilly (C - $5,900), David Perron (W - $6,800), Jordan Kyrou (W - $4,900) 

This line has been a bright spot as the Blues endure injury woes, and they lit up the Sharks, collecting three goals and three helpers Saturday. Speed, sniping and playmaking ability defines this line, and the Kings provide a ton of upside, as they've allowed 2.38 xG/60 at even strength.

Wild at Sharks

Victor Rask (C - $2,500), Mats Zuccarello (W - $2,900), Kirill Kaprizov (W - $4,400) 

This line has an interesting dynamic, as Kaprizov is the Wild's unequivocal superstar, while Zuccarello and Rask would both be reasonable fits in the bottom six. However, Zuccarello is comfortable in a high-motor role where he'll crash the net and knock home rebounds when necessary. It's an ideal setup Monday, too, as the Sharks' defense is highly questionable, and their goaltending is even worse.

DEFENSEMEN

Brent Burns, SJ at MIN ($6,800): Burns always plays a massive role, but it gets amplified when Erik Karlsson (lower body) is out of the lineup. The 35-year-old is still averaging more than three shots on net per game, and he's recorded seven points over 16 games. The floor helps mitigate the risk. The upside is worth targeting, as the Wild rank 23rd in the league with 2.29 xGA/60 in February.

Alec Martinez, VGK at COL ($5,400): Martinez's offensive upside has always been good but not spectacular. However, he's accrued nine points through 15 games this year. His willingness to hop in front of shots gives him consistent fantasy upside, as he's averaging 3.5 blocked shots per game, which is extra beneficial because of DraftKings' bonus.

Rasmus Andersson, CGY at TOR ($4,500): Andersson is on a career pace this year. The 24-year-old boasts 10 points (three goals, seven assists) through 18 games, and he quarterbacks PP1 that features Matthew Tkachuk and Johnny Gaudreau. Toronto's 14th-ranked PK (80.3 percent) should provide a few opportunities with the man advantage. 

Ryan Suter, MIN at SJ ($4,300): Despite still handling big minutes at 36 years old, Suter is going through some regression. He has just six assists through 14 games after recording at least 40 helpers in three straight campaigns. Suter quarterbacks the top power play, though, and he'll set his sights on San Jose's 21st-ranked PK (76.7 percent).

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. Jordan Mazzara plays in daily fantasy contests using the following accounts: FanDuel: Mazz30 Yahoo: Mazz30 DraftKings: Mazz30.
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ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Jordan Mazzara
Jordan has produced NFL and NHL content for RotoWire since 2017. He's the beat writer for the St. Louis Blues and Seattle Seahawks.
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