This article is part of our DraftKings NHL series.
There is only one NHL game Monday, which means single-game Showdown contests are in effect. The New York Rangers are hosting the Edmonton Oilers at 7 p.m. EDT. However, the Rangers also played Sunday. That likely means Alexandar Georgiev will be in net. He just returned from COVID-19 protocols and has a 2.87 GAA and .902 save percentage. Meanwhile, Mike Smith is already day-to-day again after just returning from a lengthy injury absence. I expect to see Mikko Koskinen in net, and he has a 3.01 GAA and .902 save percentage.
With Showdown contests, you get $50,000 in salary to spend on six players. One of them is your captain, and they are worth 1.5 times the points, but also have an elevated salary. Here is one lineup I put together.
CAPTAIN
Jesse Puljujarvi, EDM at NYR ($9,300): Sure, Puljujarvi is not one of the two big names for the Oilers, but he also carries a less-robust salary as a result. For this salary, you get one of Connor McDavid's wings. Puljujarvi has also started 64.1 percent of his shifts in the offensive zone, highest on the Oilers. All of this has helped him notch 10 goals and 13 assists in 30 games.
FLEX
Connor McDavid, EDM at NYR ($11,400): No need to do the hard sell here. McDavid could win the Art Ross again, as he has 53 points in 32 games. He's also put 119 shots on net. Like I mentioned, the Rangers are on the second night of a back-to-back. Imagine those tired legs trying to keep up with McDavid's speed.
Leon Draisaitl, EDM at NYR ($10,600): Yes, I managed to put a lineup together that allowed me to have both McDavid and Draisaitl on it. If McDavid doesn't win the Art Ross, it will probably be because Draisaitl did instead. He's right behind his teammate with 52 points, and he leads Edmonton with 25 goals. I don't fear Georgiev when it comes to Draisaitl's upside Monday.
Mika Zibanejad, NYR vs. EDM ($8,600): I'm not counting out the Rangers just because they are on a back-to-back. After all, Koskinen has a .902 save percentage, and the Oilers are below average in shots on net allowed per game. Zibanejad has had some bad puck luck, but Sunday was a respite from that. He potted a hat trick with six shots on goal, giving him 30 points in 33 games.
Chris Kreider, NYR vs. EDM ($8,000): Kreider is on Zibanejad's wing, and fittingly enough he had three assists Sunday. He too has 30 points in 33 contests. However, the former college hockey standout has had no issues scoring goals, as he has 19 this season, including 11 with the extra man.
Alexis Lafreniere, NYR vs. EDM ($2,000): I had to save salary somewhere, and frankly I don't mind having Lafreniere at this price at all. He is, after all, a one-time first-overall pick. With Artemi Panarin out, Lafreniere is on the second line for the Rangers. He's started 59.4 percent of his shifts in the offensive zone, second highest on the team. Sure, he only has seven goals, but he provides way more upside than almost anybody at this salary level.
