This article is part of our DraftKings NHL series.
SLATE PREVIEW
The Oilers are just one of three teams who are unbeaten at home and they'll play host to the Panthers early Sunday afternoon. After allowing 14 goals in their first three games and going 1-2-2 to start the season, the Panthers are 3-0-2 over their last five.
The Kings and Blackhawks could be a hard slog because both teams played last night and lost by a combined score of 9-1. The Blues and Red Wings should be a more spirited affair as the former Central Division rivals face off. The Red Wings have lost seven straight after starting 3-1-0.
In Ottawa, the Sens will wrap up a three-game homestand against the Sharks, who are 1-1-1 so far in their five-game road trip. On paper, the Sharks should be able to win this one handily, but they haven't looked particularly strong this season and both of the Sens' wins have come on home ice.
The Flyers won a 7-4 barnburner against the Jackets last night, so you wonder if there's anything left in the tank against the Isles. The Rangers just snapped a five-game losing streak and they'll try to win two straight for the first time since the beginning of the season hosting the Bruins, who avenged their Finals' loss with a 3-0 victory against the Blues last night.
The Knights and Ducks will finish off the slate in a divisional clash. Five teams in the Pacific Division have six or seven wins in a surprisingly competitive group. Both teams have struggled with the Ducks losing three straight and the Knights allowing six goals in two of their past three games.
GOALIES
It's best to stay away from a matchup of the has-beens between the Kings and Blackhawks, as expected starters Jack Campbell ($7,000) and Robin Lehner ($8,100) have struggled lately.
Picking Martin Jones ($8,000) would be advisable if the Sharks were playing better, but most nights he's just tough to stomach. He's allowed 11 goals in his past three games and it'll be the Sharks' third game in four nights.
The Islanders have been rolling with five straight wins and both Semyon Varlamov ($8,200) and Thomas Greiss ($8,200) have been excellent. This will be the Flyers' first back-to-back of the year after hosting the Jackets last night, and they're just 1-2-1 on the road this season.
Jaroslav Halak ($7,500) gets a chance to get back on track after Tuukka Rask shut out the Blues last night. He'll be a popular choice against the Rangers, who rank 25th in goals scored and dead last in expected goals entering Saturday's games, per Natural Stat Trick. Interesting to note: The Rangers are 3-0-0 when they score at least three goals and 0-4-1 when they don't, and they'll be well-rested after a two-day break during a five-game homestand.
Marc-Andre Fleury ($8,300) comes at a huge - and risky - premium against the Ducks. He was pulled in his last start and the Ducks have been surprisingly good thanks to John Gibson ($7,100), who has the ability to steal any game. The Knights are good but they've been streaky over the past year or so; they've lost at least three straight games on five different occasions last season.
VALUE PLAYS/ONE-OFFS
Jeff Carter ($5,000) is barely a top-six forward these days, but he's been producing like vintage Carter with two goals in four games. He continues to be a good high-volume shooter even though he's not nearly as efficient as he used to be. The Kings' underlying possession numbers are promising, which means he'll get his chances.
Both Kirby Dach ($3,700) and Alexander Nylander ($2,600) allow for considerable upside and may not need many opportunities to capitalize. The Kings are stingy and their 28.5 shots allowed per game entering Saturday is second-lowest in the league but they're the worst in goals allowed per game. Jack Campbell has lost two straight and posted a sub-.900 save percentage in three of his four starts. Both Hawks' youngsters have significant potential, but Nylander possesses the bigger role on the power play.
Joel Farabee ($3,700) hasn't registered a goal, but he's off to a solid start with a team-leading 15.44 shots/60 rate, according to Natural Stat Trick. He's playing on the third line at evens but the top unit on the power play, making him a great value play.
A lack of depth down the middle has forced David Quinn to juggle his lines, and that included playing career minor leaguer Greg McKegg ($2,500) between Artemi Panarin and Pavel Buchnevich at yesterday's practice. Ryan Strome will be a game-time decision and Quinn may stack Panarin and Mika Zibanejad on one line, but it looks like McKegg will be the guy for now.
FORWARD LINE STACKS
Boston Bruins (TOTAL: $22,700)
C – Patrice Bergeron ($7,200)
W – Brad Marchand ($7,300)
W – David Pastrnak ($8,200)
They're well worth the premium in a potentially high-scoring game. Pastrnak has seven goals in five career games against the Oil.
San Jose Sharks (TOTAL: $20,600)
C – Tomas Hertl ($7,000)
W – Evander Kane ($7,900)
W – Kevin Labanc ($5,700)
The Sharks' second line has had a lot more bite than the first recently. Hertl has three goals and 10 points in his last six games, Kane has two multi-goal games in his past five games and Labanc has a goal in two straight games. If Logan Couture (one goal this season) draws Thomas Chabot, Hertl's line might have a feeding frenzy.
DEFENSEMEN
Brent Burns ($7,100) and Erik Karlsson ($6,300) will never be value plays, but passing up a matchup against the Sens will be difficult. They've taken the fifth-most penalties this season and average over 12 penalty minutes per game, more than any other team. The Sharks' seventh-ranked power play should be able to take advantage.
Jacob Trouba ($6,100) remains a do-it-all defenseman for the Rangers. He owns a high floor and substantial upside with his ability to contribute in basically every category. He's recorded at least three shots or three blocked shots in seven of eight games this season.
If you're reading this, then gambling's your thing, so why not roll the dice with Thomas Chabot ($6,600)? He's on a five-game scoring streak with a goal and five assists, and over the past seven days he's also registered 12 blocked shots and 16 shots on goal.
Shea Theodore ($5,100) will be a popular pick because the Ducks are generally an undisciplined bunch, and as Vegas' top - and only - power-play quarterback he'll get plenty of chances to generate some offense. He's on a six-game dry spell but with just one goal on 28 shots, the law of averages says the puck will should start bouncing his way soon. Theodore is first in shot attempts with 105 and expected goals for among all PP QB's with a 7.3, according to Natural Stat Trick.
Nick Leddy ($4,500) has been on fire with two goals and three assists in his past three games. It might be prudent to take advantage of his hot streak because he tends to score in bunches. Last season, Leddy scored 30 percent of his points - or eight of 26 - during two separate three-game and four-game scoring streaks.
