This article is part of our DraftKings NHL series.
Tuesday's NHL slate begins at 7:00 PM Eastern time and features five games. Below, you'll find an overview of the matchups and suggested options for crafting an effective lineup.
SLATE PREVIEW
There's a good mix of offensive and defensive talent in this slate, with four of the top eight scoring teams in action (Panthers, Penguins, Bruins, Rangers), as well as four of the eight stingiest defenses (Bruins, Islanders, Hurricanes, Penguins). While there's no major mismatch to exploit here, Florida's league-best offense will be dangerous in Chicago, but the Blackhawks should muster plenty of their own offense with the Panthers finishing up a back-to-back set. The Rangers will be looking to beat the Islanders for the third time in eight days, while the Penguins have major upside against a Flyers team that's missing its starting goalie due to injury, and the Hurricanes are well positioned to beat up on the slumping Jets.
GOALIES
Alexandar Georgiev ($7,400) presided over both of the Rangers' recent wins over the Islanders, and he's now 4-1-0 with a 1.40 GAA and .955 save percentage against the intrastate rivals in his career. He'll be looking to continue his dominance against a slumping Islanders team whose only win in the last six games came over the lowly Red Wings.
Whomever Pittsburgh puts in net will be an enticing option against the middling Flyers offense. Tristan Jarry ($7,700) has been among the league's best goalies this season with a 16-7-1 record, 2.16 GAA and .929 save percentage, while Matt Murray ($7,500) has heated up with five consecutive wins, allowing 13 goals in that stretch.
While the goalies above should provide nice bang for the buck, Carolina's James Reimer ($8,500) should be worth paying up for if he gets the nod at home against Winnipeg. Reimer has been the far better option in the Hurricanes' net recently, going 3-1-0 with seven goals allowed in his last four starts while Petr Mrazek's ($8,500) 1-4-0 in his last five.
VALUE PLAYS/ONE-OFFS
Paul Stastny ($4,200) makes for a strong against-the-grain play if he suits up in Boston after taking a puck to the mouth Saturday. That injury coupled with Boston's strong defensive numbers will keep most owners away from Stastny, but the veteran pivot is surging with a 4-5-9 line over his past eight games and the Bruins are currently at a low point in net. Tuukka Rask is on injured reserve with a concussion, while Jaroslav Halak is going through a rough patch that's seen him yield 20 goals en route to a 2-3-1 record over his past six starts.
Artemi Panarin ($7,000) has a 26-42-68 line through 47 games, including two goals and four assists over the Rangers' two recent victories over the Islanders. The highly productive Russian winger is a strong GPP option every time out, capable of producing a lineup-carrying performance against any opponent.
Anders Lee ($5,600) is doing his best to put the slumping Islanders on his back, as the captain potted the team's only goal on nine shots Sunday in Carolina. With 15 goals in 48 games and a 12.0 shooting percentage, Lee's due for positive regression after averaging 34 goals on a 16.9 shooting percentage over the previous three seasons.
Aleksander Barkov ($6,500) has put together a 3-5-8 line over an active five-game point streak, bringing his season output to 16-37-53 in 48 games. Florida's first-line center is worth locking in at $6,500 against the Blackhawks, even with his team playing its second game in as many nights.
FORWARD LINE STACKS
Blackhawks vs. Panthers
Jonathan Toews (C - $7,000), Dominik Kubalik (W - $5,300), Drake Caggiula (W - $2,700)
Toews has been on fire recently, producing a monstrous 4-9-13 line over his past six games. Kubalik has heated up alongside him, with a 10-4-14 line over his last nine games. Those goals have propelled Kubalik into the league lead among rookies with 21. Even Caggiula has gotten in on the fun recently, delivering a goal and an assist twice in his last three games. This line should continue to produce against a tired Panthers team that ranks among the 10 most generous defensively.
Hurricanes vs. Jets
Sebastian Aho (C - $6,300), Teuvo Teravainen (W - $5,500), Warren Foegele (W - $3,800)
This line is primed for success against a Jets team that's 1-4-0 in its past five games and ranks fourth-worst with a 74.8 percent penalty kill. Aho leads the Hurricanes with 24 goals through 49 games, and his five power-play goals have him tied with Andrei Svechnikov for tops on the team. Teravainen owns team highs in both points (45) and power-play points (17). Foegele doesn't get in on the fun with the extra man, but the affordable winger chips in offensively with a 10-12-22 line.
Penguins at Flyers
Sidney Crosby (C - $7,500), Jared McCann (W - $4,500), Dominik Simon (W - $3,200)
Crosby has hit the ground running since returning from a groin injury, recording at least one point in each of his four subsequent appearances while totaling a 3-5-8 line. The affordable wingers on this line make it easier to absorb Crosby's cap hit if you stack Penguins against a Flyers team that's without starting netminder Carter Hart (abdomen). McCann has lit the lamp four times in his past eight games, while Simon has displayed excellent chemistry with Crosby, racking up a 2-2-4 line in four games since the center's return.
DEFENSEMEN
Jaccob Slavin ($4,300) has moved up to Winnipeg's top power-play unit with Dougie Hamilton sidelined by a fractured fibula. That deployment puts Slavin in position to produce against Winnipeg's vulnerable penalty kill.
Anthony DeAngelo ($4,700) has a 4-4-8 line over the past six games. The offensive-minded Rangers blueliner has some nice GPP appeal against the normally stingy Islanders given his recent success and their recent struggles.
Duncan Keith ($3,900) has contributed on both ends for Chicago recently, providing seven assists and 27 blocks over his past 12 games. The well-rounded veteran should deliver nice value in what figures to be a high-scoring affair against Florida.
