This article is part of our DraftKings NHL series.
SLATE PREVIEW
It's a unique NHL schedule Friday with the Bruins, Hurricanes, Red Wings, Rangers, Penguins, Flyers, Golden Knights and Jets playing their first game in at least nine days. Additionally, it's also a slate with three lopsided games. The Rangers, Capitals and Lightning are all notable favorites, and the only game with projected close odds is between St. Louis and Edmonton.
GOALIES
Ilya Samsonov ($8,000) will probably be a popular target at this price point. He's won six consecutive appearances with a .956 save percentage and owns a dominant 15-2-1 record, .927 save percentage and 2.07 GAA for the campaign. It should also prove to be a soft matchup with Ottawa entering with an active 2-5-5 record while scoring just 1.79 five-on-five goals per hour during the stretch.
With exactly four goals allowed in each of his past three starts, Jordan Binnington's ($7,700) recent form is discouraging. However, it also positions him for a bounce-back showing, whereas Edmonton is in a potential letdown spot with this game sandwiched between two goals against the division-rival Flames. Just note, this is more of a speculative nod with Binnington's .896 save percentage and 3.28 GAA on the road this season in mind.
Through three starts, the promising Igor Shesterkin ($8,000) has posted a .929 save percentage, and he draws a home start against the basement-dwelling Red Wings on Friday. The price is also reasonable considering Detroit has scored the fewest goals in the league by a notable margin.
Anyone looking for a low-priced flier who'll almost certainly be scarcely owned could consider John Gibson ($7,000). This will be Tampa Bay's eight consecutive road game, which could prove to be a tough schedule spot, especially considering the All-Star break was also right in the middle of it. The Lightning have lost three of their past six contests, too.
VALUE PLAYS/ONE-OFFS
With word that he's 100 percent healthy, Artemi Panarin's ($7,500) salary is remarkable short. The first-year Ranger boasts a league-high 4.3 points per 60 minutes this season, which includes 14 tallies and 21 helpers through his past 21 contests. The matchup isn't even daunting, as Detroit has allowed the most goals per game this season, including 4.2 over its past 10 outings.
With just a single assist through his past six games, Evgeny Kuznetsov ($5,200) has statistical correction ahead, and the Senators should prove to be a favorable opponent with 3.3 goals against per game. The center's current 2.94 points per hour significantly trails his 3.19 mark over the past two seasons.
Despite recording a respectable four points -- one goal -- through his past five games, Drake Batherson ($2,500) is still at minimum price. He's receiving consistent power-play time and has been an offensive force in the AHL over the past two seasons. The cap relief alone is notable because it enables you to spend up elsewhere.
While Jordan Kyrou ($2,500) hasn't had the same recent offensive success as Batherson, but the Blue is also at the bottom of the salary list. Kyrou is also projected to skate on the No. 1 line with Brayden Schenn ($5,300) and Jaden Schwartz ($5,700), so there's plenty of upside.
FORWARD LINE STACKS
With a combined two goals and five assists last time out, Brayden Point ($6,200), Steven Stamkos ($7,700) and Nikita Kucherov ($8,200) are now up to a dominant 10.23 goals per hour this season. As long as Tampa Bay is loaded up its top three scorers in all offensive situations, it's impossible to ignore their upside.
The Golden Knights have allowed the third most goals per hour in January, and Vegas might also shows signs of rust in their first game in 10 days. Carolina is poised to capitalize as a result, and the new-look line of Sebastian Aho ($5,800), Teuvo Teravainen ($5,100) and Warren Foegele ($3,400) are a cost-effect option to turn to. The trio has also scored a respectable 3.83 goals per 60 minutes at five-on-five over 47:03 of ice time together this year.
DEFENSEMEN
Victor Hedman ($5,700) is a frequent recommendation, and while his current offensive slump drags on, his price continues to decline. It's frustrating to see him reach double-digit DraftKings points in just two of his past 10 outings, but he's still quarterbacking the No. 1 power-play unit and averaged a hefty 25:05 of ice time during the noted 10-game stretch. The breakout is coming.
With Winnipeg owning a 27th-ranked, 74.4 penalty-kill percentage, Torey Krug's ($4,900) salary stands out as a discount. He's already recorded 19 power-play points this season and owns a league-high 2.27 points per 60 minutes among all regular defensemen over the past three seasons.
The Rangers have surrendered the most expected goals per hour this season, and Filip Hronek ($4,600) has ascended to the top of the depth chart in all situations for the Red Wings. His game-to-game production is a little bit all over the map, but with an active four-game point drought, a date with the Blueshirts could be exactly what the emerging defensemen needs to snap out of his funk.
Jaccob Slavin ($4,100) has been quarterbacking the No. 1 power-play of unit and has averaged 26:00 of ice time with 3:22 on the man advantage. The 25-year-old defenseman has hit double-digit DraftKings points in consecutive games and offers a high floor through his shot volume and blocks. As noted, the matchup is also favorable.
