This article is part of our DraftKings NHL series.
SLATE PREVIEW
There are six games in the NHL on Monday with Washington and Tampa Bay the largest favorites on the schedule. Montreal and Philadelphia are small home-ice favorites, whereas San Jose and Vancouver are both home underdogs. It's an interesting slate with the Blue Jackets, Islanders, Lightning and Canadiens all playing excellent defense of late, so there's potential for some low-scoring games.
GOALIES
The Blue Jackets have only scored four goals through their past three games, and they'll be without their No. 1 defensemen Seth Jones ($6,000) after he was announced out indefinitely Monday with an ankle injury. Additionally, the Lightning should have extra motivation after being swept by Columbus in the first round of the playoffs last spring. It all adds up to Andrei Vasilevskiy ($8,000) being a solid option. He hasn't lost in regulation since Dec. 14 and owns a 16-0-2 record with a .931 save percentage and 2.03 GAA during that stretch, after all.
Despite losing three consecutive games and allowing 13 goals in the process, the RotoWire Lineup Optimizer is bullish on Jacob Markstrom ($7,900) as a home favorite against Nashville on Monday. The 30-year-old netminder has been solid on home ice with a .921 save percentage, too. The Predators have also only scored seven goals through their past three road games, so it's not a daunting matchup.
VALUE PLAYS/ONE-OFFS
There are three go-to wingers who all face defensively responsible clubs, which makes to tough to view them as anything other than high-risk, high-reward targets. Alex Ovechkin ($8,800) has 14 goals and a 35.9 shooting percentage through his past eight games, so his puck luck could run out against the Islanders. Nikita Kucherov ($8,200) and Steven Stamkos ($8,000) both boast 10-game point streaks and also in top form, but again Columbus stands as a daunting opponent with just 16 goals allowed over its past 12 games.
The Predators will hit the ice for their fourth consecutive road game Monday and have allowed the ninth most goals per hour in the league this season. Additionally, Nashville owns a 26th-ranked 74.9 penalty-kill percentage. With that in mind, Bo Horvat ($5,400) stands out as a solid value option. His price is down after failing to register a multi-point game in each of his past 10 outings and compiling just two tallies and three helpers during the stretch. His go-to role, which includes skating with the No. 1 power-play unit should provide him chances to right the ship Monday.
Ilya Kovalchuk ($4,900) has found his footing with Montreal with six tallies, six helpers and 40 shots through 15 contests. He's receiving consistent power-play time and offers upside in the matchup against Arizona. The Coyotes have allowed a healthy 3.37 goals per hour through their past 12 contests -- fourth most in the league during that span.
FORWARD LINE STACKS
It'll be important to double-check Vancouver's projected lines with Brock Boeser ($5,200) sidelined, but Elias Pettersson ($6,700) and J.T. Miller should still be skating together. The duo have clicked for a high-end 5.07 goals per 60 minutes this year and driven possession with a 59.3 Corsi For percentage at even strength. Jake Virtanen ($4,000) settled in nicely with Pettersson and Miller for stretches in January, and his salary helps the total cap hit. As noted, the Predators have a poor penalty kill and are in a potentially vulnerable schedule spot.
The Flyers loaded up their No. 1 line with Sean Couturier ($6,200), Claude Giroux ($6,000) and Jakub Voracek ($4,800) against the Capitals on Saturday, and the trio combined for three goals and five assists. Florida has also surrendered 3.24 goals per hour on the road this season, so it could prove to be a favorable matchup. Additionally, all three Flyers skate on the No. 1 power-play unit, and the Panthers have sunk to a 23rd-ranked 77.7 penalty-kill percentage for the campaign.
It took awhile, but Calgary has reunited its top line of Sean Monahan ($5,100), Johnny Gaudreau ($6,300) and Elias Lindholm ($5,300). They've combined for just 2.99 goals per hour at even strength this season after posting a 4.12 mark last year, so there's room for statistical improvement, and the trio combined for a goal and three assists during Saturday's win over Vancouver. It's worth adding San Jose is still without its top two centers Tomas Hertl ($5,700) and Logan Couture ($6,000), too.
DEFENSEMEN
Jeff Petry ($5,200) has recorded double-digit DraftKings points in consecutive games while averaging a hefty 27:44 of ice time per contest, including 4:04 with the man advantage. His heightened role with Shea Weber ($) on injured reserve has proven fruitful, and as noted, the Coyotes have been a favorable opponent for a prolonged stretch.
This is a manageable salary for Erik Karlsson ($5,100). He continues to provide a high fantasy floor with 17 points, 67 shots and 30 blocks through 27 games since Dec. 1, and he's locked into an important role averaging 24:43 of ice time with 3:04 on the power play during that stretch. Just note the veteran should probably be utilized as more of a contrarian flier with San Jose's injuries up the middle.
Ranking 10th in points per 60 minutes (2.06) among all regular defensemen, Quinn Hughes' ($4,200) salary seems out of whack considering his year-long production and soft matchup. He's locked in as the power-play quarterback of the No. 1 unit and checks out as a cost-effective addition to a Nashville stack. The rookie has also been consistent with at least one point in nine of the past 12 games.
While the Sharks have a league-high 86.9 penalty-kill percentage, they've also been shorthanded the eighth most times this season. Rasmus Andersson ($3,200) is projected to quarterback Calgary's top power-play unit, so his salary stands out as a discount, even with San Jose's strong play down a man. His price also makes him a low-cost add to a Flames stack.
