This article is part of our DraftKings NHL series.
Thursday's action-packed NHL slate features 11 games and begins at 7 p.m. EST. Below, you'll find an overview of the matchups and suggested options for crafting an effective lineup.
SLATE PREVIEW
The Golden Knights and Rangers are set up for success at home against the Kings and Devils, respectively, but those are far from the only sources of value in this slate. Matchups like Oilers-Canadiens, Canucks-Panthers and Sabres-Blues all feature a nice mix of offensive skill and opportunity.
GOALIES
Marc-Andre Fleury ($8,400) should be worth paying up for in net considering the visiting Kings now own the league's second-worst offense at just 2.51 goals per game after Wednesday's 2-1 loss to Dallas. The Flower posted a dud against his former team in his last start but preceded that clunker with a four-game winning streak.
John Gibson ($7,500) will also benefit from facing a tired opponent, as the Stars played last night and are in the middle of a grueling California road trip. Dallas isn't all that dangerous even when fresh, with a bottom-10 offense that scores only 2.67 goals per game.
Staying on the West coast, Elvis Merzlikins ($7,400) of the Blue Jackets should provide nice value in San Jose against a bottom-5 Sharks offense that averages 2.64 goals per game. Merzlikins has flipped the switch from winless to nearly unbeatable since fellow Columbus goalie Joonas Korpisalo tore his meniscus, going 4-1-0 while stopping 158 of 168 shots for a .940 save percentage.
VALUE PLAYS/ONE-OFFS
David Perron ($6,100) has been the top source of offense for the reigning champs. His 6-8-14 line the last 10 games has Perron up to 44 points in as many games this season, with half of those points coming on the power play. The skilled winger should continue to thrive on the man advantage against Buffalo's bottom-5, 74.6 percent penalty kill.
Noel Acciari ($4,600) has 10 goals in his last 11 games for Florida. The affordable winger has a nice opportunity to keep rolling against a Canucks team that started its trip to the Sunshine State with a 9-2 loss to Tampa Bay.
Ilya Kovalchuk ($4,000) is filling in on Montreal's top line and hasn't looked out of place, with three assists in his first two games with the Canadiens. At age 36, he's not the same player who topped 75 points seven times in his prime, but the veteran Russian is still more than capable of outperforming his $4,000 valuation given his deployment with his new club.
Brayden Point ($7,000) is coming off a four-point performance that extended his point streak to six games and raised his season line to 18-21-39 in 39 games. He should stay hot against a Coyotes team that will have trouble maintaining the defensive stoutness it has shown most of the season with third-stringer Adin Hill in net, making Point an intriguing GPP option.
FORWARD LINE STACKS
Rangers vs. Devils
Ryan Strome (C - $4,900), Artemi Panarin (W - $7,000), Jesper Fast (W - $2,900)
Panarin has a 23-35-58 line, and those 58 points are good for sixth in the NHL. His linemates have both been hot lately, as Strome has a 5-4-9 line in his last six games to bring his season line to 12-27-39, while Fast is coming off a three-assist effort. A Devils team that allows 3.43 goals per game — second most in the league — is unlikely to slow this trio down.
Golden Knights vs. Kings
Paul Stastny (C - $4,200), Max Pacioretty (W - $6,900), Mark Stone (W - $6,100)
The Kings are playing their second game in as many nights and are 6-14-3 on the road, making this a great time to stack Golden Knights. Pacioretty leads the team in goals (19), points (44) and shots (190) through 46 games. He's showing no signs of slowing with an 8-9-17 line in his last 14 games. Stone is two points and three goals off Pacioretty's team-high totals, while Stastny started slowly but has heated up recently with two goals, two assists and 12 shots in his last three games.
Oilers at Canadiens
Connor McDavid (C - $8,500), James Neal (W - $5,500), Zack Kassian (W - $4,400)
This line should dominate at even strength against a Montreal team that's letting in 3.23 goals per game — ninth most in the NHL. McDavid and Neal also play prominent roles on Edmonton's top power-play unit, which is primed for success against Montreal's bottom-10, 77.6 percent penalty kill. After racking up four points against Toronto in his last game, McDavid now leads the league with 69 points in 45 games. His 30 power-play points lead the league, while McDavid's nine goals with the extra man are tied for third. One of the two men ahead of him in the latter category is Neal with 12, while Kassian has put together a solid all-around season with a 13-15-28 line in 42 games.
DEFENSEMEN
Roman Josi ($7,500) keeps ending up here, but as it's said, if it ain't broke don't fix it. The standout Nashville blueliner has an 11-game point streak, and his 7-12-19 line over that stretch has Josi up to 14-31-45 in 42 games. Those who pay up for him in Chicago likely will be rewarded with another strong performance.
Alex Pietrangelo ($6,400) ranks second on the Blues behind Perron with 17 power-play points, and his 12-23-35 overall line through 44 games is exceptional for a defenseman. While the Sabres have been tough against defensemen, their leaky penalty kill presents a nice opportunity for Pietrangelo to buck that trend.
Quinn Hughes ($4,800) thrives in games with a lot of open ice, as his greatest assets are vision and passing ability. The Canucks rookie should build on his 4-26-30 line in a fast-paced game against a Panthers team that ranks top-5 offensively and bottom-5 defensively.
Adam Fox ($3,800) has six assists in his last four games, and the rookie Rangers blueliner is primed to continue that recent success against the lowly Devils.
