This article is part of our DraftKings NHL series.
SLATE PREVIEW
Four games are firing up Friday night, and the only team not in the midst of back-to-back games is the Rangers. Still, no goalies are confirmed, so make sure to check back before the pucks drop to keep a goose egg out of your lineup.
GOALIES
Elvis Merzlikins ($8,300) is the (undisputed) chalk. He's won seven straight games, posting four shutouts in the process and a 1.14 save percentage in the process, and he'll be taking on the Red Wings.
It's a toss-up who starts for the Rangers. Henrik Lundqvist ($8,000) has been inconsistent lately, while Igor Shesterkin ($7,800) and Alexandar Georgiev ($7,800) have .922 and .912 save percentages, respectively, in 2020. It's easy to pull the trigger on the latter two because the Sabres haven't surpassed two goals in five straight.
The Maple Leafs acquired Jack Campbell ($8,200) from the Kings on Wednesday and with back-to-back games on deck, we could see his Leafs debut. Campbell was excellent last year with a .928 save percentage, but this year has been a struggle with a .900 mark. Perhaps the change of scenery can turn things around.
VALUE PLAYS/ONE-OFFS
Jason Zucker's ($4,100) starting to heat up with five points in as many games. The typically stout Dallas crease has shown vulnerability lately, yielding 14 scores over four contests.
Rickard Rakell ($5,300) carries a four-game point streak into this contest. He's been buzzing with a 52.1 Corsi For percentage this year, and it should be a favorable matchup regardless of who is in net for the Maple Leafs.
Filip Chytil ($3,700) is centering Artemi Panarin's line, and that comes with points by default. He tickled the twine in Wednesday's matchup versus the Maple Leafs, and he's fired two or more shots on net in five straight outings.
FORWARD LINE STACKS
Toronto Maple Leafs (TOTAL: $21,700)
C - Auston Matthews ($8,700)
W - Mitch Marner ($7,500)
W - Zach Hyman ($5,500)
Matthews and Marner are on five- and six-game point streaks, respectively, combining for six goals and nine helpers. Hyman has tacked on five points as well. They all toil on the power play, too, and the Ducks rank eighth over the last month with 8.79 GA/60 on the penalty kill.
New York Rangers (TOTAL: $18,700)
C - Mika Zibanejad ($8,200)
W - Chris Kreider ($6,100)
W - Pavel Buchnevich ($4,400)
Kreider was superb across the board in his return from injury, posting two points, five shots and a plus-3. Zibanejad and Buchnevich have combined for 14 points over the past five games as well, and the trio will look to exploit Carter Hutton, who has an .874 save percentage since Jan. 11.
Columbus Blue Jackets (TOTAL: $17,900)
C - Pierre-Luc Dubois ($6,600)
W - Oliver Bjorkstrand ($7,000)
W - Nick Foligno ($4,300)
The Blue Jackets have forced their way onto the playoff scene, and Dubois and Bjorkstand are a major reason. They've accumulated 14 points over the past five contests, and even Foligno contributed twice in that stretch. Look for them to stay hot, as Detroit has let up 2.91 G/60 in 2020.
DEFENSEMEN
The Red Wings struggle defensively at even strength and the penalty kill, so targeting Seth Jones ($6,100) or Zach Werenski ($5,900) is a smart option. Both shoots with high volume and have at least 29 points, but Jones blocks far more shots, providing a better floor.
Jacob Trouba ($5,600) and Adam Fox ($5,100) have 14 and 13 power-play points each, and the Sabres' penalty kill (8.79 GA/60) are a bottom-eight unit over the last month.
John Klingberg has produced six points -- four on the power play -- over nine games since Jan. 1, and he'll be taking on Minnesota's putrid penalty kill, which ranks last in that stretch with 14.96 GA/60.
Rasmus Sandin ($3,200) has adjusted to the NHL ranks with ease, recording a 54.8 Corsi For percentage thus far. He's capitalized, too, generating seven points over 14 games while working on the power play consistently. As I mentioned with the Ducks' suspect penalty kill, Sandin comes with immense value.
