This article is part of our DraftKings NHL series.
SLATE PREVIEW
There are six games on the schedule Friday, but only five of them are included in the DraftKings featured contests with the bout between Colorado and Vegas being omitted. Interestingly, all five road teams in play are taking the ice for their second game in consecutive nights. The Sharks, Coyotes, Islanders and Capitals all played Friday.
As a result, it's all the more important to keep tabs on line rushes ahead of Friday's games, and there project to be a number of backup netminders patrolling the crease.
Toronto is the only significant favorite on the schedule, and the two projected high-scoring matchups are between the Sharks and Maple Leafs and the Capitals and Canucks.
GOALIES
Antti Raanta ($7,500) turned away 34 shots in his most recent start and draws another favorable matchup Friday. The Devils have scored the third fewest expected goals per 60 minutes (2.3) in the league, and Arizona has surrendered the fourth fewest (2.3). The price is right, too.
Even with some defensive concerns in front of him, Ilya Samsonov ($7,400) warrants a long look. The rookie Russian has won three of four starts with a .933 save percentage and 1.84 GAA to start the campaign, and the Canucks check out as a middle-of-the-road offensive opponent.
Paying up for Thomas Greiss ($8,100) is in play Friday. He's sporting a high-end 26-15-2 record, .927 save percentage and 2.27 GAA since the beginning of last season, and the Sens are currently the worst team in the NHL.
VALUE PLAYS/ONE-OFFS
Game-to-game consistency hasn't been a strength for Jack Eichel ($7,800) this season, as 10 of the fifth-year American's 11 points have come in just four multi-point showings. However, considering his contest-winning upside, Eichel projects as a high-risk, high-reward target against the reeling Red Wings. Detroit has lost six consecutive games and allowed 27 goals during the skid, after all.
After recording 2.99 points per hour last season, Timo Meier's ($4,900) current 1.3 mark is probably unsustainably low. However, he's been more productive of late with two goals and two assists over his latest six outings, and the Swiss native continues to play in a top-six role and receive minutes with the man advantage.
Through four games since his promotion to the highest level, Oliver Wahlstrom ($2,500) has topped the Islanders in shot attempts at five-on-five with 14.6 per 60 minutes. He's also skating in a middle-six role and receiving power-play time, so at minimum price, the No. 11 overall pick from the 2018 draft is worth considering. As noted, it's not a scary matchup, either.
FORWARD LINE STACKS
This is an important game for Toronto, and Auston Matthews ($7,700), William Nylander ($4,600) and Andreas Johnsson ($4,600) are positioned to outproduce their manageable cap hits. The three skate together on the No. 1 power-play unit and have dominated possession with a 63.2 Corsi For percentage at even strength. As highlighted, the Sharks are playing their second road game in consecutive nights and project as a favorable matchup with 12.2 high-danger scoring chances allowed per 60 minutes -- second most in the league.
Over the past three years, Nicklas Backstrom ($6,700), Alex Ovechkin ($8,200) and T.J. Oshie ($6,300) have clicked for 4.6 goals and 13.6 high-danger scoring chances per 60 minutes at even strength, and those numbers skyrocket to 7.5 and 16.8 when including power-play time. The trio is also coming into Friday hot with a combined 18 goals and 33 points through 12 contests this season.
Arizona's second line has been sneaky productive and offers notable cap relief. Christian Dvorak ($4,800), Conor Garland ($4,200) and Nick Schmaltz ($5,300) have recorded 3.87 goals per 60 minutes at five-on-five while totalling 12 goals and 20 points through nine games. The trio is also split across Arizona's two power-play units providing exposure to both, and the matchup is cushy with New Jersey surrendering 3.55 goals per hour this season, too.
DEFENSEMEN
As noted, the Red Wings have been a mess of late, and Rasmus Dahlin ($5,700) enters Friday's contest with 10 points -- one goals -- through 11 contests. He's averaging 4:15 of power-play time per contest and already has seven points with the man advantage.
Morgan Rielly ($6,400) has only found the scoresheet in two of the past eight contests, but he's recorded six points -- two goals -- during that stretch. With top minutes (25:01 per game) and Toronto in danger of losing its third consecutive game, look for a solid showing from Rielly. He's a solid addition to a Maple Leafs stack because of his power-play role.
An against-the-grain candidate producing sneaky DraftKings points (8.5 per game) this season, Nikita Zaitsev ($4,500) should be scarcely owned and could reward. He's blocked 30 shots through nine games, and remember, there's a 3.0 point bonus for blocking three shots in a game.
Sami Vatanen ($3,600) has landed on the No. 1 power-play unit and doesn't break the bank. The Finn has marked the scoresheet in two of the past three games and recorded double-digit power-play points four times during his career, so there's potential.
