This article is part of our DraftKings NHL series.
There are four games in the NHL on Friday, and you can expect to see high ownership for the top players from Washington and Dallas. With a shallow player pool, it isn't as easy to differentiate your selections when there are clear mismatches to target. Keeping that in mind, here are a handful of recommendations across multiple price points to consider while assembling your DraftKings lineups.
GOALIE
Braden Holtby, WAS vs. EDM ($8,400): With a rock-solid .926 save percentage and 2.01 GAA behind the best team in the league, Holtby's the go-to option in net Friday. You have to pay up for the security he brings, but with limited options, getting cute can sink your lineup. Edmonton is playing its fourth contest of a six-game road trip, which should prove to be a difficult matchup with Washington boasting a 24-5-1 record at home. This is the front end of a back-to-back set for the Capitals, so Philipp Grubauer ($8,200) might receive the starting nod and is a solid pivot.
CENTER
Evgeny Kuznetsov, WAS vs. EDM ($5,900): This salary doesn't align with Kuznetsov's current form, and he offers tremendous upside in a soft matchup. The Oilers allow the sixth most high-danger scoring chances per 60 minutes (11.6), and Kuznetsov has rattled off 13 goals and 28 points over his past 23 games. Additionally, his 2.48 points per 60 minutes at five-on-five over the past two seasons rank fourth among all skaters with at least 1,500 minutes.
Jason Spezza, DAL vs. ARI ($5,300): Now three games removed from missing time with an undisclosed injury, Spezza lands in a great matchup. Arizona allows the most high-danger scoring chances per 60 minutes (13.4), and over his three years with the Stars, Spezza has posted a 12th-ranked 2.75 points per 60 minutes among all skaters with at least 3,000 minutes. He also has connected with linemate Tyler Seguin for 3.68 goals per 60 minutes at five-on-five since joining the Stars.
WING
Tyler Seguin, DAL vs. ARI ($7,300): Not only does Arizona surrender all kinds of quality scoring chances, the Coyotes are also on the wrong end of back-to-back road games after losing 6-3 to Chicago on Thursday. Seguin has three multi-point showings over his past four outings for a goal, eight points and 11 shots on net. His 3.23 points per 60 minutes since joining the Stars rank third among all skaters with at least 5,000 minutes. He's worth paying up for.
Matthew Tkachuk, CGY at FLA ($4,600): The rookie is quietly having an excellent season and offers nice value at this salary. Additionally, there is a chance he'll be scarcely owned. Tkachuk has 27 points and 57 shots through his past 30 games and sports a 24th-ranked 2.87 points per 60 minutes among all skaters with at least 750 minutes.
Brendan Perlini, ARI at DAL ($3,500): The 2014 first-round pick is a worthy low-priced flier. Perlini has two goals, four points and 11 shots over his past six games, and he's playing a top-six role with power-play time on the No. 1 unit. Dallas also has allowed the second most goals per game (3.2) and surrendered the second most high-danger scoring chances per 60 minutes (12.13).
DEFENSE
John Klingberg, DAL vs. ARI ($5,100): Another reasonably priced option to stack against Arizona, Klingberg sports a seventh-ranked 1.72 points per 60 minutes among all defensemen with at least 4,000 minutes since he entered the league. The 24-year-old rearguard has just a single assist through his past seven games, so this is a ripe spot for a rebound showing.
Keith Yandle, FLA vs. CGY ($4,400): Over the past four years, Yandle's 1.6 points per 60 minutes rank eighth among all defensemen with at least 6,000 minutes, and his 5.09 mark with the man advantage paces all rearguards with 1,000 minutes during the same timeframe. The veteran also has eight assists and 18 shots through his past seven home games, and with Florida back at full health, Yandle boasts significant upside at this salary while quarterbacking the No. 1 power-play unit.
