This article is part of our FanDuel NHL series.
GOALIE
Corey Crawford, CHI vs. ARI ($): This is a bit of a gamble, as Crawford will be making his first start in months due to concussion issues. In fact, it's not even entirely certain he will be playing, though the odds are he will. If he's in net, though, he will be facing a Coyotes team that only scored 2.51 goals per game last year, and is averaging less than a goal per game to start this season. Crawford is not currently listed on FanDuel, but I expect that to change in time for the game.
CENTER
Leon Draisaitl, EDM vs. BOS ($6,300): Draisaitl has at least 70 points in his last two seasons, and he has five points through four games to start this year. That includes four points with the extra man, which may stem from getting to play along a guy named Connor McDavid on the power play. The Bruins are on the road for the second night of a back-to-back, and will be starting Jaroslav Halak more than likely. He's been great in two starts this year, but had a .908 save percentage last season.
Nico Hischier, NJD vs. COL ($5,800): Hischier started 60.4 percent of his shifts in the offensive zone last season, most among Devils forwards. He had 20 goals as a rookie, and could build upon that this year. The first-overall pick from last year's draft will go against an Avalanche team that had a 3.37 GAA on the road last season.
WING
Tyler Toffoli, LOS vs. NYI ($6,000): Toffoili notched 24 goals last year, and not all that long ago he managed a 31-goal season. He has four points to start the year, and he's averaged 2:35 per game on the power play, which would be an increase on last season if it continues. The Islanders had a league-high 3.57 GAA last season, and they are also on the road on the second night of a back-to-back for this game.
Ondrej Palat, TAM vs. DET ($5,200): Palat is currently skating on a line with Nikita Kucherov and Steven Stamkos, which could certainly pay off for him. On top of that, he's started 64.1 percent of his shifts in the offensive zone, highest on the Lightning. Though the sample size is only six games, it's hard to look at Detroit's 4.83 GAA and not see this as a great matchup for Palat.
Nikolaj Ehlers, WPG vs. VAN ($4,500): Ehlers finally got on the score sheet in Winnipeg's last game, but worry not. He's had at least 60 points in each of his last two seasons, and notched 29 goals last year. As for the Canucks, they had a 3.16 GAA last year.
DEFENSE
Zach Werenski, CLM vs. PHI ($5,400): Last year, Werenski tallied 16 goals on 207 shots. He's still pounding the net, as he's notched 16 shots on goal through five games. Brian Elliott had a .909 save percentage last season, and the Flyers as a whole had the 29th-ranked penalty kill.
Jake Muzzin, LOS vs. NYI ($4,800): Muzzin has notched at least 40 points in three of his last four seasons, and he had double-digit power-play points in all of those campaigns. The Islanders had the league's worst penalty kill last year, and an immediate turnaround isn't likely. New York also certainly won't benefit from being on the road for its second game in as many days.
