DraftKings NHL: Monday Breakdown

DraftKings NHL: Monday Breakdown

This article is part of our DraftKings NHL series.

SLATE PREVIEW

Six games are on the docket Monday evening, starting off with a matchup between the Wild and the Golden Knights at 8 p.m EST. That matchup is one of three games with a 5.5 O/U, and the Edmonton-Ottawa clash is the only contest with a 6.5 O/U. 

There is a bevy of injuries to keep an eye out for, especially with their impact on the lines at game time. Colorado is dealing with some serious injuries, namely Nathan MacKinnon (upper body) and Cale Makar (upper body). Vegas is in the same camp with Mark Stone (undisclosed) and Alex Pietrangelo (undisclosed) both uncertain Monday. Sharks forward Tomas Hertl is in COVID-19 protocol, and teammate Timo Meier (lower body) is questionable. Finally, Elias Pettersson (upper body) has missed two straight games without a clear return in sight. 

Advanced statistics are courtesy of Natural Stat Trick. 

GOALIES

Philipp Grubauer, COL vs. ARI ($8,300): Grubauer has produced a few duds lately, but he still sports a .921 save percentage this season. Even if he's without Nathan MacKinnon (upper body) and Cale Makar (upper body) to provide offensive support, Grubuaer has a prime opportunity to take over this game, as the Coyotes rank last in the league over the last month with 1.95 xGF/60 at even strength.

Cal Petersen, LAK at ANH ($7,500): Petersen lost his last two games in overtime, stopping 57 shots between those outings. Overall, the 26-year-old is 3-0-2 with a .923 save percentage over his past five games. Petersen and Jonathan Quick have been alternating in the crease, and it should be the former's turn in net. The Ducks rank 30th in the league with 2.16 goals per game, so this matchup is as good as it gets.

Kaapo Kahkonen, MIN at VGK ($7,500): Kahkonen is taking over the No. 1 job after winning six straight and recording a .938 save percentage. I'm a bit hesitant to utilize him against the Golden Knights, but those worries will disappear if Stone and Pietrangelo sit out.

Thatcher Demko, VAN vs. MON ($7,300): Demko is red-hot with three straight wins against the Jets once and the Maple Leafs twice. In that stretch, he's given up just three goals, allowing a .969 save percentage. The Canucks can't afford to give Braden Holtby another shot until Demko falters. Demko's set up well Monday, as the Habs rank 19th over the last month with 2.13 xGF/60. 

VALUE PLAYS

Alex Tuch, VGK at MIN ($4,800): Ride the hot hand here. Kaapo Kahkonen has been impressive recently, but Tuch enters Monday's game with eight goals over the last seven games. He's a bargain against his former team. 

Rickard Rakell, ANH vs. LA ($4,500): Rakell is finally getting some good luck, as he's scored three goals on 20 shots over the past five games, adding six assists in that stretch. After converting on just 1.6 percent of his shots through the first 20 games, this is a welcomes surprise. It's more on par with his career, as he typically scores on around 10 percent of his shots. 

Gabriel Vilardi, LA at ANH ($4,300): Vilardi has flashed his first-round pedigree this year, especially lately, as he's posted three goals and four assists across the last 10 games. The 21-year-old is skating on the second line now, and he'll look to pile on a Ducks team that has given up at least three goals in 10 straight games. 

Tyson Jost, COL vs. ARI ($2,600): MacKinnon and J.T. Compher likely are out, so Jost should handle second-line duties. A 10th overall pick in 2016, Jost has produced just three points through 20 games this season, but he scored a total of 31 goals over the previous three campaigns. 

LINE STACKS

Oilers vs. Senators

Ryan Nugent-Hopkins (W - $7,400), Jesse Puljujarvi (W - $4,300), Tyler Ennis (W - $2,500)

The Oilers look ready to stack Connor McDavid ($9,200) and Leon Draisaitl ($8,100) on the top line. That's quite expensive and will be destructive if both players don't have multi-point nights, but the second line is quality and worthy of consideration. Nugent-Hopkins has 10 goals and as many assists through 26 games, and Puljujarvi's hitting his stride with four goals in the last nine contests. Meanwhile, the Senators have allowed 3.24 G/60 at even strength over the last month -- the second-most in the league.

Avalanche vs. Coyotes

Nazem Kadri (C - $6,300), Mikko Rantanen (W - $7,700), Andre Burakovsky (W - $4,200)

Kadri has responded admirably to his first-line promotion, and Rantanen has elevated his game as well. The former set up two goals Saturday, and the latter scored twice. MacKinnon isn't expected to return, so look for this trio to remain lethal Monday. After all, the Coyotes have given up 2.68 G/60 at even strength over the past month -- eighth-most in the league.

Blues at Sharks

Ryan O'Reilly (C - $6,100), Vladimir Tarasenko (W - $4,200), Jordan Kyrou (W - $4,700)

There aren't any goaltending situations that are worse than the Sharks. Over the last month, they've given up a league-high 3.32 G/60 at even strength. Tarasenko -- who scored more than 30 goals in five straight seasons before getting hurt last year -- won't be at this discount for long, and he was active offensively in his season debut Saturday, firing four shots on net. 

DEFENSEMEN

Thomas Chabot, OTT at EDM ($6,400): Chabot's starting to heat up with nine assists over the last eight games. He doesn't lean too much on the power play, as just two of those helpers came with an extra man, but that doesn't mean facing off against Edmonton's 22nd-ranked PK (75.9 percent) isn't an added bonus.

Samuel Girard, COL vs. ARI ($5,200): If Makar comes back, Girard is a less appealing option. Nevertheless, Girard has filled in admirably during Makar's absence, scoring twice and dishing out four assists -- two on the power play -- through five games. As long as he's handling big minutes on Colorado's blue line, he'll be in a prime position to keep on rolling. 

Vince Dunn, STL at SJ ($3,600): Dunn's taking on a larger role with Colton Parayko (back) out of the picture. He's starting to capitalize, too, recording three assists -- one on the power play -- over the last five games. It doesn't hurt that he has started 66.5 percent of his shifts in the offensive zone this year.

Ethan Bear, EDM vs. OTT ($2,500): Bear hasn't done much offensively this year, but we know he has the skill. After all, he posted 21 points as a rookie last year, adding 99 shots on net and 108 blocked shots. Most notably, he quarterbacks PP2, a unit that will take aim at Ottawa's 25th-ranked PK (75.3 percent). 

The author(s) of this article may play in daily fantasy contests including – but not limited to – games that they have provided recommendations or advice on in this article. In the course of playing in these games using their personal accounts, it's possible that they will use players in their lineups or other strategies that differ from the recommendations they have provided above. The recommendations in this article do not necessarily reflect the views of RotoWire. Jordan Mazzara plays in daily fantasy contests using the following accounts: FanDuel: Mazz30 Yahoo: Mazz30 DraftKings: Mazz30.
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ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Jordan Mazzara
Jordan has produced NFL and NHL content for RotoWire since 2017. He's the beat writer for the St. Louis Blues and Seattle Seahawks.
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