This article is part of our DraftKings NHL series.
GOALIE
Tristan Jarry, PIT at PHI ($7,400) – Matt Murray is day-to-day with an undisclosed ailment, and Jarry looked pretty good making 31 saves against Carolina despite being tagged with a loss. Jarry has allowed just three goals in his past two starts, so he'll likely get the nod over Casey DeSmith against their in-state rival. The Flyers offense is formidable and the Penguins haven't looked like a championship-caliber team all season, but the Pens were victorious in their previous meeting and Jarry gives you a cheap route to a possible win.
CENTER
Auston Matthews, TOR vs. TB ($7,100) – He scored two goals in his previous game so he's shaken off all the rust since returning from injury, and with his talent it shouldn't matter who he's facing. Matthews is elite and his line was the only one that finished with a positive plus-minus in a 6-3 loss against Vegas on New Year's Eve, which means they may get a little more ice time from Mike Babcock, who rewards good two-way play. The Lightning will try to limit Matthews' shooting opportunities, but that hasn't always proven successful; Matthews has 14 shots on goal in his past four games.
Brayden Point, TB at TOR ($5,800) – Point and Tyler Johnson have formed a very small but also very skilled duo on the second line and combined for two goals and two assists Sunday against Columbus. Point is Tampa Bay's best-kept secret, and he now has 36 points in 38 games with only five on the power play, a testament to his play at even strength. The Leafs were horrendous defensively in their last outing, and if they do that against the Lightning, they're going to get blown away.
WING
Alex Ovechkin, WAS at CAR ($7,700) – It's been a while since Ovechkin has made headlines but he might against Carolina, a club that has had a lot of trouble keeping pucks out of its own net. Ovechkin registered three assists and six shots against the Devils on Saturday, and the Hurricanes are an easier opponent. Cam Ward has won six straight games, but can you really trust him? Since entering the league, Ovechkin's put up 80 points – 33 of which are goals – in 69 career games against the Hurricanes.
Evander Kane, BUF vs. NYR ($7,000) – I get it, the Winter Classic is more of a spectacle than a hockey game, and if the Canada-USA outdoor game at the World Juniors in Buffalo is any indication, it's going to be a tough slog. Even though tough conditions could negate Kane's speed, he's also one of the league's rare premier power forwards and he's putting together a nice season with 34 points in 38 games. He'll go to the tough areas and grind for pucks, which makes him an ideal candidate to perform well in an outdoor game.
David Pastrnak, BOS at NYI ($6,200) – When I say Pastrnak has hit a rough patch, it's relative; although he hasn't scored since Dec. 13 and has just one assist in his past three games, he's still got 34 points in 37 games this season. The Bruins' top line is among the league's most dominant, and the Islanders' strength this season clearly has not been its goaltending. Pastrnak will have plenty of opportunities to showcase his skill against a defense that has just two healthy veterans: Thomas Hickey and Nick Leddy.
DEFENSE
Victor Hedman, TB at TOR ($6,300) – Shea Theodore had his way against the Leafs on Sunday, so the far superior Hedman should as well. Hedman has been held without a point just once since Dec. 9, and enters Tuesday with a three-game assist streak. Wunderkind Mikhail Sergachev ($4,800) is also a good option, but Hedman has a bigger role and will get much more playing time. The Leafs can't afford to have any defensive breakdowns if they want to beat the East's best, and Frederik Andersen has not been very sharp lately.
Shayne Gostisbehere, PHI vs. PIT ($5,200) – Nearly forgotten on a young and promising blue line after finishing with just seven goals and a minus-21 rating in 76 games last year, Gostisbehere already has eight goals and a plus-1 rating through 35 games, leading all Flyers defensemen in scoring. The Penguins look wounded right now, and will likely be without the services of No. 1 goalie Matt Murray, providing the Flyers with a juicy chance to leap ahead of their in-state rival in the ridiculously close Metro Division.
