This article is part of our DraftKings NHL series.
SLATE PREVIEW
There are five games in the NHL on Friday, and the Blackhawks, Canadiens, Rangers and Coyotes are all playing for the second consecutive night. Interestingly, there are no notable favorites among the 10 teams in action, and the Blackhawks-Devils and Canadiens-Rangers bouts project to be the highest scoring.
GOALIES
The basement-dwelling Devils are a ripe opponent to target. Chicago is coming off an impressive overtime win in Boston on Thursday, and Corey Crawford ($7,700) should start. Taking a chance on the vetering finding his mid-November magic is in play -- he rolled off a 4-1-1 record with a .948 save percentage and 1.48 GAA. Just note, the Blackhawks are underdogs.
With Arizona playing the second leg of a back-to-back road set and third away game in four nights, this sets up as a tough matchup for Antti Raanta ($7,000). Pittsburgh also enters with a respectable 9-4-4 record dating back to late October. Still, the Finnish netminder is cheap and boasts a .924 save percentage for the campaign. Arizona allows the second fewest goals per hour in the league, too.
In the opposite crease, Matt Murray ($8,300) will be looking to capitalize on the vulnerable Coyotes to end his recent run of poor play (.856 save percentage through his past six appearances). He would checkout as a high-risk, high-reward flier. Tristan Jarry ($8,300) has allowed two goals or fewer in eight of 10 starts this season and owns a .936 save percentage, so if he receives the starting nod, the 24-year-old backstop carries less risk.
Braden Holtby's ($8,100) .909 save percentage is nothing to write home about, but he's also 14-2-4 on the season and eyeing a bounce-back showing after losing consecutive contests. Los Angeles has also scored the fifth fewest goals per 60 minutes this season and has lost five of its past seven games.
Carey Price ($7,600) snapped a six-game losing streak and an accompanying .840 save percentage with Tuesday's win over the Islanders, and it was the Habs only victory since Nov. 15. While the veteran is more of a price-point fit than go-to target, the Rangers are inconsistent, and Montreal's season is slipping away.
VALUE PLAYS/ONE-OFFS
A pair of young centers and former teammates standout as low-priced targets. Christian Dvorak ($3,600) has quietly found the scoresheet in five consecutive games while skating in a top offensive role. Dylan Strome ($3,900), on the other hand, collected a power-play goal, an assist and three shots in his return to action Thursday.
Sticking with the Blackhawks, Patrick Kane ($6,700) has been held to just a single assist through two December games, but he's received the shot bonus in both outings with 11 total. Additionally, he scored 11 goals and added 13 assists through 15 November contests, so he remains in top form. Kane's bargain-bin salary, and New Jersey allowing the second most goals per hour in the league only sweeten the deal.
Another go-to scorer to keep in mind is Evgeni Malkin ($6,800). He's collected 21 points -- five goals -- and 50 shots through his past 14 outings. He could also slide slightly under the radar because of Arizona's noted excellent defense.Still, the Coyotes are in a tough schedule spot, and Malkin's salary isn't prohibitive enough in comparison to his production.
Quickly developing into a power-play weapon, Kaapo Kakko ($4,000) has two tallies and five assists with the man advantage this season, which is good for a 40th-ranked 5.96 points per hour up a man. Add his respectable production to Montreal's third worst penalty-kill percentage, and the rookie checks out a value target.
This is a reasonable price to take a flier on Nikita Gusev ($3,800). He's recorded a goal, five assists, 30 shots and a 3.3 shooting percentage over his past nine outings, so there's positive shooting regression ahead. Also, the Blackhawks are eyeing a letdown showing after their upset win in Boston on Thursday.
FORWARD LINE STACKS
Washington's second line continues to produce respectable offensive numbers and projects as a mid-priced stack to consider. Lars Eller ($4,700), Jakub Vrana ($5,500) and T.J. Oshie ($5,400) have clicked for 3.53 goals per 60 minutes while driving possession with a 55.7 Corsi For percentage. The Ducks also enter with an active 3-6-4 record and allowing a healthy 3.58 goals per hour.
An Oilers' power-play stack is always in play. Edmonton boasts the best power-play percentage in the league, and the Kings own the 28th-ranked penalty-kill percentage. Additionally, the cost of James Neal ($5,000) and Sam Gagner ($3,200) help soften the salary blows of Connor McDavid ($8,500) and Leon Draisaitl ($7,700). The four players also all skate on the top two lines, so there's balanced five-on-five exposure.
With Montreal struggling, Ryan Strome ($4,800), Artemi Panarin ($7,800) and Chris Kreider ($5,300) are a potentially sneaky trio to target. They've clicked for a dominant 7.29 goals per hour this season overall and an equally impressive 5.34 mark at five-on-five.
DEFENSEMEN
At some point, Adam Fox's ($4,100) salary has to catch up to his offensive surge. He's up to 13 points -- four goals -- through his past 16 games while logging 2:57 of power-play time, and his 2.51 points per 60 minutes rank sixth among all regular defensemen during that stretch.
Everytime it looks like John Carlson ($7,500) might slow down, he responds with an offensive outburst. The veteran has three goals, three assists, eight shots and six blocks through his past three contests and is up to a league-best 3.35 points per hour among regular defensemen for the campaign. The price is steep, but it might also keep his ownership in check.
This salary doesn't match Oliver Ekman-Larsson's ($3,700) role or upside, but with just 11 points through 30 contests, the veteran hasn't produced to his potential. While he's still logging 24:07 of ice time per contest with 2:44 on the power play, his 0.91 points per 60 minutes lag behind the 1.29 mark he posted over the previous three years. Ekman-Larsson is worth a look if the price fits your lineup strategy.
Mired in a six-game point drought, Drew Doughty ($5,200) is a breakout candidate against Edmonton. The Oilers have lost three of their past four outings and allowed 16 goals during the skid, whereas Doughty logs top minutes in all situations and is a candidate to both mark the scoresheet and receiver the shots or blocks bonus to pad his fantasy point total.
After a dominant 2018-19 showing, especially in the second half, Erik Gustafsson ($4,200) is beginning to contribute more consistent offense this year. He's recorded three tallies, three helpers, 18 shots and eight blocks through his past 11 outings and remains the power-play quarterback on the No. 1 unit. This should also prove to be a great matchup with New Jersey owning a 24th-ranked 76.1 penalty-kill percentage.
