This article is part of our DraftKings NHL series.
Tuesday marks the final NHL slate of 2019, with nine games scheduled for 7:00 PM Eastern time or later. Below, you'll find an overview of the matchups and suggested options for crafting an effective lineup.
SLATE PREVIEW
The robust selection in this slate includes a pair of high-powered Florida-based offenses facing vulnerable opponents, while the Sharks have a nice opportunity to beat up on the league's punching bag in Detroit. Additionally, the reigning champs will be looking to stretch their winning streak to nine games as seven of the league's top 11 offenses — including each of the top four — take the ice to close out 2019.
GOALIES
Jordan Binnington ($8,300) continues to be a chalk play in net for the streaking Blues, as he's won his last six starts to improve to 19-6-4 with a 2.39 GAA and .921 save percentage. 2019 was the year of Binnington and the Blues, and the standout netminder should cap it in style against Arizona's bottom-10 offense.
Carter Hart ($8,200) struggled in his last start, but he was superb in his previous three outings, winning all three while holding each opponent to one goal. The young Flyers netminder should rediscover that dominant form against a Kings team that's scoring the third-fewest goals per game (2.54).
Something about playing on home ice brings out the best in Calgary's David Rittich ($7,800). Dating back to the start of last season, he's 22-5-7 on home ice and 22-13-3 elsewhere. His strong play at the Scotiabank Saddledome should continue against the visiting Blackhawks, who rank in the bottom 10 offensively with 2.77 goals per game.
VALUE PLAYS/ONE-OFFS
Connor McDavid ($8,100) is always a major threat to produce, especially at home against bottom-10 defensive teams like the Rangers. His 22-41-63 line through 41 games has McDavid leading the league in points, so clearing out cap space for him in favorable matchups is rarely a poor strategy.
Steven Stamkos' ($6,900) seven power-play goals have him tied for the team lead in that category with Brayden Point, and Stamkos has 15 points with the extra man to Point's nine. With a 14-21-35 line in 34 games played, Stamkos is over a point-per-game pace in general, and the Lightning winger should continue to produce against a Sabres team that's killing off only 74.3 percent of its penalties, which is the fourth-lowest rate in the league.
Tyler Bertuzzi's ($6,000) breakout has been one of the few silver linings in what has been an awful season for Detroit. The 24-year-old winger leads the team in goals (14), assists (16) and points (30) through 40 games, and Bertuzzi will have an excellent chance to add to those totals against a Sharks team that's yielding 3.40 goals per game — third-most in the league.
Warren Foegele ($3,800) is currently being deployed on a scoring line with Andrei Svechnikov, and Foegele showed that he has the skills to thrive in such situations with two goals and an assist in Carolina's last game. The hard-nosed winger has an 8-11-19 line through 39 games, and a Canadiens team that's allowing 3.26 goals per game will have a hard time keeping Foegele off the scoresheet.
FORWARD LINE STACKS
Panthers at Blue Jackets
Aleksander Barkov (C - $6,000), Jonathan Huberdeau (W - $6,300), Evgenii Dadonov (W - $5,400)
This line was unstoppable in Florida's last game, combining for four goals, five assists and 15 shots in Sunday's 6-5 win over Montreal. A repeat performance could be forthcoming against a Blue Jackets team that saw starting goalie Joonas Korpisalo leave Sunday's game with an injury. If Korpisalo can't go, Florida will likely get to face Elvis Merzlikins, who is yet to notch a win through 10 NHL appearances while carrying a 3.41 GAA and .889 save percentage. Overall, Huberdeau has a 16-37-53 line through 38 games, Barkov's at 13-32-45 and Dadonov sits at 14-15-29.
Sharks at Red Wings
Barclay Goodrow (C - $3,600), Timo Meier (W - $6,100), Evander Kane (W - $6,800)
This season hasn't gone as the Sharks envisioned it, but San Jose is still much better than the lowly Red Wings, who are allowing a league-high 3.90 goals per game while scoring a league-low 2.17. Kane and Meier are in a three-way tie with Tomas Hertl for the team lead in goals at 14, with Meier coming off a hat trick. The affordable Goodrow will be looking to stay hot after dishing three helpers in his last game to bring his season line to 6-11-17 through 40 games.
Blues at Coyotes
Brayden Schenn (C - $5,400), Jaden Schwartz (W - $5,100), Jordan Kyrou (W - $2,800)
Stacking against Arizona has rarely been an effective strategy, but the Coyotes are vulnerable with Darcy Kuemper (lower body) on the shelf. Antti Raanta has struggled to carry the load in net since Kuemper went down, suffering regulation losses in each of his past three appearances while allowing 10 goals in less than seven full periods. Meanwhile, the defending champs come in riding an eight-game winning streak, and this line has carried the offense for St. Louis lately. Schenn leads the team with 17 goals and is tied with Schwartz for second in points with 34 through 40 games. That output includes a 3-5-8 line in the past five games for Schenn and a 4-7-11 line in Schwartz's last six. The affordable Kyrou has added a 2-2-4 line in his past six games, as his talent is starting to translate at the top level after the 21-year-old flirted with a point-per-game pace in the AHL both this season and last season.
DEFENSEMEN
Ivan Provorov ($5,300) leads the Flyers with six power-play goals and is tied with Travis Konecny for the team lead in power-play points with 12. That success with the extra man should continue against Los Angeles' vulnerable penalty kill, which ranks third from the bottom at 73.7 percent.
Like his teammate Stamkos, Victor Hedman ($6,400) is primed for success against Buffalo's generous penalty kill. Hedman leads the Lightning with 19 power-play points, and he's amassed a 2-6-8 line over a three-game point streak heading into this one.
Brent Burns ($6,300) hasn't been as dominant offensively after scoring 75-plus points in three of the previous four seasons, but the bearded blueliner has channeled that form recently with five points in his last five games. He should stay hot against the Red Wings, so this is the time to pay up for Burns.
Cale Makar ($4,800) is a steal at his current valuation and will likely see his price climb again before long. Colorado's standout rookie owns an 8-21-29 line through 31 games and has a good chance to add more offense against a Jets team that's 1-4-1 in its last six.
