This article is part of our DraftKings NHL series.
GOALIE
Petr Mrazek, CAR vs. OTT ($8,000): The GAA wasn't pretty, but Mrazek has won three of his last four games. The Sens offense continues to be surprisingly effective, especially with Thomas Chabot in the lineup, but with a 6-0-2 career record against them, Mrazek and the 'Canes should still have the upper hand. Nino Niederreiter, who has always been a strong possession player, should be a solid addition to a high-volume shooting team who are 13-7-4 at home.
CENTER
Sebastian Aho, CAR vs. OTT ($7,100): He was shut out Tuesday against the Rangers but prior to that had six points in two games, giving him 51 in 46 this season. The former second-round pick has emerged as an offensive force this season, and against the Sens should have no problem getting scoring chances and putting a few points on the board. He's scored 34 points this season and notched two assists in the previous meeting.
Phillip Danault, MON at CLS ($4,600): He's a No. 2 center on any other team, but given the Habs' lack of depth down the middle and Max Domi's inconsistency, Danault has a firm grip on the top line. He's scored five points in his past five games, and while Pierre-Luc Dubois is a formidable foe, the underlying stats indicate Danault isn't too far off in terms of generating offense and driving play. Sergei Bobrovsky has also struggled all season.
WING
Johnny Gaudreau, CGY vs. DET ($7,700): A low-key and overlooked candidate for league MVP, Johnny Hockey's ability to generate offense and create plays out of nothing is going to give the Red Wings fits. Dylan Larkin can only do so much on his own, and the Wings blue line is too young and inexperienced. Gaudreau has scored 40 of his 71 points at home this season and 42 points over the past two months. He had a four-point game last time these two teams played.
Sam Reinhart, BUF at VAN ($5,400): After spending three seasons averaging 40-50 points, Reinhart has broken out this season. He's been a strong performer in front of his hometown team in the past, scoring a goal and an assist in three games. This will be his first and only visit this season, but did score two points against the Canucks in Buffalo.
Kasperi Kapanen, TOR at FLA ($4,800): He's a potential steal at this price, carrying a three-game point streak into the game against a team that doesn't defend very well. Kapanen, Nazem Kadri and Patrick Marleau combined for five points against the Lightning, and have been a far more effective line than the one with Auston Matthews and William Nylander. One area of concern is Kapanen's shooting percentage, which has fallen off a cliff, but if the Leafs get enough shots he's bound to get a point or two.
DEFENSE
Shea Weber, MON at CLS ($5,100): Since his return the Habs and Carey Price have both fared much better, showing off just how important he is to the team. Despite not playing for almost a full year, Weber continues to be solid defensively and consistently finish in the 40-50-point range. The Blue Jackets defend the slot quite well but also do concede a lot of shots from the point and near the crease, so look for some bombs from Weber and hopefully a few garbage goals from Brendan Gallagher to get the assist.
Filip Hronek, DET at CGY ($3,900): The talented blueliner has five points in six games in January after scoring just four in 15 games in October and December. His defensive play obviously needs work, but it's offense that matters in fantasy, and shooting against expected starter Mike Smith shouldn't pose much of a challenge. The drawback: Hronek has been sitting out as a healthy scratch despite his strong play, and if he does sit again Mike Green ($4,800) isn't a bad option.
