DraftKings NHL: Thursday Picks

DraftKings NHL: Thursday Picks

This article is part of our DraftKings NHL series.

GOALIE

Carey Price, MON vs. CAR ($7,900) – Tuesday was Price's first win in four games, and he gets a chance to get on a roll against Carolina, which has won just three of their past 10. Price is 14-7-2 with a .934 save percentage in his career against Carolina, so the numbers work in his favor.

CENTER

Nathan MacKinnon, COL at STL ($7,400) – Expected Blues starter Jake Allen has just one win in his past 10 appearances. MacKinnon should see plenty of Alex Pietrangelo or Colton Parayko, both of whom are outstanding defensemen, but it seems like nobody has been able to contain him this season. MacKinnon has scored more goals in January than any other month in his career.

Jack Eichel, BUF at VAN ($6,800) – Eichel is currently riding a seven-game point streak, including five in his last two. Even though the Canucks are coming off a 6-2 spanking of the Kings on Tuesday, defense and goaltending has not been their strongest suit. Expected starter Jacob Markstrom hasn't really been able to nail down the No. 1 job, and his .909 save percentage is just slightly above his career average of .906.

WING

Alexander Ovechkin, WAS at FLA ($8,100) – Not counting the Atlanta franchise, the Panthers are Ovechkin's third-favorite target, having amassed 35 goals and 73 points in 58 games against them, trailing only the Hurricanes (85 points) and the Lightning (84 points). The Panthers were dismantled by the Stars in a 6-1 loss on Tuesday, with James Reimer getting hurt just three minutes into the game. That means Harri Sateri, who is taking a second crack at the NHL and has only three appearances under his belt, is expected to start.

Brock Boeser, VAN vs. BUF ($6,600) – After going six games without a goal, the Canucks' golden boy scored twice against the struggling Kings on Tuesday. Boeser skated with the Sedin twins, a natural fit for the right-shooting sniper, and he will likely stay on that line against the Sabres, who have been playing better lately but still have half of their regular defensemen sidelined.

James Neal, VGK vs. NYI ($6,000) – Neal is riding a four-game goal streak, and Vegas has been near unbeatable at home with a 19-2-2 record. Meanwhile, the Islanders are 11-13-2 on the road, and Neal has 12 goals and 22 points in 24 career games against them.

DEFENSE

Brent Burns, SJ vs. NYR ($7,100) – Burns has registered six assists in his past five games, and with 39 points in 47 games, he's making a mid-season charge in the scoring race. After starting the season with 11 points in 23 contests, he's scored 28 in his past 24. The Rangers defense is quite good at blocking shots and Henrik Lundqvist is having a fantastic season at age 35, but their ability to move the puck takes a hit without Kevin Shattenkirk. If they get pinned in their own zone, Burns should be able to get plenty of rubber on net.

John Klingberg, DAL vs. TOR ($6,400) – The Leafs are playing the second of a back-to-back on the road, and Klingberg's been on fire with five assists in his past two games. When head coach Ken Hitchcock can get the matchups he wants at home, Klingberg's been very productive with 29 points in 24 games with a plus-12 rating.

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.
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ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Jason Chen
Jason won the 2021 FSWA Hockey Writer of the Year award, and was also a finalist on 2019. He joined RotoWire in 2013. Jason has also written for Yahoo Sports, CBS Sports, The Hockey News, The Hockey Hall of Fame's Legends Magazine, and Centre Ice Magazine.
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