DraftKings NHL: Friday Picks

DraftKings NHL: Friday Picks

This article is part of our DraftKings NHL series.

GOALIE

Curtis McElhinney, CAR vs. BUF ($7,000): With three straight wins and just six goals allowed, it's a little perplexing McElhinney comes so cheap, but we're not protesting. The Sabres have lost four of their past six but they're pretty formidable at home with a 14-5-3 record. Jack Eichel is expected to return to the lineup, so that throws a wrench into things, but at this price McElhinney is a decent gamble.

CENTER

Mark Scheifele, WPG vs. DET ($7,300): The big Jets center has five points in his past three games and statistically having one of the best seasons of his young career. He has been flat-out dominant at home, where he's scored 35 of his 54 points, and in nine career games against the Red Wings has scored a goal and eight points. Expected starter Jimmy Howard has lost four of his past five and the blue line still has key bodies missing.

Henrik Borgstrom, FLA at CGY ($3,100): The 21-year-old rookie is still wet behind the ears so he moves up and down the lineup a ton, but there's no mistaking he's got second-line potential. Against a team with poor goaltending like the Flames, Borgstrom's value proposition is very attractive at this price for someone with so much upside. Borgstrom is averaging 15 minutes per game.

WING

Elias Lindholm, CGY vs. FLA ($7,000): He's the forgotten third wheel on the Flames' top line but he's just as good as any top winger on any other team. His production has exploded this season and it's not slowing down. He has seven points in his past five games, and though he has nine points in 15 career games against the Panthers, this is the first time he faces them as a Flame. Considering the Flames' explosive offense and the Panthers' mediocre goaltending, Lindholm is a solid play.

Jake Guentzel, PIT at ANA ($6,300): The league's newest $6-million-man has given the Penguins' zero buyers' remorse so far with five points in his past four games. After scoring 48 in 82 games last season Guentzel is on pace for 70-plus, and the Ducks have been the league's worst team for the past two weeks. John Gibson hasn't been nearly as good as he was at the beginning of the season and the Pens are on a roll.

Rickard Rakell, ANA vs. PIT ($5,400): Rakell played 19 minutes in his first game back from injury, showcasing just how much the Ducks need him. He was minus-2 with two shots against the Sens but we'll forgive that performance after a month-long break. The Pens will be a tough opponent, but Rakell will be similarly relied on for offense. There is a strong value proposition at this price for a first-line winger.

DEFENSE

Mark Giordano, CGY vs. FLA ($6,400): A three-assist effort against Colorado now gives him 43 points in 43 games and 19 in 17 games since Dec. 1. He's an elite defenseman that continues to get priced lower than a lot of his peers when production-wise he's been more consistent than anybody. He has 12 points in 13 career games against Florida, and it's a good matchup against a team that can't keep pucks out of their net.

Aaron Ekblad, FLA at CGY ($4,200): With just 17 points this season, it's time we all reconcile with the fact that Ekblad may not be a franchise defenseman. He is, however, still a high-volume shooter who logs a lot of minutes, and the fifth straight season will probably score double-digit goals. Ekblad has a low floor and the Flames' goaltending is tenuous at best. They're unlikely to shut out a talented Panthers offense.

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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