CENTERS
Spend up for: Nicklas Backstrom, Washington Capitals ($6,500)
Backstrom has burned the Carolina Hurricanes throughout his career; he has four points, three blocks and six shots on goal in three games this season, and 50 in 44 regular-season games against them. Washington has Backstrom and Alex Ovechkin back together, so take advantage of the center's moderate price (10th at his position).
DraftKings picks: Gagner stepping up for Flyers
Low-priced forward emerges with Jakub Voracek sidelined; DFS targets by position
Value pick: Sam Gagner, Philadelphia Flyers ($3,400)
With Jakub Voracek out again, Gagner should continue to flank Sean Couturier and Michael Raffl on the Flyers' second line -- where he has had plenty of success. He has two goals, two assists and six SOG in his past four games, and is still affordable at $900 above the DraftKings minimum price. Two of the points in that span have come on the power play, where Gagner is operating on the second unit.
WINGS
Spend up for: Jamie Benn, Dallas Stars ($8,000)
Benn leads the NHL in home goals this season, scoring 24 of his 34 at American Airlines Center. Though the Los Angeles Kings are a daunting task, they are playing on the second of a back-to-back set. Tough opponents haven't fazed Benn anyway, with two goals, two assists, two blocks and eight SOG in his past two games against the St. Louis Blues and Chicago Blackhawks, Dallas' competition for the Central Division crown.
Value pick: David Pastrnak, Boston Bruins ($4,200)
Pastrnak is the perfect third wing to employ when rounding out your DFS lineup. He has four goals and 10 SOG in his past four games, and is playing on the Bruins' second line with David Krejci and Loui Eriksson. He's tied for 46th in price among wings, so draft him with confidence and spend up elsewhere.
DEFENSEMEN
Spend up for: Shayne Gostisbehere, Philadelphia Flyers ($6,100)
Gostisbehere has 21 points and 4.0 DraftKings points per game in 24 home games this season, and has three goals and eight SOG in his past three games. Ten of his 15 goals have come at home, and his defensive play is improving with 15 blocks in his past 10 games compared to 42 in 49 games for the season.
Value pick: Nick Leddy, New York Islanders ($4,700)
The Pittsburgh Penguins allow the sixth-most DraftKings points to opposing defensemen, and Leddy has taken advantage with three points (one goal, two assists), one block and four SOG against them this season (4.8 DraftKings points per game). Four of his five goals have come on the road this season and he continues to man the top power-play unit for New York (18 power-play points).
GOALIES
Spend up for: Andrei Vasilevskiy, Tampa Bay Lightning ($8,000)
Vasilevskiy is priced sixth among goalies and has a strong track record against the Toronto Maple Leafs. Three of his 11 wins this season have come against them with a total of five goals allowed in those games (.949 save percentage).
Value pick: Steve Mason, Philadelphia Flyers ($7,300)
Mason has won three of his past four and gets the call in the Flyers' biggest game of the season against the Detroit Red Wings, one of the teams they are chasing for an Eastern Conference wild card position. He is 9-6-5 at Wells Fargo Center this season with a .927 save percentage and three shutouts.
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