Fantasy picks: Patrice Bergeron solid building block

Each day this season, NHL.com's fantasy staff will provide daily picks for DraftKings NHL contests. This article includes expensive and value plays and should be used as a basis for your roster decision-making.

#

TOP CENTER: Patrice Bergeron, BOS ($7,400)
After a slow start, Bergeron is better than a point per game with 33 in 29 games since Dec. 29. He has 125 shots on goal in that span and has four points and 13 SOG in three games against the Detroit Red Wings (5.5 DraftKings points per game). It would cost a pretty penny to stack Bergeron with longtime Boston Bruins linemate Brad Marchand ($7,300), so go the cheaper route by drafting his other wing, David Backes ($5,000).

#

VALUE CENTER: Jason Spezza, DAL ($5,000)
Spezza has at least 60 points in each of the past four full seasons, but has underachieved with 38 points in 54 games. That said, the Dallas Stars center has turned it on lately with at least a point in five of his past six games and an average of 4.5 DraftKings points during his four-game point streak. He has strong home splits (26 points in 32 games) and should score at least a point against the Ottawa Senators, his former team.

TOP WING: Mike Hoffman, OTT ($6,000)
Hoffman is one of 11 players League-wide with at least 20 goals, 20 assists (24), 19 power-play points and 180 SOG (181) entering Tuesday. He has 19 points in 26 road games and is always in a good spot playing with Mark Stone and Erik Karlsson on the Senators' first power-play unit. He ended a six-game goal drought by scoring against the Bruins on Monday and has 16 points in 21 games against the Western Conference. The Stars have allowed 13 goals in their past three home games, so drafting multiple Ottawa players could pay dividends.
VALUE WING: Jake Guentzel, PIT ($4,600)
The effect of playing on a line with Sidney Crosby is clear when comparing Guentzel's DraftKings points-per-game average (2.4) for the season to his rate over the past 10 games (3.1). Even since Conor Sheary ($6,000) returned from an upper-body injury, Guentzel has remained up top with Crosby and has a high ceiling at the Winnipeg Jets, who are allowing the seventh-most DraftKings points to left wings.
TOP DEFENSEMAN: John Klingberg, DAL ($4,900)
Since Feb. 24, Klingberg leads all defensemen in points (eight in six games). He also has nine blocked shots and 13 SOG in that span for an average of 5.0 DraftKings points per game. He has scored eight of his 11 goals at home and has 26 points in 34 games in Dallas with constant exposure to Jamie Benn and Tyler Seguin. The Senators are allowing the fourth-most DraftKings points to defensemen.

Video: DAL@FLA: Klingberg nets a clutch go-ahead tally

VALUE DEFENSEMAN: Mark Streit, PIT ($4,100)
Streit has been productive from a daily fantasy standpoint in his first two games since joining the Penguins in a trade on March 1, combining for two points, two blocks and eight SOG. He scored a goal with the Philadelphia Flyers against the Jets on Nov. 17. Winnipeg has an explosive offense, but is allowing the fourth-most goals per game (3.10) and is tied for the fifth-worst penalty kill (77.7 percent). With Kris Letang (upper body) likely sidelined again, expect at least second-unit power-play minutes from Streit.
GOALIE SPOTLIGHT: Tuukka Rask, BOS ($8,400)
Rask is the most expensive goalie on this three-game slate, but is by far the safest bet with the Ottawa-Dallas and Pittsburgh-Winnipeg games likely to be high scoring. Rask is 2-0-1 with eight goals allowed in three games against the Red Wings, and three of his 14 home wins have been shutouts. He's lost two straight, so look for him to bounce back in a favorable spot. He has a great chance at the win considering the Bruins have scored 39 goals in 11 games (8-3-0) under coach Bruce Cassidy.
---
Check out DraftKings.com to play 1-Day Fantasy Hockey today. Entering is quick and simple: sign up for a free account, enter the $3 1-Day Fantasy Hockey contest and set your lineup, catch the games and win!
DraftKings fantasy hockey contests are operated by DraftKings Inc. and are in no way sponsored or administered by the NHL and/or any of its affiliated entities. Prohibited and/or not available in AL, AZ, DE, GA, HI, IA, ID, LA, MT, NV and WA. Offered in IL and TX pending litigation. See terms for additional eligibility rules.