Fantasy picks: Expect response from Blackhawks

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

C - Jonathan Toews, CHI ($6,000)
The Chicago Blackhawks captain was livid after a 6-0 loss to the Washington Capitals on Friday, so expect a response Sunday against the Minnesota Wild at home. Toews has been much better at United Center this season with five goals and nine assists in 19 games. He has at least 3.5 DraftKings points in six of his past 10 games, with three goals, four assists, 32 shots on goal in that span. Toews offers a high floor and is affordable for one of the elite centers on the four-game slate.
C - Lars Eller, WSH ($3,500)
During the Capitals' eight-game winning streak, Eller has a goal, three assists and 17 SOG, which aren't terrible numbers considering his price and that he's a bottom-six forward. Despite playing on the third line, Eller is averaging 14:43 of ice time per game with 3:11 coming shorthanded. The Capitals get the Philadelphia Flyers at home coming off a 6-3 loss to the Boston Bruins on Saturday and Eller has a decent shot at getting at least a point should Washington score four-plus goals.

W - Patrick Kane, CHI ($7,400)
Kane and Toews may not play together as much anymore, but that doesn't mean you can't pair them in your lineup. Toews gives you exposure to the Blackhawks' top line and second power-play unit, and Kane gives you a shot at points from the second line and first PP unit. The right wing had his four-game point streak (one goal, seven assists) end Friday, but is averaging 4.3 DraftKings points per game in his past 10. Kane has gotten 30 of his 45 points this season at home and has 30 points in 36 games against the Wild in his career.
W - Andrew Cogliano, ANA ($4,800)
The Anaheim Ducks likely will get a great matchup against a struggling goaltender Jake Allen of the St. Louis Blues. Allen has an .870 save percentage in four games in January, and has allowed at least three goals in five of six. Cogliano enters Saturday with a point in back-to-back games, but what's most surprising over that stretch is his shot volume (13). He's playing on the Ducks' most productive line with Ryan Kesler and Jakob Silfverberg (eight goals, five assists combined in past six games), plus he should get a slight bump in value playing at Honda Center.

W - Kyle Palmieri, NJD ($4,600)
The New Jersey Devils' offense is still an enigma, but Palmieri is starting to look like the forward that scored 30 goals last season. He has three goals, four assists and 21 SOG in his past 10 games (3.1 DraftKings points per contest), and has a combined 14.0 DraftKings in his past two. Palmieri has played well on the road with five goals, 12 assists and 50 SOG in 24 games, and scored a PP goal against the Vancouver Canucks in a 3-2 win on Dec. 6.
D - John Carlson, WSH ($6,200)
With fewer options on defense, it isn't a bad idea paying up at the position. Carlson is the highest-priced defenseman on the four-game slate and is relatively affordable considering how productive he's been lately. He has at least 3.0 DraftKings points in six straight games, including 8.5 (two assists, four blocks, five SOG) in a 5-2 win against the Pittsburgh Penguins on Wednesday. Carlson is another player with great home splits (four goals, 14 assists in 23 games) and will give you exposure to players like Alex Ovechkin and Nicklas Backstrom at even strength and on the power play.

D - Cam Fowler, ANA ($5,400)
The second-highest priced defenseman is Fowler, who leads the Ducks in time on ice per game (24:43). He enters Saturday with an assist and 22 SOG in his past 10 games, but should get back on track against the Blues, who enter Saturday having allowed five goals in back-to-back games. You're already aware of Allen's struggles, which could spark Anaheim's power play which has one goal in the past seven games. Fowler has a great chance to return value even if he doesn't make the scoresheet, with 63 blocks and 97 SOG in 44 games.
G - John Gibson, ANA ($7,800) or Jonathan Bernier, ANA ($7,700)
With the Ducks playing the second of a back-to-back Sunday against the Blues, there's a chance Gibson will play Saturday and Bernier on Sunday. If this is the case, Bernier has been great at home (3-0-1, 1.63 goals-against average, .939 save percentage). Gibson has been even better at Honda Center, going 11-5-1 with a 2.20 GAA, .928 SV% and two shutouts in 17 starts. The Blues enter Saturday having scored a combined three goals in their past two road games.

UTIL - Matt Dumba, MIN ($4,200)
Dumba has mostly been used as a power-play specialist, manning the second point with defenseman Ryan Suter for the Wild. The defenseman had three assists (7.0 DraftKings points) in a 7-1 win against the Montreal Canadiens on Thursday, and has two goals, six assists, 10 blocks and 17 SOG in the past 10 games. The Blackhawks likely won't allow six goals again Sunday, but there's also a chance their defense plays poorly again. Should the Wild offense continue to churn out goals, Dumba will be one of the main beneficiaries.
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