Fantasy picks: Torey Krug piling up points

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 - Patrice Bergeron, BOS ($6,100)
Bergeron leads the NHL in shots on goal since Dec. 1 with 82 in 21 games. He is a safe DFS play based on his shot volume alone, but his recent scoring uptick sweetens the deal. He has seven points and 38 SOG in his past seven games. He got off to a slow start offensively and is remains pace for 33 points if he plays 79 games, but he's maintained a stable DraftKings presence (3.2 points per game) and is in the midst of his best scoring stretch of the season.
C - Ryan O'Reilly, BUF ($5,800)
The Tampa Bay Lightning are getting goalie Ben Bishop back Thursday, but don't be surprised if O'Reilly and the Buffalo Sabres spoil the party. O'Reilly, who's centering Kyle Okposo and playing on the first power-play unit with Jack Eichel, has 15 points in 15 road games and is somehow still priced below $6,000 after three straight multipoint outings.

W - Jonathan Drouin, TBL ($5,600)
Drouin has 11 points and 25 SOG in his past 10 games for the Lightning, an average of 4.0 DraftKings points per game. He has had his ups and downs this season, but has a strong points-per-game average (.76; 26 in 34 games). He has 16 points in as many home games and had 3.0 DraftKings points (one assist, two SOG) against the Sabres on Nov. 17.
W - Thomas Vanek, DET ($5,200)
Vanek, who plays on the first power-play unit for the Detroit Red Wings, has been close to a point-per-game player with 26 points (six on power play) in 30 games. He has 11 points and 27 SOG in his past 10 games (4.1 DraftKings points per game), and 15 points and 37 SOG in 16 road games (3.6). He faces the Dallas Stars, who are allowing the third-most goals per game this season (3.02).

W - Pat Maroon, EDM ($5,100)
Playing alongside Connor McDavid has spiked the performance of many Edmonton Oilers forwards at different points this season, most recently Maroon. He has five goals, one assist and 21 SOG in his past five games for an average of 6.0 DraftKings points per game in the span. He has eight goals in his past 10 games and is a glaring value pick that you can't afford to pass up in daily contests.
D - Justin Schultz, PIT ($5,200)
Schultz is playing the best hockey of his NHL career with at least one point in 15 of his past 18 games (21 total in span) to finally reach his offensive potential with the Pittsburgh Penguins. He has points in six straight games after getting an assist against the Washington Capitals on Wednesday, and had two points, two blocks and three SOG (7.5 DraftKings points) against the Ottawa Senators on Dec. 5. The Senators allow the second-most DraftKings points to opposing defensemen and Schultz's price remains moderate.
D - Torey Krug, BOS ($4,700)
Since Dec. 22, Krug is tied for second in points among defensemen (11 in 10 games) behind Brent Burns of the San Jose Sharks (14 in 9). Krug's five power-play points are tied for second at his position in that same span behind Victor Hedman of the Lightning (six). He faces the Nashville Predators, who are allowing the sixth-most DraftKings points to opposing defensemen. Krug is by far the Bruins' biggest source of offense from their defense; he leads Boston defensemen with 25 points and Zdeno Chara is second with 10.

G - Peter Budaj, LAK ($7,600)
Sergei Bobrovsky (15), Carey Price (14) and Braden Holtby (13) are the only goalies League-wide with more home wins than Budaj (12). Expect the Los Angeles Kings goalie to bounce back from a rare blip on the radar at Staples Center in his last outing, when he allowed five goals on 22 shots faced against the Stars on Monday. He had won three straight prior to that game and the Kings have had two days off to prepare for the St. Louis Blues. Budaj is tied for 15th among goalies in DraftKings price.
UTIL - Patrick Sharp, DAL ($4,700)
Sharp has been ravaged by injury this season but is back to his ways as a dangerous scorer with a heavy shot volume. He returned DFS value in the Stars' 2-0 loss to the Anaheim Ducks on Tuesday with six SOG, and has at least four SOG in three of his past four games. He had one goal, two assists and four SOG for 9.0 DraftKings points against the Kings and is long overdue for a breakthrough at home, where he has no goals, one assist and 15 SOG in seven games. Jamie Benn's return to the lineup should help Sharp's cause at even strength and/or on the power play.
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