Fantasy picks: Eric Staal turns back clock with Wild

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.
NOTE: This lineup is for 10-game Saturday contests beginning at 7 p.m. ET.

C - Eric Staal, MIN ($6,500)
Staal, 32, is tied for the most points in the NHL since Dec. 4 with 22 in 17 games. He's on pace for 78 points, which would be his most since 2007-08 with the Carolina Hurricanes (82 in 82 games). The Minnesota Wild visit the Dallas Stars, who are allowing the third-most DraftKings points to opposing centers. Staal has a goal, three blocks and four shots on goal in two games against the Stars this season (3.3 DraftKings points per game), and is a point-per-game player on the road (22 in 22 games).
C - Victor Rask, CAR ($5,700)
Rask, who is second on the Hurricanes in scoring (31 points) behind linemate Jeff Skinner (32), faces the New York Islanders with each team on short rest after playing Friday. Rask had three points against the Columbus Blue Jackets on Tuesday and has 16 points in 18 home games. Carolina's deep forward group and possession system should be too much for the Islanders, who have been outscored 49-38 in 16 road games.

W - Leon Draisaitl, EDM ($6,100)
Draisaitl has torched the Calgary Flames for two goals, two assists, one block and six SOG in two games this season. He's in a great spot on the first line with Connor McDavid and underrated goal-scorer Pat Maroon (17). Draisaitl is averaging the same number of DraftKings points per game (3.4) as Johnny Gaudreau ($6,900) and Jamie Benn ($6,700) yet is much more affordable.
W - Alexander Radulov, MTL ($5,800)
Radulov has 17 points (five goals, 12 assists) in 20 home games and faces the New York Rangers, who will be on the second of a back-to-back. Expect a response from the Montreal Canadiens after a 7-1 road loss to the Wild on Thursday, and their top two forwards Max Pacioretty and Radulov should have some involvement. Radulov has 16 points in 20 games on one day of rest, and plays with Pacioretty on the top line and first power-play unit.

W - Anthony Mantha, DET ($5,300)
Mantha continues to be worth the moderate price of admission with at least 4.0 DraftKings points in eight of his past 10 games. He's been a fixture with Henrik Zetterberg in a top-six role and also plays on the second power-play unit. He has a strong shot volume (67 in 27 games; 31 in past 10) and faces the Pittsburgh Penguins, who have allowed a combined nine goals in their past two road games.
D - Dion Phaneuf, OTT ($4,500)
Phaneuf is one of eight players with at least 80 SOG (86) and 80 (84) blocked shots. Daily fantasy owners should invest in him over the slightly cheaper Johnny Boychuk of the Islanders (who's also on that list) because Phaneuf plays on the Ottawa Senators' first power-play unit with Erik Karlsson. Phaneuf faces his former team, the Toronto Maple Leafs, and should return value even if he does not record a point.

D - Marc-Edouard Vlasic, SJS ($4,000)
Vlasic returned from injury this week and averaged 26:51 of ice time in the San Jose Sharks' back-to-back set Tuesday and Wednesday. He combined for two assists, 10 blocks and three SOG in the span, and is a cheap, high-floor defenseman worth rostering against a familiar team in the St. Louis Blues. Vlasic had three points, 11 SOG and 14 blocks in six games against them in the 2016 Stanley Cup Playoffs.
G - Carey Price, MTL ($7,500)
Price is 4-4-2 with 32 goals allowed in his past 10 games after allowing all seven goals against the Wild on Thursday. The Rangers will be on short rest, Antti Raanta will likely be in net, and this is a bounce-back opportunity for Price at home. He has lost two straight at Bell Centre against two of the best teams in the NHL (Wild, Washington Capitals), but is still 14-4-2 with a .932 save percentage and two shutouts at home this season. It's extremely rare to see Price priced this low.

UTIL - Nino Niederreiter, MIN ($4,600)
Niederreiter has two goals, an assist and four SOG in two games against the Stars this season, and has 15 points and 43 SOG in 22 road games. He is coming off a two-goal game against the Canadiens on Thursday, and the Stars defense is vulnerable against an offense (3.23 goals per game, 4th in NHL) as deep as Minnesota, which rolls three strong lines and two dangerous power-play units.
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