Fantasy picks: Jonathan Drouin elevating production

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 - Evgeni Malkin, PIT ($7,400)
Malkin has 15 points and 41 shots on goal in his past 10 games for the Pittsburgh Penguins for an average of 5.7 DraftKings points per game. He's arguably been the most dominant fantasy player in the NHL this season yet is tied for sixth in price among skaters on this 10-game schedule. He ranks third in NHL scoring (37 points in 33 games) after a three-point game against the New York Rangers on Tuesday and has 19 points in 14 regular-season games against the Columbus Blue Jackets.
C - Mikko Koivu, MIN ($5,500)
Koivu skates with Mikael Granlund and Jason Zucker among the Minnesota Wild's top-nine forward group and has been extremely consistent this season (2.8 DraftKings points per game at home and on the road). He's riding a four-game point streak and faces the Montreal Canadiens, who are banged up at center with Alex Galchenyuk, David Desharnais and Andrew Shaw sidelined.

W - Viktor Arvidsson, NSH ($6,100)
Arvidsson continues to draw rave reviews after his latest offensive outburst, a three-assist game at the New Jersey Devils on Tuesday. He's tied for the Nashville Predators lead in points (23) and leads them in SOG (103, 16th in NHL entering Wednesday). James Neal joined Arvidsson and Mike Fisher at even strength on Tuesday, a line that DFS owners should be attracted to at home against the Los Angeles Kings. Arvidsson had one goal, one assist, one block and one SOG (7.0 DraftKings points) against them Oct. 27.
W - Jonathan Drouin, TBL ($5,800)
Drouin has picked up the slack for the Tampa Bay Lightning with elite forwards Steven Stamkos and Nikita Kucherov sidelined with injuries, scoring 10 points in his past 10 games. He had one goal, one assist and four SOG against the Detroit Red Wings on Tuesday and has 10 points and almost three SOG per game (29) in 10 home games this season. He has a power-play point in five of his past seven games and had two assists against the St. Louis Blues on Dec. 1.
W - Bobby Ryan, OTT ($4,600)
Ryan's price is the same as before his five-game point streak began, making him a glaring value pick at home against his former team, the Anaheim Ducks. He had one assist, one block and one SOG for 3.0 DraftKings points Dec. 11, giving him six points in seven games against them since being traded to the Ottawa Senators in 2013.
D - Aaron Ekblad, FLA ($4,900)
Ekblad has had a disappointing offensive season with 10 points in 33 games for the Florida Panthers but his shot volume alone is enough of a reason to get him into your DFS lineup for such an affordable price. He has 41 SOG in his past 10 games and is tied for eighth in the NHL this season with 113. He plays the Boston Bruins, who are allowing the fifth-most DraftKings points to opposing defensemen.
D - David Savard, CBJ ($3,900)
Savard has six assists, 16 blocks and 22 SOG in his past 10 games for an average of 3.1 DraftKings points per game. He is due for a positive uptick in shooting percentage, given he has one goal on 48 SOG. He rounds out his strong DFS peripherals with 52 blocks (most among Blue Jackets) and should add to that total against the Pittsburgh Penguins, who are rolling but are without injured defensemen Kris Letang and Trevor Daley.

G - Andrei Vasilevskiy, TBL ($7,500)
Ben Bishop's injury has opened the door for Vasilevskiy to be the full-time starter for Tampa Bay. Since winning four straight from Nov. 10-23, Vasilevskiy is 1-3-0 with an .878 save percentage in six games. The victory came Tuesday against the Red Wings, when he stopped 22 of 23 shots faced in relief of Bishop. He should keep the ball rolling against the Blues, who are 5-9-1 on the road.
UTIL - Scott Hartnell, CBJ ($4,100)
Hartnell is one of many Blue Jackets forwards who have produced at home this season; he has 11 points in 15 such games. His price is low because he's in the midst of a nine-game goal drought, but he's playing a familiar opponent and is in a good spot on Columbus' third line with Sam Gagner and second power-play unit with Brandon Saad, Boone Jenner, Brandon Dubinsky and Seth Jones. Hartnell has 35 points in 53 regular-season games against the Penguins.
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