Fantasy picks: Predators offer cheap options

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: These recommendations are for eight-game contests, excluding the 12:30 p.m. ET game between the Washington Capitals and New York Rangers, the 3 p.m. ET game between the Detroit Red Wings and Pittsburgh Penguins, and the 5 p.m. ET game between the Winnipeg Jets and Ottawa Senators.

C - Patrice Bergeron, BOS ($6,600)
Despite a two-game scoring drought, Bergeron has 12 points (four goals, eight assists) and 38 shots on goal in his past 10 games. Bergeron has been better at home (19 points in 28 games) but has two goals and five assists in his past six road games. The last time Bergeron faced the San Jose Sharks, he had a season-high four points (one goal, three assists) with two SOG for 10.0 DraftKings points. Bergeron has at least 8.5 DraftKings points in three of his past seven games, giving him a high ceiling for tournaments.
C- Jonathan Toews, CHI ($5,900)
The Chicago Blackhawks captain is a point-per-game player against the Buffalo Sabres: 13 points (seven goals, six assists) in 13 games. He enters Saturday with a point in seven of 10 games, with five goals, nine assists and 31 SOG in that span. The Blackhawks came off their six-day break Saturday against the Edmonton Oilers, so Toews had a tune-up game before taking on the Sabres, who are allowing 37.6 shots per game in their past 14. Toews had an assist and six SOG (5.0 DraftKings points) against Buffalo on Jan. 5, and it's safe to expect a similar performance.

W - Artemi Panarin, CHI ($6,200)
Rarely will you see Panarin priced this close to $6,000 in DraftKings contests, so take advantage in a plus matchup against the Sabres. The Blackhawks wing has been a bit erratic lately, but that makes him more appealing for tournaments given his lower salary. Panarin entered Saturday with three multipoint games in his past five, scoring two goals and five assists in that span. The Sabres are allowing the second-most DraftKings points to left wings this season, and Chicago had scored at least four goals in five straight.
W - Viktor Arvidsson, NSH ($5,700)
Arvidsson entered Saturday leading the Nashville Predators in goals (18) and was second in points (39). He had six goals, three assists and 26 SOG in his past six games, averaging 6.75 DraftKings points per game in that span. The Columbus Blue Jackets are allowing 3.10 goals per game in their past 14 and have allowed a power-play goal in five of their past eight. Arvidsson played at least 17:00 in nine straight and was on the first PP unit with Roman Josi, Filip Forsberg and James Neal.

W - Jonathan Drouin, TB ($5,400)
The Tampa Bay Lightning are an appealing stack option; most teams are when facing the Colorado Avalanche. Drouin is arguably the Lightning's most talented playmaker, entering Saturday with two goals, two assists and 11 SOG in his past four games. Like the Blackhawks, the Lightning play a back-to-back set following a week off, which should give them a game to get their legs back under them. Tyler Johnson (C, $4,700), Alex Killorn (W, $4,600) and Vladislav Namestnikov (C, $4,000) are other cheap Lightning options.
D - Roman Josi, NSH ($5,600)
Stacking Arvidsson with the red-hot Josi is a solid playing considering each is priced below $6,000. The Predators defenseman entered Saturday with four goals, two assists and 12 SOG in his past four games. He scored a PP goal in three straight and had at least 4.0 DraftKings points in five of his past seven games. The Blue Jackets are allowing 31.5 shots per game in their past 14, and Josi has 73 SOG in 21 road games (3.5 per game).

D - Alexander Edler, VAN ($3,900)
Edler is one of the cheapest top-pairing defensemen in DraftKings contests. He has points in five of six with a goal, four assists, nine blocks and 13 SOG in that span. Edler has a high floor with at least 2.0 DraftKings points in eight of 10 games and the Vancouver Canucks play the Philadelphia Flyers, who allow the sixth-most DraftKings points to defensemen. It also helps that the Flyers have allowed 14 goals on a three-game road losing streak.
G - Keith Kinkaid, NJD ($7,100)
The New Jersey Devils faced the New York Islanders on Saturday in the first of a back-to-back, home-and-home series. Cory Schneider made his eighth consecutive start for the Devils, so it's safe to expect Kinkaid will play for the first time since Jan. 26. Kinkaid leads the NHL with a 1.95 goals-against average and .946 save percentage among goalies to play at least nine road games. He is 6-2-1 in those games and should be one of the cheaper starting goaltenders for the late eight-game schedule.

UTIL - Jaccob Slavin, CAR ($3,500)
There's a chance the Carolina Hurricanes are without top defenseman Justin Faulk, which would thrust Slavin into even more playing time. He leads the Hurricanes in ice time per game (23:13) and could see time on the power play should Faulk sit because of an illness. Slavin is just one of Carolina's cheap defensemen who get a boost in value against the Toronto Maple Leafs, who are allowing the most DraftKings points to opposing defensemen this season. If nothing else, Slavin should be able to get you around 2.0 DraftKings points on blocks and SOG alone; he averages 2.1 blocks per game and 1.2 SOG per game.
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