This article is part of our DraftKings NHL series.
GOALIE
Jacob Markstrom, VAN vs. ARI ($7,300) – The problem with Markstrom is that he allows the odd bad goal, but he's been surprisingly excellent down the stretch. He won four straight games and allowed just five goals in total before losing to the Knights in a shootout Tuesday. In what will be the Sedins' last home game of their NHL careers, the Canucks will do everything to ensure they can send them off with a win. In seven career games against the Coyotes, Markstrom has a .947 save percentage and 1.71 GAA.
CENTER
Evgeni Malkin, PIT at CLS ($7,400) – The Pens have already clinched a playoff spot, but home-ice advantage is on the line against their potential first-round opponent. Malkin has been excellent against the Jackets with 25 points in 19 career games, and it's always been Sidney Crosby who has drawn most of the Jackets' attention, no thanks to Brandon Dubinsky. When the Jackets are focused on Crosby, it opens up opportunities for Malkin, who should have no problem dominating their second pairing of Ian Cole and David Savard.
Dylan Larkin, DET vs. MON ($5,900) – He's on a four-game point streak, and despite scoring just 14 goals this season he's been Detroit's MVP. He's on track to play all 82 games, and even though the team has remained stagnant, Larkin has improved his point totals and plus-minus by 28 and 19, respectively. Montreal's defense won't have much of a chance if Larkin and fellow speedsters Andreas Athanasiou and Anthony Mantha start rushing up the ice. Expected starter Antti Niemi allowed five goals on 33 shots in his previous start.
WING
Mitch Marner, TOR at NJ ($6,000) – He's been held without a point in his past two games after going on an 11-game tear, but the Leafs scored just one goal Saturday against the Jets and Mike Babcock spread the ice time around in a meaningless win against the Sabres on Monday. There are virtually no stakes for the Leafs after locking down third place in the Atlantic, but the Devils are still in the hunt and a win would vault them over the Jackets, and no Babcock-led team is just going to roll over. Expect Marner to play more than the 15 minutes he played against the Sabres.
Filip Forsberg, NSH at WAS ($5,900) – As if one of the most lopsided trades in recent memory wasn't enough to haunt the Caps, Forsberg has been very effective against his former team, scoring six goals and 10 points in seven games. He scored three points in consecutive games before the Panthers held him off the scoresheet Wednesday, and in his past 17 games he's scored 19 points.
Travis Konecny, PHI vs. CAR ($5,600) – He's been dynamite since joining Claude Giroux and Sean Couturier on the top line, and 34 of his 47 points this season have come in the second half. The Hurricanes' goaltending woes have been a problem all season, and expected starter Scott Darling has lost three of his past four games, allowing 15 goals during that span.
DEFENSE
Seth Jones, CLS vs. PIT ($6,200) – It's baffling how Jones hasn't gotten more recognition in the Norris Trophy race, because he's been brilliant all season. He's coming off a four-point effort Saturday against Vancouver and a three-assist performance Tuesday against Detroit, and at 0.62 points per game, is the highest-scoring defenseman in Columbus history with at least 100 games played. He'll see plenty of Sidney Crosby on Thursday, but playing against top competition hasn't stopped him from scoring 57 points this season.
Shea Theodore, VGK at EDM ($4,800) – He's been averaging well over 20 minutes per game over the past week and has points in back-to-back games. Theodore is a dynamic offensive defenseman who has the highest ceiling on Vegas' blue line. He's fired six shots on goal in each of his past two games, as well, which is always a good sign.
