Fantasy picks: Marcus Johansson strong on road

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 - Connor McDavid, EDM ($8,600)
The Arizona Coyotes have had the Edmonton Oilers' number in recent years, holding a 25-game point streak (21-0-4). But McDavid should eventually have something to say about this. The highest-priced player on this DFS slate should be worth the price of admission considering he leads the NHL in scoring (40 points in 34 games), is poised to break out of a five-game goal drought and has been strong against the Coyotes this season (two points, six shots on goal in two games; average of 4.0 DraftKings points per game).

C - Nicklas Backstrom, WSH ($6,600)
Backstrom has 44 points, 19 on the power play, in 34 career games against the Philadelphia Flyers, and lines up on the Washington Capitals' second line and first power-play unit with Marcus Johansson, presenting a high-end stacking option. The Flyers are allowing the sixth-most DraftKings points to opposing centers this season. Backstrom has nine points in his past 10 and 11 points in 14 road games this season.
W - Marcus Johansson, WSH ($5,400)
Backstrom's success has gone hand-in-hand with Johansson, who leads the Capitals in road points with 15 in 14 games (3.8 DraftKings points per game). He's second on Washington with 12 goals, trailing only Alex Ovechkin (14). He has scored seven of his 22 points on the power-play, where he patrols the first unit with Backstrom, Ovechkin, T.J. Oshie and John Carlson. Johansson also had six points in as many games in the 2016 Stanley Cup Playoff series against the Flyers.
W - Travis Konecny, PHI ($4,800)
Low-ownership forwards with exposure to elite scorers should always be on the radar of DFS owners on light slates like Wednesday (two games). Konecny skates on Philadelphia's second line with Brayden Schenn and Wayne Simmonds, and is long overdue for a goal with none in his past 19 games despite a high shot volume in the stretch (39). Konecny, despite his recent slump, is still tied for eighth among rookies with 16 points in 34 games.

W - Michael Raffl, PHI ($4,400)
Speaking of fantasy upside by association, Raffl may have the best even-strength linemates in the League, considering Claude Giroux and Jakub Voracek are two of 17 players with at least 30 points. In case the Flyers' line of Simmonds, Schenn and Konecny gets shut down by the Capitals, you'll want to have the cheapest exposure you can get to their top line for insurance. Raffl has scored four of his six goals at home this season.
D - Alex Goligoski, ARI ($4,200)
Goligoski has not scored a point in his past five games, but plays major minutes (23:27) and has returned DFS value in his past two games, totaling four blocks and seven SOG. He has recently been bumped up to the Arizona Coyotes' first power-play unit (averaging 3:38 on PP in past two games) with Oliver Ekman-Larsson, giving him a chance to get in on high-quality scoring chances against the Oilers. He's a high-floor option worth rostering even if you draft Edmonton goalie Cam Talbot.
D - Radko Gudas, PHI ($4,000)
Gudas has had 2.0 or more DraftKings points in five of his past six games and at least 3.0 in three of those games. He has 65 blocks (T-22nd in NHL) to go along with 42 SOG and nine points in 25 games for a strong average of 2.8 DraftKings points per game considering his affordable price.
G - Cam Talbot, EDM ($8,100)
Talbot is 8-3-4 on the road this season with a .915 save percentage and two shutouts, making him a goalie worth spending up for on the road in Arizona. He has allowed two goals or fewer in five of his past seven games, and the Coyotes are allowing the sixth-most DraftKings points to opposing goalies. He is winless in two games against Arizona this season (0-1-1), but has been stingy in those outings, stopping 60 of 64 shots faced (.938 SV%).

UTIL - Jakub Vrana, WSH ($3,900)
Vrana has been at his best on the road (surprising for a 20-year-old rookie), with three points, three blocks and five SOG in four games. He's has been playing in a depth role at even strength but also on the second power-play unit for Washington with Evgeny Kuznetsov, Justin Williams, Matt Niskanen and Dmitry Orlov. Don't be surprised if Vrana gets in on the scoring against the Flyers, who have lost two straight and have allowed 52 goals in 19 home games.
---
Check out DraftKings.com to play 1-Day Fantasy Hockey today. Entering is quick and simple: sign up for a free account, enter the $3 1-Day Fantasy Hockey contest and set your lineup, catch the games and win!
DraftKings fantasy hockey contests are operated by DraftKings Inc. and are in no way sponsored or administered by the NHL and/or any of its affiliated entities. Prohibited and/or not available in AL, AZ, DE, GA, HI, IA, ID, LA, MT, NV and WA. Offered in IL and TX pending litigation. See terms for additional eligibility rules.