Fantasy picks: Artemi Panarin is cheap lineup anchor

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 - Leon Draisaitl, EDM ($6,400)
Draisaitl is riding a three-game point streak (one goal, four assists) and has at least 5.0 DraftKings points in five of his past 10 games. The Edmonton Oilers get the benefit of not having to play back-to-back games after a 3-2 win at the Arizona Coyotes on Wednesday, though they get a tough matchup against the San Jose Sharks, who have allowed 12 goals in their past five games. Draisaitl has outperformed teammate Connor McDavid ($8,300) of late (McDavid has two assists in the past six games) and is significantly cheaper, making him an excellent value play for tournaments and cash games.

C - Vinnie Hinostroza, CHI ($3,600)
To keep your lineup from being too much chalk, Hinostroza should have low ownership and is on a three-game point streak (two goals, two assists). The Chicago Blackhawks are another team that is off Thursday and gets the Colorado Avalanche on the second of a back-to-back, which means backup Calvin Pickard will likely be in net for the Avalanche. Pickard has allowed 14 goals in his past four games and even if Semyon Varlamov starts, he has a 3.15 goals-against average in 20 games this season. Hinostroza offers decent secondary stat coverage with four blocks and seven shots on goal in his past four games.

W - Artemi Panarin, CHI ($7,200)
Panarin is on quite the hot streak (five goals and seven assists on a six-game point streak) and remains cheaper than linemate Patrick Kane ($7,800). His ownership percentage will likely be very high, but he's one of the more cost-effective lineup anchors for a 10-game schedule Friday. Panarin has at least 3.5 DraftKings points in each of his past six games and the Avalanche's struggles are already documented above, making him an excellent play for 50/50 contests.
W - Jonathan Drouin, TB ($5,700)
With the Tampa Bay Lightning plagued by injuries, Drouin has stepped up with five goals and five assists in his past 10 games (4.1 DraftKings points per contest). The Lightning will need their offense to produce with goalie Ben Bishop out 3-4 weeks and the Washington Capitals are limping into the Christmas break on a two-game losing streak. Drouin makes for a nice against-the-grain option for tournaments as a mid-tier wing playing above his salary.
W - Sven Baertschi, VAN ($4,500)
The Vancouver Canucks may not be high in the standings, but their offense has certainly turned things around. Baertschi has been one of the Canucks' more surprising players this season and has three goals and three assists during a four-game point streak entering Thursday. The Calgary Flames have fallen on hard times again after a six-game win streak, allowing 16 goals in their past four games. Chad Johnson has struggled over that stretch, so expect Brian Elliott (3.21 GAA, .889 save percentage) to start for the second time in three games.

D - Justin Schultz, PIT ($5,100)
As long as Kris Letang and Trevor Daley are out for the Pittsburgh Penguins, Schultz is practically a must-play every game. He leads NHL defensemen with 14 points (five goals, nine assists) in 10 games in December entering Thursday and is manning the point on the Penguins power play with Sidney Crosby, Evgeni Malkin and Phil Kessel. Pittsburgh gets the New Jersey Devils on the second of a back-to-back. The Devils enter Thursday on a seven-game losing streak and have allowed at least three goals in six of seven. Schultz will have high exposure, but is worth considering his high ceiling and low floor; he has at least 4.0 DraftKings points in seven of 10 games.
D - David Savard, CBJ ($3,900)
If you're willing to go all in on the Blue Jackets, they are a very appealing stack option against the Montreal Canadiens. Goaltender Al Montoya will likely start with the Canadiens playing the second of a back-to-back. If you recall, Montoya is the goalie who allowed 10 goals to Columbus in a 10-0 loss on Nov. 4. Blue Jackets forwards are appealing, but Savard is a cheap option on defense who could provide massive value in tournaments if the Blue Jackets offense erupts again. Even if it doesn't, Savard has been a solid cash-game play with at least 2.5 DraftKings points in his past six games.
G - Cam Ward, CAR ($7,400)
To get away from all of the chalk plays, Ward offers a nice contrarian option at goaltender, along with Mike Smith of the Coyotes (same price). If backup Eddie Lack ($7,300) doesn't start the second of a back-to-back, Ward will play against the Boston Bruins, who enter Thursday third in the NHL in shots per game (33.8). Ward made 34 saves in his previous start against Boston, a 2-1 loss, but still managed to get 5.8 DraftKings points. This time, Ward gets the Bruins at home, where he's 7-2-1 with a 1.90 GAA and .930 SV%.

UTIL - Rasmus Ristolainen, BUF ($6,100)
It may seem odd to go with the Buffalo Sabres defenseman in your utility spot, but he's been as productive as some forwards recently. He has at least two points in three of his past four games, and has three goals, 11 assists, 21 blocks and 23 SOG in his past 10 entering Thursday. The New York Islanders are allowing 3.40 goals on average in 10 games in December, and Ristolainen has a goal, assist, three blocks and three SOG (8.0 DraftKings points) against the Islanders on Dec. 16.
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