DraftKings daily picks: Fantasy hockey lineup – March 23, 2018

High Salary Centers

Evgeni Malkin, NJ vs PIT ($7,900): There is a saying that goes around tons of the online hockey forums when it comes to Evgeni Malkin and it encapsulates everything about the Russian’s season: Geno is Score. Malkin is a no-brainer pick for me tonight as he as hot as it comes. Malkin is one of only three players this season to break 90 points and one of only three player to break 40 goals so far. The center has been red hot in the second half of the season and should be expected to contribute every night in some way. Malkin produced a goal and an assist on Wednesday against the Canadiens (6 fpts). *****

Sidney Crosby, NJ vs PIT ($7,600): I can’t put any Pittsburgh Penguin on this list and not include Sidney Crosby. Even if his numbers for the season aren’t in top-five like last season, the captain is sitting on a modest 79 points this season and has been red hot. Just like Malkin, Crosby has been nothing short of exceptional in the second half of the season and has been a key part in the Penguins fight in an insane Metropolitan division this season. Crosby produced a highlight reel goal and a milestone career assist number 700 on Wednesday against the Canadiens (7 fpts). ****

Jack Eichel, MON vs BUF ($7,300): The Sabres superstar has been quiet on the scoresheet in the three games he has played since returning from a high ankle sprain on the Mar. 17 but that should change soon. In his first two games back, Eichel produced 10 shots and has been present on the ice in games. But he is feeling the burn of playing on a diminished Buffalo Sabres lineup. With that being said, we know the ceiling Eichel can have and in facing a particularly abysmal Montreal Canadiens team tonight, I would expect a chance for the breakout game he has been missing. ***

High Value Centers

Mark Scheifele, ANA vs WIN ($6,700): The Jets center has recorded an assist in both of the games he has played since returning to the lineup on Sunday, March 18. He is putting together another solid season for the Jets and is benefitting nicely from playing on the power play with a red-hot Patrik Laine. With that being said the Jets will be without the Finnish winger for a couple weeks due injury, so expect Paul Maurice to rely on Scheifele heavily down the stretch.****

Brayden Schenn, VAN vs STL ($6,500): The St. Louis Blues season has been nothing short of a roller coaster but in amongst all of the ups and downs, there has been one consistency for them: Brayden Schenn. Schenn has been consistently producing for the Blues all season and has put together a nice run of four points in his last three games (1G, 3A). With Alex Pietrangelo playing as insanely well as he is and the Blues trying to squeeze into the last wild card in the West, expect big performances from Schenn down the stretch. I expect a big night from the Blues as they face a Brock Boeser-less Canucks team that has won only one game in their last eight and is in the second game of a back-to-back. ****

Riley Nash, BOS vs DAL ($5,700): With the absence of Patrice Bergeron still looming over the Boston Bruins, Riley Nash has been centering the first line of Marchand and Pastrnak. Playing with players of this caliber has definitely raised Nash’s fantasy value and in turn he has seen better point production. I wouldn’t expect Nash to provide you with a mass abundance of points but with how Boston continues to win through all of their injury struggles, he may be in line for a solid game. Look to him as a solid utility option for tonight.**