Daily Fantasy Hockey 2015: DraftKings NHL Optimal Lineup for November 19

The San Jose Sharks have been an up-and-down team so far this year. They came out of the gate on fire, and it appeared that head coach Peter DeBoer would help transform the Sharks back into a Western Conference power.

They had a sizable dip in late October and early November, but they have turned it around once again on their current road trip. They have won three games in a row away from the Shark Tank, as they are doing a good job of converting offensive opportunities.

The Sharks rolled to a 5-4 victory at Boston Tuesday night, and Joe Pavelski was in the middle of that outburst with a goal and two assists. Through his first 18 games, Pavelski has netted 10 goals and eight assists.

Since the Sharks are on a roll, we are going to stick with the high-priced Pavelski ($7,500) when they travel to Philadelphia Thursday night. Pavelski will man one of our two center positions as we put together the optimal lineup and stay within our DraftKings $50,000 budget.

Look for Pavelski to score a goal and add an assist as the Sharks win their fourth straight on their current road trip.

Position	Player, Team	Opponent	FPPG	Salary
C	Joe Pavelski, San Jose	Philadelphia	4.8	$7,500
C	Derick Brassard, N.Y. Rangers	Tampa Bay	2.8	$5,300
W	Vladimir Tarasenko, St. Louis	Buffalo	4.9	$7,700
W	Brendan Gallagher, Montreal	Arizona	4.1	$5,900
W	Jason Zucker, Minnesota	Boston	3.7	$4,700
D	Dennis Seidenberg, Boston	Minnesota	3.2	$3,000
D	Erik Johnson, Colorado	Pittsburgh	3.5	$4,700
G	Martin Jones, San Jose	Philadelphia	4.7	$7,100
U	David Desharnais, Montreal	Arizona	2.8	$4,100

Centers: Joe Pavelski, San Jose Sharks ($7,500), and Derick Brassard, New York Rangers ($5,300)

In addition to leading the Sharks in scoring this season, Pavelski has scored four goals in his last three games against the Flyers.

Derick Brassard has been one of the main reasons the Rangers have risen to the top of the Atlantic Division. Brassard has always been a hard-working hustler, but he has been a growing concern on offense this season. He has six goals and seven assists this season, and 10 points in his last 10 games. The Rangers are playing at Tampa Bay Thursday night, and that's the team that beat them in the Eastern Conference Final last season. Don't expect the Rangers to lose their focus in this game, and Brassard should be able to light the lamp.

Jeff Roberson/Associated Press

Wings: Vladimir Tarasenko, St. Louis Blues ($7,700), Brendan Gallagher, Montreal Canadiens ($5,900), and Jason Zucker, Minnesota Wild ($4,700)

With nine games on the schedule Thursday night, there are a number of high-priced wingers that we could put in the lineup. It would not be wrong to go with Max Pacioretty, Jamie Benn or Alex Ovechkin, but we could not resist going with Vladimir Tarasenko, one of the best snipers going.

Tarasenko seems to be in an excellent spot Thursday night as the Blues host the Buffalo Sabres. While the Sabres are getting better with rookie Jack Eichel in the lineup, they are far more competitive at home than they are on the road.

The Blues could roll up four or more goals against the Sabres, and don't be surprised to see Tarasenko get on the board with multiple points. He has scored 11 goals and seven assists this season in 18 games, and he has scored six goals in his last 10 games. Tarasenko has a wicked wrist shot, and he also knows how to get open in the prime scoring areas.

The Montreal Canadiens are also in a favorable situation as they are at home against the Arizona Coyotes. As a result, we like the hardest working skater on either team in Brendan Gallagher. The Habs winger has more than enough speed, quickness and talent, but it is his work ethic that sets him apart. He will take up residence in front of the net, and it doesn't matter that he is often giving away 20 to 30 pounds to bigger defensemen. Gallagher has eight goals and nine assists in 19 games, and the Coyotes will not be able to hold him in check.

Gerry Broome/Associated Press

The Minnesota Wild have not been very hot recently, losing two games in a row and winning just five of their last 10 games. However, they usually play well against the Boston Bruins, and Jason Zucker has the quickness and acceleration to take advantage of a Boston defense that has given up 54 goals and is just 2-6-1 at home. Zucker has five goals and four assists in his last 10 games, and he should get on the board against the leaky Bruins.

Defensemen: Dennis Seidenberg, Boston Bruins ($3,000), and Erik Johnson, Colorado Avalanche ($4,700)

Jim Rogash/Getty Images

When you need to make out a lineup with nine players and stay under $50,000, you regularly need a bargain player or two to come through if you are going to pocket the winnings. Our bargain player is Boston defenseman Dennis Seidenberg, who will be playing his fourth game of the year after missing the early part of the season with a back injury.

Seidenberg is big, strong and responsible defensively, and he had two assists Tuesday night in the Bruins' loss to San Jose. We look for Seidenberg to block multiple shots and register several hard checks. It would not be a shock to see him with a tape-to-tape pass that sets up a goal against Minnesota.

Erik Johnson is a powerful skater, and he has a dominating persona on the ice. While he is not always as consistent as head coach Patrick Roy would like, Johnson could come through with a big game on the road against the Penguins. Johnson has four goals and four assists this year.

John Hefti-USA TODAY Sports

Goalie: Martin Jones, San Jose Sharks ($7,100)

Is Martin Jones a goalie who can be compared to Henrik Lundqvist, Braden Holtby or Carey Price? The answer is a resounding no. However, Jones has reeled off three straight victories, and the Sharks are a better team than the Philadelphia Flyers and should be able to pick up another road victory.

Jones has a 9-5-0 record with a 2.25 goals-against average and a .918 save percentage along with two shutouts. He may not get his third here, but he will get the win, and he won't give up more than two goals.

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