NHL Daily Fantasy Helper: Tuesday 2/7/23
NHL DFS is similar to MLB in terms of how you build lineups, how you view stacking, and how to value players.
Two main points to always focus on in NHL DFS are what lines the players are on and making sure the goalies you are rostering are confirmed as the starters. Two of the best resources for that are LeftWingLock.com and DailyFaceOff.com. That is where you can find updated forward and power-play lines for each team, along with which goalies are confirmed as the starters.
Let's jump in and take a look at today's slate and some players to consider for your lineups.
Goalie to Target
Brian Elliott ($8,400): The Tampa Bay Lightning got blasted last night in a 7-1 loss to the Florida Panthers but have a very clear chance to bounce back tonight against the San Jose Sharks. Tough losses are going to happen for teams, and given the consistency the Lightning have shown over several seasons, I'm expecting them to come away with the win tonight.
They come in as -235 home favorites against the Sharks, who are one of the worst defensive teams in the league. Combine this with Tampa having an elite offense, and it all adds up to Elliott coming away with the win. This is not to mention that Elliott has been strong in his recent starts, allowing two goals or fewer in three of his last five outings.
High-Salaried Skaters
Steven Stamkos ($8,900): The Lightning have a slate-high 3.81 implied goal total against the Sharks, and as noted, this is a clear bounce-back spot for them. The Sharks are allowing 3.17 goals per 60 minutes in five-on-five situations this season, which is the third-worst in the league. We've been attacking them all season, and there is no reason to stop now, especially when the Tampa offense is on the other side and comes in scoring the sixth-most (2.85) goals per 60 minutes in five-on-five situations.
Stamkos is on the first forward line and the first power-play unit, which has led to him scoring 12 NHL points and 42 shots on goal over the last 10 games. With his elite offensive upside and a very favorable matchup, he should be a bit of a priority for some during lineup construction. A multi-point performance in a big win for the Lightning is how I see it shaking out.
Connor McDavid ($10,600): Whenever McDavid is on the slate, it's hard not to mention him because he is on pace for 150 NHL points, something we haven't seen since the 1980s. He plays, he puts up points -- rinse and repeat. Essentially, lock him into your lineups, look for value elsewhere, and move on. The opportunity cost of not rostering McDavid when he is on the slate is too much.
Over his last 10 games, he has 17 NHL points and 55 shots on goal, a level of production very few players on this slate can match. With the Detroit Red Wings in the bottom 12 of the league for the most goals allowed (2.63) and Corsi Against (58.00) per 60 minutes in five-on-five situations, this is a clear spot for a McDavid ceiling game. Don't get cute; roster the best player on earth.
Value Skaters
William Karlsson ($5,500): The Vegas Golden Knights have a 3.00 implied goal total against the Nashville Predators in a matchup that could fly under the radar tonight. There are a lot of high-powered offenses on tonight's slate, and the Golden Knights are just a step behind some of them. However, this is a favorable matchup because the Predators have slipped on defense and are allowing 2.76 goals per 60 minutes in five-on-five situations over the last three weeks, which is the ninth-worst in the league.
Karlsson is on the second forward line and the second power-play unit, coming in with 6 NHL points and 23 shots on goal over his last 10 games.
Max Domi ($5,700): While the Chicago Blackhawks-Anaheim Ducks game is far from must-see-TV, this could be a spot for plenty of offense. Both teams are terrible on defense and sit in the bottom five for the most goals allowed per 60 minutes in five-on-five situations this season.
Surprisingly, both teams have seen their offenses pick up, and over the last three weeks, they are both in the top 10 for the most goals per 60 minutes in five-on-five situations. Bad defenses and surging offenses could give us a sloppy back-and-forth game with plenty of fantasy points to go around. Domi is on the second forward line and the first power-play unit, which has allowed him to rack up 9 NHL points and 27 shots on goal over his last 10 games.
