NHL Daily Fantasy Helper: Monday 2/8/21
Hockey is officially back! 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 or 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 to take a look at today's slate and some players to consider for your lineups.
Goalie to Target
Jordan Binnington ($7,600): The St. Louis Blues are solid -162 home favorites tonight, making Binnington a good choice for cash games. He isn't as heavy of a favorite compared to Frederik Andersen (-215), but he is just a bit cheaper, which is always good. Bennington has picked up four wins in his last five games, with 23 saves or more in three of those four wins. This should give him a solid floor of points, which is easily obtainable in tonight's matchup versus the Arizona Coyotes.
Arizona comes into this game producing only 2.07 goals per 60 minutes in five-on-five situations, which is the 10th lowest in the league. On top of that, the Blues' defense is only allowing a 49.84 Corsi Against (Shot Attempts Allowed) per 60 minutes in five-on-five situations, which is the 10th best in the league. St. Louis is showing to have a rock-solid defense, and combined with a lackluster offense from Arizona, Binnington should be in a spot for the win tonight.
High-Priced Skaters
Auston Matthews ($8,800): With the highest (3.77) implied goal total on the slate, the Toronto Maple Leafs should be one of the chalkiest teams. When looking at tonight's slate, both Toronto (3,77) and Edmonton (3.64) hold implied goal totals that are 0.50 higher than the third-highest team (3.01). This puts a player like Matthews at the top of the list tonight, and it's for plenty of good reasons. He is skating on the first forward line and the first power-play, has 14 real NHL points in 11 games this season, as well as a staggering 50 shots on goal.
He is up against the Vancouver Canucks, who are allowing 3.65 goals per 60 minutes in five-on-five situations, which is the second-worst in the league. While he is very expensive tonight, the floor and upside Matthews brings is truly only matched by Connor McDavid ($8,900) or Leon Draisaitl ($8,600).
Ryan Nugent-Hopkins ($7,400): As noted above, the Oilers have the second-highest (3.64) implied goal total tonight and should be one of the chalkiest teams on the slate. Nugent-Hopkins is just a tad cheaper compared to McDavid ($8,900) or Draisaitl ($8,600) but still gets you some serious upside. RNH is on the first forward line and the first power-play, which has led to 11 NHL points in 13 games, along with 44 shots on goal.
The Oilers are up against the Ottawa Senators, who are allowing the most (3.79) per 60 minutes in five-on-five situations, along with the third-worst (58.8) Corsi Against in the league. The Senators are bad on defense -- like really, really bad this year. So this should lead you to stacking the Oilers heavily tonight.
Value Skaters
Evgeni Dadonov ($4,300): Even though the Senators aren't a good team, they have some value options tonight against the Oilers. Dadonov is now on the first forward line and the first power-play unit for Ottawa, which makes him a clear option at only $4,300. The Senators are in a solid spot tonight because the Oilers are in the bottom four of the league for both Corsi Against (58.16) and goals against (3.28) per 60 minutes in five-on-five situations.
Ryan Dzingel ($3,300): At only $3,300, Dzingel makes a clear punt option tonight for the Carolina Hurricanes. Dzingel skates on the third forward line, which isn't ideal, but he is seeing time on the second power-play unit, giving him a bit of upside. The Canes lead the league (62.81) in Corsi For (Shot Attempts Created) and are up against the Columbus Blue Jackets, who hold the sixth-worst (57.35) Corsi Against. We have two teams at the opposite ends of the spectrum, which should lead to plenty of offensive chances for the Hurricanes. If you are paying up for the Maple Leafs or the Oilers, you clearly need value, and Dzingel can offer that tonight.
