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
Jake Oettinger ($8,000): The Dallas Stars are -162 home favorites tonight and up against the Chicago Blackhawks. While it's a great idea to pay up for Marc-Andre Fleury ($8,800) as a -260 home favorite, going to Oettinger -- who is confirmed as the starter -- is a bit cheaper and he shouldn't be as popular tonight. The Blackhawks are one of the weakest offensive teams in the league, only scoring 1.74 goals per 60 minutes in five-on-five situations, which is the second-worst in the league.
Oettinger shouldn't be under pressure too much tonight, as the Stars are holding a 48.61 Corsi Against (Shot Attempts Allowed) per 60 minutes in five-on-five situations. This also means that he won't have a massive volume of saves, but the safety and win equity are very high with Oettinger.
High-Priced Skaters
Mark Stone ($7,700): The Vegas Golden Knights hold a very solid 3.31 implied team total tonight and should be one of the chalkiest teams on the slate. Stone skates on the first forward line and first power-play unit for Vegas and has turned that into 14 NHL points and 19 shots on goal in nine games. The shots on goal feel a bit low considering Vegas has the fourth-best (58.33) Corsi For (Shot Attempts Created) this season. Stone should be in for a bit of positive regression considering his prominent role within the offense.
Going with Stone solo or stacking him with the first power-play unit are both solid options. If you are going the stacking route, pair him with Max Pacioretty ($8,100) and Shea Theodore ($6,400).
Aleksander Barkov ($7,400): This shouldn't come as a surprise, but the Detroit Red Wings aren't a good hockey team. When they are on the slate, you should be looking to target the teams going against them for cash games or tournaments. The Florida Panthers hold a solid 3.21 implied goal total tonight and should be able to hit that mark and pile up the fantasy points along the way.
Barkov has a solid 11 points through nine games, but more importantly, he has managed to rack up 37 shots on goal so far, an average of over 4.0 per game. That alone should give him a solid floor of points, while his role on the first power-play and the soft matchup versus the Red Wings should give him a ceiling.
Value Skaters
Rasmus Andersson ($4,500): Andersson is the defender on the first power-play for the Calgary Flames, who hold a 2.93 implied goal total tonight versus the Winnipeg Jets. Andersson is looking solid to start the season, averaging 10.3 FanDuel points per game, which is considerably strong for a player under $5,000.
He is accomplishing that mostly via shots on goal and blocked shots each game, which is great to see. Andersson can reach value without having to add in any offensive points, but if the offensive points do show up tonight, it's all extra value.
Chandler Stephenson ($3,800): The Golden Knights were mentioned above in regards to the fact they are in an amazing matchup tonight versus the Anaheim Ducks. Paying up for the Golden Knights' top power-play is great, but it's also very expensive. If you want to take some savings but still get exposure to this offense, consider Stephenson tonight. He is on the first forward line with Mark Stone and Max Pacioretty while also skating on the second power-play unit.
The Golden Knights are -260 home favorites, and the center on the first line is under $4,000. This is far too cheap and one of the easiest value plays on the slate.