NHL Daily Fantasy Helper: Friday 3/5/21
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
Philipp Grubauer ($8,100): The Colorado Avalanche are massive -290 home favorites, and you should be looking to Grubauer for safety at goalie. If you want to push toward the top of the leaderboard in tournaments, you really need a goalie to pick up the win points. That is what we should be getting from Grubauer, who has a 74.4% implied win probability tonight versus a weak Anaheim Ducks' team. This season, the Ducks are scoring just 2.03 goals per 60 minutes while at even-strength, which is the sixth-fewest in the league. On top of that, the Ducks are creating just 9.63 high-danger scoring chances per 60 minutes at even-strength, which is the 12th-fewest. The Ducks aren't a team you need to fear, and they shouldn't be too much of an issue for Grubauer.
High-Priced Skaters
Mark Stone ($7,400): With a slate-high 3.79 implied goal total, the Vegas Golden Knights are set to be one of the most popular teams tonight. The scoring potential the Golden Knights offer is nearly unmatched, and you should be going to them in all formats. They are taking on the San Jose Sharks, who are allowing the second-most (3.15) goals per 60 minutes in five-on-five situations. Stone is doing his usual thing, producing 1.2 real-world points per game this season along with 1.5 shots on goal per night. The points are great to start the year, but ideally, we'd see his attempts on goal increase a bit, which would help boost his floor of points every game. He may get that going in the right direction tonight since the Sharks are allowing the fourth-most (57.35) Corsi Against per 60 minutes in five-on-five situations.
Steven Stamkos ($8,200): Stammer and the Tampa Bay Lightning have a very nice 3.69 implied total and make a great stacking option. The Lightning are playing the Chicago Blackhawks -- for the second day in a row -- and hopefully we can get a repeat performance or more from Stamkos tonight. He ended with 16.8 FanDuel points last night from 1 goal and 3 shots on goal. Considering the Blackhawks have the seventh-worst (56.34) Corsi Against per 60 minutes in five-on-five situations this season, that level of production should be expected from Stamkos. He always has the potential to post multiple goals, and with a matchup such as this, you should be jumping at the chance to roster him.
Value Skaters
Kirill Kaprizov ($5,200): The Minnesota Wild are scoring 2.98 goals per 60 minutes in five-on-five situations this season, which is the second-best in the league. I know, I'm shocked, too. The Wild were projected to be one of the worst teams in the league, and they are putting up solid numbers thus far in a very tough division. We can look to their skaters for some consistent offense. That leads us to their rookie, Kaprizov, who is averaging 2.0 shots on goal per game and has 17 NHL points through 20 games. Considering he is on the first power-play unit and only $5,200, Kaprizov should make a great option tonight.
Cody Glass ($3,700): As noted above with Stone, the Golden Knights are in a great spot tonight versus the Sharks. They have a ton of expensive options, including some value, and that starts with Glass, who is the center on the third forward line and is on the first power-play unit. Glass doesn't bring a ton of offense on his own, but being on the power play with Vegas' best skaters gives him very clear upside at a low salary.
