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
Juuse Saros ($7,400): Goalie is certainly a tough position to nail down tonight because there's no combination of a reliable goalie who is also a large favorite. The Colorado Avalanche are -250 on the road against the Arizona Coyotes, playing each other for the second day in a row, which means the Avs will have a backup goalie in net. This could lead to DFS players spending down at goalie, and that makes Jusse Saros a viable option. He is at home, a -158 favorite, and going up against the Detroit Red Wings.
The matchup alone is the reason why Saros could be popular, as the Red Wings are only scoring 1.94 goals per 60 minutes in five-on-five situations, which is the third-lowest in the league. He isn't expensive, has a good chance at winning tonight, and has a soft matchup.
High-Priced Skaters
Aleksander Barkov ($7,700): The Florida Panthers have the second-highest (3.54) implied goal total on tonight's slate and are viable in all formats. They are on the road in Chicago but come in as -158 favorites, and it's for good reason. The Blackhawks are struggling on defense this season and are worth attacking every slate. The Blackhawks are allowing the seventh-most (2.54) goals per 60 minutes in five-on-five situations and the eighth-most (56.49) Corsi Against (Total Shot Attempts Allowed) this season.
If they are this bad on defense, we want to look directly to the Panthers' top line with Barkov, who comes in with 15 NHL points, 35 shots, and 11 blocked shots in his last 10 games. Barkov also skates on the Panthers' top power-play unit, which also puts him in a great spot, as the Blackhawks have the fourth-worst (72.4%) penalty kill this season.
Mikko Rantanen ($8,400): The Avalanche posted five goals last night against the Coyotes, and they could easily do the same thing tonight. They are facing Arizona for the second time in as many days, and there is no reason to assume we won't see the same level of production again tonight. The Avalanche come into this game with the league's best (64.44) Corsi For (Total Shot Attempts Created) per 60 minutes in five-on-five situations.
When they are in a spot such as this to produce plenty of points, you want to look to Rantanen and the top forward line, which remains together on the first power-play unit. He has a strong 14 NHL points and 37 shots on goal over his last 10 games, to go along with his linemate's combined 21 NHL points and 57 shots on goal in that same time.
Value Skaters
Jesper Bratt ($4,500): While the New Jersey Devils might not be an amazing NHL team, they have a great matchup versus the Philadelphia Flyers tonight. Surprisingly, the Flyers are allowing 3.28 goals per 60 minutes in five-on-five situations, which is the second-worst in the league. If they are struggling on defense this season, there is no reason to not attack them, even if the opposing team might not have the strongest offense. That is what we have with the Devils tonight, and ultimately, it also means that the salaries on the Devils' skaters are very affordable.
Enter Jesper Bratt, who is skating on the second forward line and the first power-play for the Devils, all while being under $5,000. He comes in with 8 NHL points and 20 shots on goal in his last 10 games and is one of my favorite point-per-dollar options on the entire slate due to his matchup.
Shayne Gostisbehere ($4,000): The Flyers have a slate-high 3.58 implied goal total tonight and are worth rostering tonight. They are going up against the previously mentioned Devils, who are certainly struggling on defense this season. I like Gostisbehere for two reasons tonight. He has a solid floor of points and is on the first power-play unit. This gives him a floor and a ceiling of fantasy points. The 21 shots on goal, 12 blocked shots, and 4 NHL points in his last 10 games is very strong, and the soft matchup and the power-play time are just an added bonus.