NHL Daily Fantasy Helper: Thursday 4/8/21

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

Semyon Varlamov ($8,200): The New York Islanders are -184 home favorites tonight versus the Philadelphia Flyers, and you should look to Varlamov in net. Varly has picked up the win in three of his last four starts while allowing three or fewer goals in three of those games. This is partly due to the fact the Islanders are allowing only a 51.91 Corsi Against per 60 minutes in five-on-five situations, which is the 12th-best in the league. Varlamov sits behind a solid defense and often doesn't have to do a lot. That keeps his save volume low, but he is usually in a spot to pick up the win.

High-Priced Skaters

Connor McDavid ($9,000): You just pay up for McDavid tonight, it's as simple as that. He has 17 NHL points and 35 shots in his last 10 games, continuing to show why he is the best player in the league. All of that production should continue to pile up tonight since he is taking on one of the league's worst defenses in the Ottawa Senators. The Senators are allowing the most (3.28) goals per 60 minutes in five-on-five situations and the third-worst (59.57) Corsi Against. They have been a team to target all season, and we certainly aren't stopping when they have to take on McDavid.

Steven Stamkos ($7,400): Stamkos and the Tampa Bay Lightning looked bad the other night in a 4-2 loss to the Columbus Blue Jackets, who they get to play again tonight. Simply put, they should be beating Columbus every time out since. Tampa is a much better team, and Columbus is terrible on defense. Speaking of Columbus' defense, they are in the bottom seven of the league in both Corsi Against and goals allowed both per 60 minutes in five-on-five situations. They are legitimately bad, and with the Lightning scoring the 10th-most (2.60) goals per 60 minutes in five-on-five situations, it should be all Lightning tonight.

Value Skater

Colin Blackwell ($3,700): The New York Rangers have the second-highest (3.37) implied goal total on tonight's slate, and you should look to grab some value options from their lineup. Blackwell is on the second forward line and their second power-play unit, showing a bit of promise recently. He has 5 NHL points, 12 shots on goal, and 7 blocked shots in his last 10 games, which is great for a player with a salary under $4,000. Given that he is on the ice with an elite player like Artemi Panarin, Blackwell's offensive chances should continue to be there, and that means plenty of fantasy points.