NHL Daily Fantasy Helper: Monday 4/12/21
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
Philipp Grubauer ($8,300): The Colorado Avalanche are MASSIVE -430 home favorites tonight and should be a clear option in all formats. The Avs played yesterday and had Jonas Johansson in net, which means we should almost certainly be seeing Grubauer as tonight's starter. The Avalanche boast one of the best defensive units in the league with a staggeringly low 44.38 Corsi Against (Total Shot Attempts Allowed) per 60 minutes in five-on-five situations, which is the best in the league. They are also allowing just 1.99 goals per 60 minutes in five-on-five situations, which is the fifth-fewest in the league. Grubauer should have an easy go at things tonight en route to a win.
High-Priced Skaters
Sebastian Aho ($7,400): With a 3.55 implied goal total tonight, the Carolina Hurricanes are a clear team to target in all formats. This means you should be targeting Aho, who is the center on the first forward line and the first power-play unit, giving him plenty of upside. The Hurricanes are taking on the Detroit Red Wings, who are allowing the eighth-most (2.59) goals per 60 minutes in five-on-five situations.
Aho has been putting up plenty of fantasy points recently with 10 NHL points and 32 shots on goal over his last 10 games. Given the fact the Hurricanes are -400 home favorites, you should expect them to be very popular in cash games, as well as tournaments tonight.
Kyle Connor ($6,500): The Winnipeg Jets have one of the best matchups on the entire slate, and you should be looking to roster them in all formats. Despite being on the road, the Jets are -198 favorites and are set to take on the Ottawa Senators, who are one of the worst teams in the league. The Senators are allowing 3.28 goals per 60 minutes in five-on-five situations, which is last in the league, along with a 59.34 Corsi Against (Total Shots Attempts Allowed), which is the third-worst in the league. They are a mess on defense, and you should be targeting them in DFS on a nightly basis.
The Jets have shifted their forward lines around a little bit, and we now see Connor back up the first forward line, while still being on the first power-play unit. Connor has 9 NHL points and 35 shots on goal in his last 10 games, and all things considered, he has a great salary given how easy of a matchup this is.
Value Skaters
Devon Toews ($4,700): Toews is a solid low-end cash game play and should also be used in a stack with Colorado's second power-play unit. His viability in cash games comes from the fact he has 21 shots on goal and 14 blocked shots over his last 10 games. That is an unbelievable floor of points on a nightly basis, and since he is under $5,000, he can return value easily. The upside is with the second power-play unit, so look to pair him with Nazem Kadri, Andre Burakovsky, and Brandon Saad.
Kevin Labanc ($4,500): The Anaheim Ducks are in the bottom 11 of the league in both Corsi Against and goals allowed, making them a clear team to target. Labanc only has 5 NHL points and 24 shots on goal over his last 10 games, which is rather low considering he is on both the first forward line and the first power-play unit. Regardless, the matchup versus the Ducks is favorable, and it should put the Sharks' skaters in a good spot.
