NHL Daily Fantasy Helper: Monday 2/7/22
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
Matt Murray ($7,700): The Ottawa Senators are -144 home favorites and set to take on the shorthanded New Jersey Devils tonight. The Devils are going to be without their two best players -- Jack Hughes and Dougie Hamilton -- putting them at a clear disadvantage in this matchup. While the Senators aren't the best team in the league, the Devils are a team worth attacking when they are on the slate. They come in allowing 3.20 goals per 60 minutes in five-on-five situations, which is the second-worst in the league.
Despite a rough start to the year, Murray has turned things around a bit and comes in with three wins in his last five starts, allowing three goals or fewer in four of those five games. This is a favorable matchup and a chance for Murray to keep the strong starts going against a weak opponent.
High-Priced Skaters
Mitchell Marner ($7,800): Seven straight games. That's the current goal streak Marner has going right now, and with the total against the Carolina Hurricanes sitting at 6.5, we are in for some scoring tonight. Both the Toronto Maple Leafs and the Hurricanes are in the top six of the league in both goals scored and Corsi For (total shot attempts created) per 60 minutes in five-on-five situations. They are two of the best offenses in the league, and it sets things up for an explosive scoring environment.
Marner is on the top forward line and the top power-play unit with Auston Matthews, which makes a great two-man stack to have in your lineups. On top of the goals for Marner, he also has 8 assists and 27 shots on goal in his last 10 games, giving him a strong floor and ceiling combo.
Brady Tkachuk ($7,100): With a 3.18 implied goal total, there are several options for the Senators to consider tonight. Starting at the top with Tkachuk will always put you in a good spot due to his secure role on the first forward line and the first power-play unit. What's also secure for Tkachuk is his floor of fantasy points, shown by the fact he has a healthy 46 shots on goal in his last 10 games. That's simply amazing for fantasy production, but it's not all good news for Tkachuk, as he hasn't scored in any of his last 10 games. In fact, he hasn't scored since December 14th.
If you believe in a player "being due" then this is the spot for Tkachuk, who's going up against the Devils' defense, a unit that allows the second-most (3.20) goals per 60 minutes in five-on-five situations.
Value Skaters
Nico Hischier ($5,400): As noted above, Jack Hughes is out for the Devils, which means Hischier needs to add a bit more offense tonight. Losing Hughes is a pretty big downgrade to the Devils' offense, which was only league-average to begin with. Hischier will be on the first forward line and the first power-play unit, coming in with 4 NHL points, 23 shots, and 11 blocked shots in his last 10 games.
Ultimately, the matchup against the Senators is an easy one, as they are dead last in the league in Corsi Against (60.51), which could open up the ice for plenty of shot attempts back and forth.
