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
Andrei Vasilevskiy ($8,600): The Tampa Bay Lightning are massive -360 home favorites tonight against the Ottawa Senators, and it points us in the direction of Vasilevskiy in net. Vasy has been solid for Tampa as of late, allowing three goals or fewer in 8 of his last 10 starts.
He has four wins in his last five outings and should be able to keep that trend going tonight versus the Senators. Ottawa is in the bottom half of the league (2.31) for the fewest goals scored per 60 minutes in five-on-five situations. Combine this with the weak defense from the Senators, and the Lightning should be in a spot to flex their offense and help Vasy pick up the win.
High-Priced Skaters
Andrei Svechnikov ($8,000): Andrei Svechnikov is going to score a goal tonight. I'm speaking this into existence today because he's due. He has 22 goals in 49 games this season but hasn't scored in four straight games. That drought will end tonight against the Detroit Red Wings, who are allowing 2.87 goals per 60 minutes in five-on-five situations (seventh-worst in the league).
The Carolina Hurricanes come in with a slate-high 3.81 implied goal total, and that's due to the fact they are one of the best offenses in the league. They are scoring the fourth-most (3.17) goals per game along with the third-best (62.38) Corsi For (Total Shot Attempts Created), both per 60 minutes in five-on-five situations.
Svechnikov is on the first forward line and the first power-play unit, posting a solid 12 points and 40 shots on goal in his last 10 games. It's time for him to find the back of the net tonight.
Kyle Connor ($9,300): Connor is an elite goal scorer and has a very soft matchup tonight. With 32 goals on the season, Connor is tied for the fourth-most in the entire league and can be consistently relied upon to provide a strong floor and a high fantasy ceiling.
The Winnipeg Jets enter with a 3.52 implied goal total tonight (sixth-highest on the slate) and have a great matchup versus the Montreal Canadiens. While the Canadiens are winning games as of late, they are still allowing the sixth-most (2.91) goals per game and hold the sixth-worst (58.17) Corsi Against (Total Shot Attempts Allowed), both per 60 minutes in five-on-five situations.
Connor is continuing to do his thing lately with 11 NHL points and 39 shots on goal in his last 10 games. A role on the second forward line and the first power-play unit is what we expect from one of the best goal scorers in the league, and a soft matchup should allow him to continue a high level of production.
Value Skaters
Ondrej Palat ($5,700): Since the Lightning are strong (-360) home favorites, we should be looking to several of their offensive options tonight. While paying up for Nikita Kucherov ($9,900), Steven Stamkos ($8,400), or Brayden Point ($7,900) could work, they're all very expensive. So, we can turn to Palat for a bit of value. Palat has a great offensive role on the first forward line and the second power-play unit, but he hasn't been doing a whole lot with it lately. A total of 5 NHL points and 17 shots on goal are nothing to write home about.
However, this matchup against the Senators is one that is worth attacking. They are in the bottom half of the league for the most goals allowed per game (2.55) and Corsi Against (60.76), making this one of the softest spots on the slate.
Gustav Nyquist ($4,900): Are the Columbus Blue Jackets good? They are winners of 7 of their last 10 games, and they've jumped into the top 10 of the league for the most goals scored (2.80) per 60 minutes in five-on-five situations. Honestly, it's very impressive but we still see them dead last in the league for the most goals allowed (3.31) in the same situations. They are up against the New Jersey Devils tonight, who are allowing the second-most goals per game (3.20), setting things up for plenty of offense and no defense.
Nyquist is on the first forward line and the second power-play unit, and that has helped him pile up 6 NHL points and 18 shots on goal over his last 10 games.