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
Sergei Bobrovsky ($8,500): The Florida Panthers are heavy -400 home favorites tonight, and it should put Bobrovsky firmly in play for all formats. The win equity is very high for Bobrovsky, but he also has access to a potential ceiling given the fact he has seen a good volume of saves lately, with 30 or more in two of his last four starts. If he can limit the goals tonight against the Montreal Canadiens, this will put him in a spot to push past 30 FanDuel points.
The Habs come in scoring only 2.10 goals per 60 minutes in five-on-five situations, which is the worst in the league. Bobrovsky should have an easier path to a win tonight and is worth paying up to get in your lineups.
High-Priced Skaters
Filip Forsberg ($8,300): Forsberg loves to shoot the puck and score goals, so you should love him in NHL DFS. Over the last 10 games, Forsberg has 10 goals, 19 total NHL points, 32 shots on goal, and 9 blocked shots. The man simply does it all from a fantasy perspective and has the chance to continue to that tonight versus the Ottawa Senators. This season, the Senators are allowing 2.65 goals per 60 minutes in five-on-five situations, which is 14th in the league, along with a 59.2 Corsi Against (total shot attempts allowed), which is the fifth-worst in the league.
This should put all of the goal-scoring options for the Nashville Predators in play tonight, and it's no surprise to see that they carry a strong 3.81 implied goal total. With Forsberg on the first forward line and the first power-play unit, his multi-point and goal potential are high in this favorable matchup.
Aleksander Barkov ($9,300): With the Panthers as heavy home favorites (-400), they are also carrying a big implied team total sitting at 4.19, which is the highest on the slate. Surprise, surprise, we are looking to the highest-scoring offensive team in the league when they are at home in a very soft matchup versus the Canadiens. The Panthers post 3.34 goals per 60 minutes in five-on-five situations, which is the best in the league, while the Habs' defense allows 2.85 goals in the same situations, the sixth-worst mark.
It's a lopsided matchup, and we want any part of the Panthers' lineup we can possibly afford. That starts with Barkov, who is on the first forward line and first power-play unit. He comes in with a strong 12 NHL points, 22 shots on goal, and 9 blocked shots in his last 10 games, and this matchup should only allow him to continue that production.
Value Skaters
Jared Spurgeon ($5,200): The Minnesota Wild have a 4.00 implied goal total tonight, which is the second-highest on the slate, and you want some exposure to their offense. They are the second-highest (3.12) scoring offense per 60 minutes in five-on-five situations and are up against the Philadelphia Flyers, who are a bottom 10 defense. It's similar to the Panthers' matchup versus the Canadiens, where we have one dominant offensive team versus a very weak defense, so we know where we want to look for options.
Spurgeon is a solid low-end cash game play tonight and comes in with 5 NHL points, 20 shots on goal, and 8 blocked shots in his last 10 games. He's on the first power-play unit, and with his peripheral stat production, he has solid point-per-dollar value.
Oliver Wahlstrom ($3,700): The Columbus Blue Jackets allow the most goals (3.23) per 60 minutes in five-on-five situations this season, so we want to look towards the New York Islanders tonight. Wahlstrom is on the second forward line and occasionally sees time on the second power-play unit, but it's not a solid role. Regardless, he comes in with 21 shots on goal in his last 10 games, which is a solid number, but he only has a single goal to show for it. He's a pure shooter for the Islanders and has a soft matchup to finally find the back of the net.