NHL Daily Fantasy Helper: Friday 4/1/22

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

Karel Vejmelka ($6,700): Going with an Arizona Coyotes goalie? In this economy? That's right, Vejmelka is a +102 home underdog tonight against the Anaheim Ducks, who are an absolute mess right now and have lost 11 games in a row. The lack of offense is very apparent for the Ducks over the month of March as they are scoring only 1.91 goals per 60 minutes in five-on-five situations this month, which is the third-fewest in the league.

While the Coyotes aren't an elite team by any measure, Vejmelka is very affordable tonight at only $6,700 and allows you to pay up for any stack you want. This game is essentially a coin-flip between two "bad" teams. For Vejmelka, the matchup is an easy one worth attacking, and the salary relief is apparent.

High-Salaried Skaters

Nikita Kucherov ($9,200): As Dexter Morgan says, "Tonight's the night, and it's going to happen again and again -- has to happen." That's the feeling I have for Kucherov, who is in a spot to break his six-game goal drought. Kucherov is simply too good to be going this long without a goal, and his 17 shots on goal over the last six games are an encouraging sign. He's still firing the puck on the net, still on the first forward line, and still on the first power-play unit, but he just hasn't had the puck luck recently.

That can all change versus the Chicago Blackhawks, who are on the second night of a back-to-back and come in allowing a disastrous 3.25 goals per 60 minutes in five-on-five situations over the last month. With a slate-high 4.11 implied goal total, the Tampa Bay Lightning are bound to score today, and Kucherov should be involved in that.

Roman Josi ($7,100): Josi is having a near record-breaking season for a defenseman and comes in with 81 total NHL points, putting him in the top 10 of the league overall. He's arguably the most consistent defender in NHL DFS and is a solid option in all formats. The Nashville Predators come in with a 3.69 implied goal total, which is the second-highest on the slate, and they have a favorable matchup versus the Buffalo Sabres.

This season, the Sabres are allowing 2.86 goals per 60 minutes in five-on-five situations, which is the seventh-most in the league. A ridiculous 20 NHL points, 39 shots on goal, and 21 blocked shots in his last 10 games give Josi a floor/ceiling combination that is borderline unmatched by other defenders on this slate.

Value Skaters

Connor Brown ($5,000): Brown and the Ottawa Senators aren't the best team in the league, but they have a very favorable matchup versus the Detroit Red Wings. This game has a 6.5-goal over/under, and since neither team likes to play defense, we could be in for a back-and-forth, high-scoring game. Brown has a solid role on the second forward line and the second power-play unit for the Senators, who are sporting a 3.15 implied total. The Red Wings' D has taken a step back recently and is now allowing the third-most (3.08) goals per 60 minutes in five-on-five situations, making this an elite matchup for Brown.

Jesse Puljujarvi ($5,200): Getting exposure to Connor McDavid is always a good option. Getting exposure to him via some salary relief is even better. Puljujuarvi is on the first forward line with McDavid for the Edmonton Oilers, who have the third-highest (3.52) implied total. Puljujarvi has a solid 7 NHL points and 24 shots on goal over his last 10 games, and while he may not be lighting up the score sheet every night, using Puljujarvi allows you to grab solid point-per-dollar value along with exposure to the best player in the league.