NHL Daily Fantasy Helper: Monday 5/2/22
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
Mike Smith ($8,400): The Edmonton Oilers come in as the largest (-205) home favorites on the slate, and we turn to Smith in net. Smith and the Oilers really turned up their defense to end the season, putting them among the best in the league. In the month of April, the Oilers allowed 2.24 goals per 60 minutes in five-on-five situations, which was the fourth-best in the league. That is a noticeable improvement from where they were for the entire season (2.65).
They are going up against the Los Angeles Kings, who ended the season with a lack of offense, scoring only 2.34 goals in the same situation, which was the eighth-lowest in the league. Two teams moving in opposite directions should put Smith and the Oilers in a spot to come away with the win.
High-Salaried Skaters
Vladimir Tarasenko ($7,900): The St. Louis Blues are taking on the Minnesota Wild in a game with a total sitting at 6.5, which should put us in a spot for plenty of scoring. They played each other a total of three times this season and we saw a total of 28 goals in the three games. Whew!
Of course, so may say things tighten up in the playoffs, so we likely won't see as many goals. I'm expecting some goals in this series, and after all, both teams finished in the top five of the league for the most goals scored per 60 minutes in five-on-five situations this season.
We turn to Tarasenko, who ended the season with 17 NHL points and 23 shots on goal in his last 10 games. His top-line and the top power-play role will remain unchanged in the playoffs, putting him in a good spot to continue the scoring output we saw to end the regular season.
Steven Stamkos ($8,500): Stammer and the Tampa Bay Lightning are +100 road underdogs with a 3.17 implied goal total tonight against the Toronto Maple Leafs. Two of the best offensive teams in the league have this series shaping up to be one of the best in the first round -- with plenty of fantasy potential.
Stamkos was white-hot in the final 10 games of the season, posting 10 goals, 16 assists, 37 shots on goal, and 5 blocked shots. His multi-point potential is clear every night, and with the scoring upside in this series, he's sure to be involved.
Value Skaters
Jake DeBrusk ($5,300): The Boston Bruins have a slate-low 2.70 implied goal total, and that seems a bit off. They are going up against the Carolina Hurricanes, who allowed 2.86 goals per 60 minutes in five-on-five situations in the month of April, which was 16th in the league. This is due in part to the Canes' top goalie, Frederik Andersen, being out with an injury.
If their implied goal total puts them in a spot to go overlooked, I'm going to have even more interest in getting some exposure to them. DeBrusk was a solid contributor for them this year with 6 NHL points and 28 shots on goal in his final 10 games of the year. He's on the first forward line and the second power-play unit, giving him a nice ceiling to reach for.
Frederick Gaudreau ($4,800): The Wild carry a 3.36 implied goal total, which is the second-highest on tonight's four-game slate. As mentioned above, this has the makings of a higher-scoring series, so getting extra exposure here could be a good call. Gaudreau had 11 NHL points, 21 shots on goal, and 4 blocked shots in his final 10 games of the season. The WIld might be a popular stack tonight but Gaudreau is not a primary option for them, putting him in a good spot for tournaments.
