NHL Daily Fantasy Helper: Friday 10/14/22
Hockey is back! The NHL gets the season underway this week with plenty of action across the league.
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 and 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 and take a look at today's slate and some players to consider for your lineups.
Goalie to Target
Frederik Andersen/Antti Raanta ($8,300): The Carolina Hurricanes are big -215 favorites on the road versus the San Jose Sharks. Andersen was in net for the Canes' season opener the other night, and it's yet to be determined if he's going to be in there tonight. But either option is a solid one.
This is more about the matchup versus the Sharks rather than the overall skill of the goalie. The Sharks have a slate-low 2.55 implied goal total and are yet again expected to be among the worst teams in the NHL. Last year, they carried a 51.52 Corsi For (Total Shot Attempts Created) and scored 2.12 goals per 60 minutes in five-on-five situations, both of which were in the bottom 10 of the league.
This should put the Canes in a spot to come away with the win, and we could see plenty of fantasy points for whichever goalie is in net tonight.
High-Salaried Skaters
Kyle Connor ($8,200): Players wo shoot the puck a ton are always great options to have in your lineups, and tonight, that means Kyle Connor. Last year, Connor finished with 317 shots on goal -- 4.0 per game -- which was the fourth-most in the league. He is among the elite shooters/goal scorers and brings a consistent floor of points every night.
His role on the first forward line and the first power-play unit are what give him a ceiling of fantasy points to your lineup, and he's one of the few players on the slate who truly has hat-trick potential. He will be up against the New York Rangers, who are on the second night of a back-to-back and will likely have Jaroslav Halak in net.
We also see a very solid 6.5 total in this game, indicating there should be some back-and-forth scoring, which is perfect for an offensive-minded player like Connor.
Sebastian Aho ($7,900): With the Canes being -215 moneyline favorites, they are also rocking a 3.45 implied total, which shouldn't be a surprise. The Hurricanes have consistently been one of the best offensive teams over the last few seasons, producing a 63.41 Corsi For (Total Shot Attempts Created) per 60 minutes in five-on-five situations. That was the second-highest mark in the league last season, which led to them producing 2.97 goals in the same situations, the sixth-most in the league.
They like to push the pace on offense and generate a ton of shot pressure, which leads to fantasy points. Aho is the center on the top forward line and the top power-play unit, putting him right in the thick of this offensive action. The Finnish-born center had just two shots on goal and no NHL points in their season opener. In this matchup, he should be able to find the scoresheet.
Value Skaters
Andrew Copp ($5,300): The Detroit Red Wings were one of a few teams to make some strong moves in the offseason, and it's time for them to put that on display. They come in with a slate-high 3.65 implied total and are at home to take on the Montreal Canadiens.
Copp was one of the new additions in the offseason and will be centering the second forward line and the second power-play unit. While the Canadiens looked good in their opener, they have a very questionable defense that will make them viable to target for fantasy upside. Copp has a strong role and friendly salary.
Nick Paul ($3,900): The Tampa Bay Lightning are -205 road favorites and hold a 3.39 implied total against the Columbus Blue Jackets. It was a bit of a lackluster start for Tampa in their opener, posting only one goal versus the New York Rangers. Tonight, they have a far easier matchup versus the Blue Jackets, and it's a spot to see them get their offense going.
When it comes to Paul, this is a clear case of the player's salary not reflecting his offensive role. Paul is the center on the second forward line and the second power-play unit for the Lightning. I love the point-per-dollar value from Paul, who should be locked into this role for the entire season.
