NHL Daily Fantasy Helper: Monday 12/19/22
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 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
Stuart Skinner ($7,500): The Edmonton Oilers are on the road to take on the Nashville Predators, putting Skinner in a spot to be a solid option at goalie tonight. The Oilers are -134 road favorites tonight and should be in net tonight after signing a two-year extension this morning.
The matchup is an easy one since the Predators are only scoring 2.01 goals per 60 minutes in five-on-five situations, which is the fifth-lowest in the league. The Oilers are riding a two-game losing streak into this game, and facing a very weak offense should put Skinner in a spot to come away with the win.
High-Salaried Skaters
Jason Robertson ($10,100): Robertson is in a bit of a goal drought right now but has the ideal matchup to get back on track. He comes in with no goals over his last seven games but still has 23 on the season, which is good for the third-best in the league. Despite not scoring a ton of goals, he has 11 NHL points and 28 shots on goal over his last 10 games -- a level of production he should be able to replicate with the Dallas Stars carrying a slate-hight 3.79 implied goal total tonight.
They are taking on the Columbus Blue Jackets, who are dead last in the league in both goals allowed (3.60) and Corsi Against (64.92) (Total Shot Attempts Allowed) per 60 minutes in five-on-five situations. With Robertson on the first forward line and the first power-play unit, the chances will be there for him to rack up the shots on goal and find the back of the net for the first time in his last seven games.
Alex Ovechkin ($9,600): The Great 8 made history last week with 800 career goals but still has his sights set on moving up the all-time goals list. The Washington Capitals have a solid 3.29 implied goal total tonight and are taking on the Detroit Red Wings in a matchup that should offer some scoring upside.
The Red Wings are allowing 2.40 goals per 60 minutes in five-on-five situations, which is 17th in the league. That's not too bad, but they're due for some regression if we look at their expected goals allowed (xGA), they should be letting up 2.66 goals per 60 minutes in five-on-five situations. It's not a major amount of regression, but this is still a defense that is overperforming right now.
Ovi is on the first forward line and the first power-play unit, coming in with 14 NHL points, 48 shots on goal, and 6 blocked shots in his last 10 games.
Value Skaters
Phil Kessel ($4,400): The Vegas Golden Knights are dealing with a few injuries right now and that has pushed Kessel up to the first forward line. He's still on the second power-play unit, but the increased role at even strength is something we want to jump on. The Golden Knights come in with a 3.59 implied goal total and are taking on the Buffalo Sabres, and the total is set at 6.5.
The Sabres are in the top 10 of the league for the most goals allowed (2.74) and most goals scored (2.98), both per 60 minutes in five-on-five situations. This should set things up for a very back-and-forth scoring environment, giving plenty of fantasy upside to all involved. Kessel has a modest 4 NHL points and 17 shots on goal in his last 10 games, but this is a new role for him, and we should see expanded production moving forward.
Conor Garland ($5,100): Garland is now on the first forward line and the first power-play unit, coming in with 5 NHL points and 24 shots on goal in his last 10 games. The Vancouver Canucks are one of the more inconsistent defensive teams in the league, but that often leaves them playing from behind and in a spot where they need to ramp up their offense.
This gives their players some solid offensive upside -- especially when Garland is only $5,100 tonight.
