NHL Daily Fantasy Helper: Wednesday 12/28/22
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
Andrei Vasilevskiy ($8,100): The Tampa Bay Lightning are looking to break a two-game losing streak and have a favorable matchup against the lowly Montreal Canadiens to do so tonight. We see the Lightning as big -385 home favorites tonight and it should make Vasilevskiy popular in all formats. He has been solid in recent outings, allowing two goals or fewer in eight of his last 10 games.
Vasilevskiy should be able to do that again tonight since the Canadiens are only scoring 2.46 Goals per 60 minutes in five-on-five situations, which is 17th in the league. The Lightning are rolling on offense scoring 2.76 Goals per 60 minutes in five-on-five situations, putting them as the eighth-best team in the league. They should be able to flex that offense against the Canadiens and power Vasilevskiy to a win.
High-Salaried Skaters
Sidney Crosby ($9,400): The Pittsburgh Penguins have a slate-high 3.78 implied total tonight and are in a spot to exceed that versus the Detroit Red Wings. The Penguins sit in the top 13 of the league for the most Goals Scored (2.64) and Corsi For (58.29) (Total Shot Attempts Created), both per 60 minutes in five-on-five situations. Detroit comes in with the 10th-worst (58.98) Corsi Against (Total Shot Attempts Allowed) this season, putting the Penguins' offense in a good spot.
Speaking of the Penguins' offense, Crosby is leading the way yet again. He has produced 11 NHL points, 34 shots on goal, and 7 blocked shots over his last 10 games. He remains the focal point on the top forward line and the first power-play unit, which routinely puts him in a spot for a multi-point performance. Crosby should be a clear top option in all formats tonight.
Mark Stone ($7,100): The Vegas Golden Knights have been hit by the injury bug and are in need of a big performance from Stone. Vegas comes in with a 3.62 implied goal total tonight and has one of the easiest matchups in the NHL versus the Anaheim Ducks.
The Ducks are allowing 3.34 Goals and a 64.64 Corsi Against, both per 60 minutes in five-on-five situations -- both of which are second-worst in the league. This is the ideal matchup for finding offensive upside, and with some players out for Vegas, Stone should be their go-to guy tonight.
He is on the first forward line and the first power-play unit, coming in with 10 NHL points and 34 shots on goal over his last 10 games. A multi-shot, multi-point performance is absolutely on the table for Stone in this one.
Value Skaters
Alex Killorn ($5,700): With a 3.78 implied goal total, the Lightning are a great spot to look for some offensive production. The Canadiens are allowing 2.72 Goals per 60 minutes in five-on-five situations, which is the eighth-worst in the league, putting Tampa in a nice spot tonight.
Killorn is on the third forward line and the second power-play unit, which has allowed him to rack up 5 NHL points, 16 shots on goal, and 5 blocked shots in his last 10 games. He may not carry massive upside, but the point-per-dollar value is there.
Oliver Bjorkstrand ($5,300): When it comes to goal-scoring, the Seattle Kraken lead the league with 3.14 Goals scored per 60 minutes in five-on-five situations. That's right. The second-year franchise has vaulted itself to the top of the league in scoring, and that gives us tons of viable fantasy options.
Bjorkstrand is underproducing on offense this year with only four goals to his name, compared to his 9.2 expected goals, per MoneyPuck. His shot volume is great at 26 shots on goal over his last 10 games. He is due for a bit of an offensive breakout soon.
