NHL Daily Fantasy Helper: Thursday 2/9/23
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
Dan Vladar ($7,300): The Calgary Flames are -162 road favorites against the Detroit Red Wings, putting Markstrom in a spot to come away with the win. Vladar has been solid in net for the Flames recently, allowing three or fewer goals in four of his last five starts, and it looks like that could continue tonight.
Over the last three weeks, the Red Wings' offense has gone ice cold and is scoring only 1.65 Goals per 60 minutes in five-on-five situations, which is the second-worst in the league. This should put the Flames' defense and Vladar in a spot to come away with a much-needed win to get back on track in the Western Conference wild card race.
High-Salaried Skaters
Matthew Tkachuk ($9,800): Tkachuk is in the midst of an offensive explosion and provides plenty of fantasy upside every night. The Florida Panthers are rocking a slate-high 4.15 implied total as they are set to take on the San Jose Sharks, who are one of the weakest defensive teams in the league.
First, let's get to Tkachuk, who has 19 NHL points, 44 shots on goal, and 8 blocked shots over his last 10 games. To give this some context, Connor McDavid has 17 NHL points and 54 shots on goal in his last 10 games. Tkachuk is producing at an elite level, and you want some exposure to him tonight.
This season, the Sharks are allowing the second-most (3.16) Goals and the 13th-worst (57.64) Corsi Against (Total Shot Attempts Allowed), both per 60 minutes in five-on-five situations. This is a juicy matchup for Tkachuk to stay on a heater, and as we know, you never walk away from a heater.
Zach Hyman ($9,500): Hyman and the Edmonton Oilers have a 3.92 implied total against the Philadelphia Flyers, which should make them a very popular team tonight. When it comes to the Oilers' offense, they are producing at an elite level, which shouldn't be a surprise to anyone. Over the last three weeks, they are scoring 3.38 Goals per 60 minutes in five-on-five situations, which is the third-most.
If we look at the Flyers' defense over those same three weeks, they are allowing just 1.96 Goals per 60 minutes in five-on-five situations, which is the third-fewest in the league. However, if we look at their Expected Goals Allowed (xGA), they are up at 2.82 xGA per 60 minutes in five-on-five situations. They are due for serious regression on defense, and with the Oilers on the other side, Edmonton could be the ones to start that process.
Value Skaters
Jonathan Huberdeau ($5,600): Huberdeau isn't producing at the same level he was last season, but he still has a strong role this season and a great matchup tonight. The Flames have a 3.31 implied total against the Red Wings, who are in the bottom 12 of the league for the most Goals Allowed (2.66) and Corsi Against (57.77). Huberdeau is skating on the second forward line and the second power-play unit, coming in with 5 NHL points and 16 shots on goal over his last 10 games.
Ondrej Palat ($4,700): With Jack Hughes out for the New Jersey Devils, there's a bit of an opening in their offense. Hughes is one of the best offensive players in the league, and over his last 10 games, he racked up 18 NHL points and 45 shots on goal. That high level of production is now missing from the Devils' lineup, creating opportunity for others
Do I expect Palat to produce at Hughes' level? No. But with Palat on the first forward line and the first power-play unit, he can pick up extra shot volume since Hughes is now out of the lineup.
