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 ($7,800): The Edmonton Oilers are heavy -335 road favorites against the Arizona Coyotes in what should be a straightforward matchup. The Oilers are coming off a loss and are in a very tight playoff race, making this a clear game for them to get back on track. Skinner has been a bit shaky in net over his recent starts, but the matchup is too good to pass up.
This matchup mainly comes down to the Oilers' offense being amazing and the Coyotes' defense being bad, which should put Skinner in a spot to come away with the win. Skinner also has a very favorable salary tonight, which puts him as the fifth-most expensive goalie despite being the heaviest moneyline favorite.
High Salaried Skaters
Connor McDavid ($10,700): As I alluded to above, the Oilers' offense is great, and over the last month, they are scoring 3.41 goals per 60 minutes in five-on-five situations, which is the sixth-best in the league. This type of scoring upside can put them in a spot to rack up plenty of goals quickly, and that means plenty of fantasy points.
McDavid is the best player on the planet. He leads the league with a staggering 139 NHL points, 27 points more than the next player. He's averaging 1.9 NHL points per game, so it's actually a shock to see him coming off a game where he had just a single point and two shots on goal.
The Oilers have a 4.06 implied goal total that tops the slate, and I fully anticipate McDavid finding his way back to the score sheet multiple times tonight.
Carter Verhaeghe ($7,800): The Florida Panthers are visiting the Ottawa Senators in a game that features a rarely seen 7.5 over/under. A total this high is an indication that we are going to see a ton of offense tonight and very little defense, making it the ideal spot to look for fantasy points.
It's no surprise to see both teams with implied goal totals over 3.50 because they are both in the league's top half for the most goals scored per 60 minutes in five-on-five situations over the last month. It's also good to see the Senators in the bottom 10 for the most goals allowed over that same time.
When it comes to the Panthers' offense, Verhaeghe is one of their primary shooters, skating on the second forward line and the first power-play unit. Over his last 10 games, he has 13 NHL points and a whopping 49 shots on goal, which are elite levels of production. However, he hasn't scored over his last three games despite having 17 shots on goal in that span. Given this game environment, this is the time for Verhaeghe to find the back of the net.
Value Skaters
JJ Peterka ($4,200): The Buffalo Sabres have a 3.74 implied goal total tonight and a clear plus matchup against the Montreal Canadiens. The Sabres are the ideal team to look at from a fantasy perspective, as they are in the top 10 for the most goals scored but also in the bottom 10 for the most goals allowed, both per 60 minutes in five-on-five situations.
This gives their players tons of fantasy potential, and that leads us to some value tonight with Peterka. Over the last 10 games, he has 8 NHL points and 16 shots on goal while skating on the second forward line and the second power-play unit.
Jake Sanderson ($4,600): With Jakob Chychrun out for multiple weeks, the Senators have bumped Sanderson to the top power-play unit. As noted above, this game has a big 7.5 over/under, and there should be plenty of offense to go around. Sanderson's salary is simply way too low for the new offensive role that he is going to be playing.
Over the last 10 games, he had a solid 5 NHL points, along with 15 shots on goal and 26 blocked shots. The consistent floor of points is there for him with the peripheral stats, and the main offensive stats should only be trending up with this new role.