NHL Daily Fantasy Helper: Thursday 2/11/21
Hockey is officially back! 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 or 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 to take a look at today's slate and some players to consider for your lineups.
Goalie to Target
Juuse Saros ($7,100): The Nashville Predators are strong -198 home favorites tonight, and that puts Saros in a great spot for cash games. While Robin Lehner ($8,800) and Connor Hellebuyck ($7,900) are also both great options for cash games, Saros offers a bit of savings and is taking on a very weak Detroit Red Wings team. This season, the Red Wings are scoring 1.59 goals per 60 minutes in five-on-five situations, which is the lowest in the league. On top of that, the Red Wings also have the lowest (44.64) Corsi For (Shot Attempts Created) per 60 minutes in five-on-five situations. This means that the Red Wings are legitimately the least threatening offense in the entire league.
While Saros is coming off a rough few games against the Tampa Bay Lightning and Florida Panthers, tonight's matchup against the Red Wings is far easier and should put him in a spot for a win.
High-Priced Skaters
Mark Scheifele ($7,300): The Winnipeg Jets are holding a slate-high 3.71 implied goal total tonight, as they are set to take on the lowly Ottawa Senators. The Senators are allowing a league-worst 3.66 goals per 60 minutes in five-on-five situations, along with the sixth-worst (57.49) Corsi Against (Shot Attempts Allowed). They have a bad defense and bad goaltending, and you should attack them anytime they are on the slate.
This means paying for Scheifele tonight, who is on the first forward line and the first power-play unit for Jets. This has helped Scheifele get off to a hot start this season with 15 NHL points through 12 games, including 30 shots on goal and 8 blocked shots. Scheifele does a bit of everything for the Jets and has tremendous upside with tonight's soft matchup.
John Gaudreau ($7,600): Another top team to consider tonight is Calgary, who's carrying a 3.51 implied goal total, which is the second-highest on the slate. Gaudreau skates on the second forward line and the first power-play unit for the Flames, who are in a fantastic spot versus the Vancouver Canucks. This season, the Canucks are tied with the Senators when it comes to goals allowed (3.66) per 60 minutes in five-on-five situations. What's also great about this matchup is the fact the Canucks are even worse than the Senators when it comes to Corsi Against, as Vancouver is the worst team in the league.
Gaudreau is averaging over 1.00 NHL points per game this season and has 26 shots on goal through 12 games, and he's worth every dollar tonight. Between the Jets and the Flames, there are two strong offenses with elite matchups that are perfect for cash games or tournaments tonight.
Value Skaters
Noah Dobson ($3,700): Dobson is under $4,000 and skating on the New York Islanders' first power-play unit. That is simply too cheap for a player with extra offensive upside, and you should be looking to him for salary relief -- as well as other players from the Islanders -- since they have a solid matchup versus the Pittsburgh Penguins. This season, the Penguins are allowing the seventh-most (2.85) goals per 60 minutes in five-on-five situations. Take the savings with Dobson and look to attack the Penguins' defense.
Mattias Janmark ($3,700): Surprisingly, the Columbus Blue Jackets are in the bottom 10 of the league or worse when it comes to Corsi Against and goals allowed, both per 60 minutes in five-on-five situations. They are, historically, a stronger defensive team, but things look different for them this season, and they're now a team worth attacking. Janmark finds himself on the second forward line and the second power-play unit for the Chicago Blackhawks, who shouldn't be too popular tonight in tournaments. Janmark has looked good lately with three NHL points in his last three games, two of which came on the power-play.
