NHL Daily Fantasy Helper: Thursday 2/25/21
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
Pekka Rinne ($7,000): The Nashville Predators are -162 road favorites against the lowly Detroit Red Wings, putting them in a good spot to win. Rinne (confirmed as the starter) is very, very affordable for being this heavy of favorite, which helps you get to some of the higher-priced skaters on this loaded 10-game slate. The Red Wings come in with the second-lowest (47.33) Corsi For per 60 minutes in five-on-five situations. The Red Wings present very little threat on offense, and it should help Rinne stay out of trouble en route to a win.
High-Priced Skaters
John Gaudreau ($7,300): The Calgary Flames find themselves on the second night of a back-to-back, but they have a phenomenal matchup versus the Ottawa Senators. We get the Flames with a 3.53 implied goal total, which is the second-highest on the slate, putting them in a spot to very popular. The Senators are allowing 3.64 goals per 60 minutes at even-strength, which is the absolute worst rate in the league. The Sens also hold the fifth-worst (57.47) Corsi Against, presenting a consistent floor of fantasy points for their opponents every night. Gaudreau is on the second forward line and the first power-play unit for Calgary, and that has helped lead him to 18 real-world points in 20 games along with a total of 44 shots on goal. You should look to stack Gaudreau with Sean Monahan, Matthew Tkachuk, and Elias Lindholm for a full first power-play stack.
Elias Pettersson ($7,000): While I love rostering Connor McDavid on the other side of this game, Pettersson is also a fantastic option. This game has an over/under of 6.5, and both teams have implied goal totals of more than 3.00. The Edmonton Oilers hold the worst Corsi Against in the league and are allowing the fifth-most (2.73) goals at even-strength per 60 minutes. Pettersson and the Vancouver Canucks sit in the top 10 of the league for most goals scored per 60 minutes at even-strength. We want all of the fantasy points tonight, and that means looking to Pettersson and the second forward line for the Canucks, who are all on the first power-play unit together. Pettersson is starting to heat up with six actual points in his last five games, putting 12 shots on goal in that time. We'd like to see the shots on goal a bit higher overall, and this matchup should help him accomplish that.
Value Skaters
Dominik Kubalik ($4,900): The Chicago Blackhawks have a 2.61 implied goal total tonight, and that is too low. They are taking on the Columbus Blue Jackets, who are in the bottom of the league for both Corsi Against and goals allowed at even-strength. Kubalik skates on the second forward line and the second power-play unit for the 'Hawks and is looking good as of late. He comes in with 4 real-world points and 16 shots on goal over his last five games.
Blake Coleman ($4,100): Coleman is now skating on the first forward line for the Tampa Bay Lightning, who hold a slate-high 3.54 implied goal total. He is only $4,100 and on the first forward line -- the salary is simply too low. This is the slam-dunk value play of the slate, and you shouldn't be passing on him. He has a very surprising nine shots on goal over his last two games, and that should continue tonight versus the Carolina Hurricanes, as he is playing them for the third game in a row.
