NHL

NHL Daily Fantasy Helper: Tuesday 3/16/21

​Alex Ovechkin is on a three-game goal-scoring streak and is always a threat for fantasy production. Who else should you build your lineups around tonight?

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

James Reimer ($8,300): With the Carolina Hurricanes sitting as -230 favorites against the Detroit Red Wings, you should be looking to Reimer as a top goalie option tonight. Reimer is projected to be the starter tonight and is in a spot to pick up an easy win, giving you plenty of safety in net. He will be taking on the lowly Red Wings, who are only scoring 2.01 goals per 60 minutes in five-on-five situations, which is the fifth-lowest in the league. The Red Wings also hold a league-worst 47.24 Corsi For (Shot Attempts Created) per 60 minutes in five-on-five situations, showing that they pose very little threat on offense tonight.

High-Salaried Skaters

Alex Ovechkin ($8,000): When one of the greatest pure goal-scorers in the history of the NHL is on a hot streak, you don't want to be fading him. That is what we have when it comes to Ovi tonight, as he has a three-game goal-scoring streak in the works, as well as four goals in his last five games. The Washington Capitals lead the league with 3.10 goals scored per 60 minutes in five-on-five situations this season but only have a 2.70 implied goal total tonight versus the New York Islanders. The Islanders are certainly a good defensive team and if that is going to cause DFS players to look in another direction, that means Ovechkin could be less-rostered than he should be.

That is a strong selling point for a player who legitimately carries hat-trick potential on any given night. If this is going to be the case, Ovechkin shouldn't be used in cash games because the consistent floor of points may not be there, but it makes him a fantastic tournament option.

Mikko Rantanen ($8,100): The Colorado Avalanche are massive -335 home favorites tonight with a slate-high 3.45 implied goal total. Welcome to Chalk City! The Avalanche are likely going to be one of, if not the most popular team on tonight's slate for both cash games and tournaments. They are taking on the Anaheim Ducks, who are in the bottom-10 of the league for both Corsi Against and goals allowed, both per 60 minutes in five-on-five situations this season. They are horrible on defense and when a team like the Avalanche are going against them, you want to go all-in.

The Avalanche lead the league (62.59) in Corsi For this season, putting them in a fantastic spot for fantasy production. Rantanen skates on the first forward line and the first power-play unit for Colorado, making him a priority target on this slate. He comes in with 14 NHL points and 33 shots on goal in his last 10 games, some of the best numbers we see on this slate.

Value Skaters

Jesper Bratt ($4,100): Despite the fact that the New Jersey Devils are 1-7-2 in their last 10 games and have scored the second-fewest (62) goals this season, they are a team worth targeting tonight. This is due to the fact they are taking on the Buffalo Sabres, who are on an 11-game losing streak and giving up 2.92 goals per 60 minutes in five-on-five situations this season, which is fourth-worst in the league. This is a clear "get right" spot for the Devils' offense, which offers a ton of value tonight. Bratt is skating on the second forward line and the second power-play unit, which should present him ample opportunities to score against the Sabres' defense, or lack thereof.

Jordan Staal ($5,100): Stall is right on the edge of what I would consider value, but he has an expanded role as of late and a super soft matchup versus the Red Wings tonight. With Vincent Trocheck set to be out for a lengthy period of time, Staal has moved up from the third forward line to the second forward line, while remaining on the first power-play unit. The Hurricanes come in with the second-highest (3.24) implied goal total on tonight's slate, and simply put, Staal is too cheap for his role and his matchup. A solid 7 NHL points and 23 shots on goal in his last 10 games makes him a viable option in all formats.