NHL Daily Fantasy Helper: Wednesday 3/17/21
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
Marc-Andre Fleury ($8,500): Fleury is the answer at goalie for cash games tonight, and it isn't particularly close. The Vegas Golden Knights are -250 home favorites tonight, while the next largest favorite are the Vancouver Canucks, who are -154 favorites but on the road in Ottawa. This should make Fleury one of the most popular options on the slate, but he is also the highest-salaried goalie, so you'll need to fit some value options into your lineup.
Fleury is taking on the San Jose Sharks, who have a 2.63 implied goal total, which is the second-lowest on the slate. This shouldn't be a surprise since the Golden Knights have one of the best defenses in the league, as they are allowing only 2.03 goals per 60 minutes in five-on-five situations, which is the seventh-best in the league. The Sharks are scoring 2.43 goals per 60 minutes in five-on-five situations this season, which is 16th in the league. They are not an offense with a ton of power, and with Fleury sitting behind the Golden Knights' defense, he should be in a spot for a win.
High-Priced Skaters
Artemi Panarin ($7,500): Panarin has been back in the New York Rangers' lineup for two games and has already made an impact with four points and three shots on goal. Despite being +120 home underdogs tonight, the Rangers are holding a 3.04 implied goal total and have a sneaky good matchup versus the Philadelphia Flyers. This season, the Flyers are allowing the second-most (3.05) goals per 60 minutes in five-on-five situations this season. This is a big departure from where the Flyers were last season (2.44), which was the 11th-best in the league.
Panarin skates on the second forward line and the first power-play unit, which has led to him posting 22 NHL points in 16 games this season, along with 47 shots on goal. He has legitimate multi-point upside on a nightly basis and shouldn't be too popular given the other high-end options at winger tonight.
Brady Tkachuk ($6,500): Do you know who leads the league in shots on goal this season? Connor McDavid? No. Auston Matthews? No. Patrick Kane? Nope. It's third-year player Brady Tkachuk, who plays for one of the worst teams in the league, the Senators. He has a super safe floor of points because of the shots, and that has helped lead him to 14 FanDuel points or more in seven of his last 10 games. He has also managed to pile up seven NHL points in that time due to his role on the first forward line and the first power-play unit.
His matchup versus the Vancouver Canucks couldn't be better, as they are dead last in the league (59.98) in Corsi Against (Shot Attempts Allowed) per 60 minutes in five-on-five situations this season. Play him in cash games or in tournaments because you have a combination of floor and ceiling.
Value Skaters
Cody Glass ($3,300): With Chandler Stephenson expected to be out tonight, we should see Glass as the center on the first forward line and the first power-play unit. The Golden Knights are -250 home favorites and Glass is only $3,300. It is flat-out unheard of for a player with this low a salary having this role on a team. While he only has 2 NHL points and 10 shots on goal in his last 10 games, the value he offers is unmatched tonight.
Tanner Pearson ($4,000): The Canucks have the second-highest (3.54) implied goal total on the slate and are on the road to take on the lowly Senators. Ottawa sits at the bottom of the league when it comes to goals allowed (3.49) per 60 minutes in five-on-five situations this season. We've stacked against the Senators all season, and that isn't going to be stopping now. Pearson is now up on the first forward line and the first power-play unit since Elias Pettersson is out with an injury. Considering Pearson is only $4,000 and playing the worst defense in the league, he is a clear value option for all formats tonight.
