NHL Daily Fantasy Helper: Thursday 5/6/21
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
Jeremy Swayman ($7,900): The Boston Bruins are strong -245 home favorites tonight, and we should be looking toward Swayman for safety in cash games. Swayman has been confirmed as the goalie, and with the Bruins still fighting for playoff seeding, we can expect plenty of effort from them tonight in a very winnable matchup. He will be up against the New York Rangers, who have several of their starters out for the remainder of the season, causing them to call up a host of players from the AHL.
To say the Rangers' lineup tonight is going to be a bit weaker than normal is putting things lightly. The Bruins are allowing 2.06 goals per 60 minutes in five-on-five situations this season, which is the seventh-best mark in the league. They have an elite defense and are facing a depleted team. Swayman checks a lot of boxes.
High-Priced Skaters
Auston Matthews ($8,900): Matthews comes into this game with a four-game goal-scoring streak -- getting 10 total NHL points in his last 10 games, along with 45 shots on goal. The level of production from him is matched on this slate by only Connor McDavid, who is also a fantastic option. Ultimately, we are somewhat splitting hairs between the two of them, but we should see McDavid be more popular tonight -- which has me interested in Matthews. Matthews is still on the top forward line and the first power-play unit for the Toronto Maple Leafs, who hold a 3.24 implied goal total against the Montreal Canadiens.
Jake Guentzel ($7,600): The Pittsburgh Penguins have a slate-high 4.13 implied total, and they are going to be very popular in all formats. The Pens are hosting the Buffalo Sabres, so it's no surprise they have such a lofty implied total. The Sabres come into this game allowing 2.86 goals per 60 minutes in five-on-five situations this season, which is the fourth-worst in the league and the worst among teams on tonight's slate This should make Guentzel, who is on the first forward line and the first power-play unit, a very chalky option. His 10 NHL points, 22 shots on goal, and 10 blocked shots across his last 10 games speak for themselves. If you can, you should pair him with Sidney Crosby and Bryan Rust since they are all together on the first power-play unit.
Value Skaters
Jesse Puljujarvi ($4,300): We can look to Puljujarvi as a value option since he is a product of his environment -- and I mean that in a good way. Puljujarvi skates on the first forward line for the Edmonton Oilers alongside Connor McDavid and Leon Draisaitl. Simply being on the ice with two highly skilled skaters is going to offer the potential for fantasy production. We have seen this in the last 10 games, a span where Puljujarvi has posted 8 NHL points and 14 shots on goal. If he is going to be on the ice with McDavid and Draisaitl, he can fall into either a goal or an assist, helping him reach value.
Noah Dobson ($3,500): Dobson has been skating on the New York Islanders' first power-play unit, and that makes him a viable value option. Dobson is the minimum salary for a defender, and while he only has 2 NHL points in his last 10 games, he has 10 shots on goal and 12 blocked shots in that time. That a solid floor of points for a player at the minimum salary, and given an expanded role on the first power-play unit, there is a sneaky amount of upside with him, as well.
