NHL Daily Fantasy Helper: Friday 3/11/22
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
Tristan Jarry ($8,300): It's a tough slate for goalies, and Jarry for the Pittsburgh Penguins might be the best option available. The Penguins are the largest home favorites (-178) on the slate but have a potentially tough matchup versus the Vegas Golden Knights. The Knights' offense has hit a bit of a rough patch, scoring only nine goals over their last four games. They are underproducing right now and truly have plenty of offensively talented players to score four goals a game.
The other three matchups on the slate aren't very encouraging, which has me turning back to Jarry and the Penguins, who are allowing 2.20 goals per 60 minutes in five-on-five situations this season, which is the seventh-best mark in the league. A strong defense against an offense that is currently struggling is a matchup that's worth considering.
High-Priced Skaters
Kirill Kaprizov ($9,200): The Minnesota Wild showed the strength of their offense last night with five goals, and that could be on the table yet again tonight versus the Columbus Blue Jackets. The Wild come in scoring 3.29 goals per 60 minutes in five-on-five situations, which is the second-best in the league. They are now facing a Blue Jackets defense -- or lack thereof -- that allows 3.33 goals in the same situations, which is good for dead last.
We have two teams at the legitimate opposite ends of the spectrum, setting things up for plenty of offense for the Wild. We look to Kirill the Thrill, who comes in with 11 NHL points and 32 shots on goal over his last 10 games, posting a high level of production despite it being only his second year in the NHL.
Patrik Laine ($7,700): The Blue Jackets got shut out last night but have a chance to bounce back tonight versus the Wild. This game features a 6.5 over/under, as both offenses are in the top 10 for the most goals scored per 60 minutes in five-on-five situations, along with both teams also being in the bottom half for the most goals allowed. This should create a solid back and forth offensive environment, which is great for fantasy production.
Laine skates on the first forward line and the first power-play unit for the Blue Jackets, coming in with 11 NHL points and 33 shots on goal over his last 10 games. Given that recent production, Laine is a bit too cheap in the grand scheme of things and should be a very popular option tonight.
Value Skaters
Tanner Pearson ($4,700): With a surprising 8 NHL points and 19 shots on goal over his last 10 games, Pearson is finding his way into the value conversation quickly tonight. The Vancouver Canucks' offense has cranked up the offense lately and it's a wave we want to ride. Over the past three weeks, the Canucks are scoring a whopping 3.48 goals per 60 minutes in five-on-five situations, which is a dramatic improvement from their 2.20 goals scored rate for the entire season. They're on a heater right now, and you never walk away from a heater.
Pearson is on the first forward line and on the second power-play unit, all while being under $5,000 for one of the hottest offenses in the league. It's a clear value play for a team that's knocking on the door of the Western Conference Wild Card.
Paul Stastny ($4,600): The Winnipeg Jets shouldn't be too popular tonight and have some value in tournaments for that reason. They will be taking on the New York Islanders, who should have Semyon Varlamov in net, giving a matchup to attack since he has allowed four goals or more in each of his last three starts. Stastny has 7 NHL points and 21 shots on goal over his last 10 games while seeing time on the first forward line and the second power-play unit.
