NHL Daily Fantasy Helper: Wednesday 3/16/22
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
Jacob Markstrom ($8,200): As massive -350 home favorites, plenty of people will be looking towards Markstrom in net for the Calgary Flames tonight. The Flames are one of the strongest defensive teams in the league, allowing only 2.04 goals per 60 minutes in five-on-five situations, which is the best in the league. They are going up against the New Jersey Devils on the second night of a back-to-back. New Jersey enters scoring 2.54 goals in the same situation, which is 15th in the league.
Markstrom has been on fire lately for the Flames with four wins over his last five games. He's also allowed one goal or fewer in four of those starts. This is looking like one of the most straightforward spots on the entire slate, so roll with the elite goalie versus an average offense.
High-Priced Skaters
Elias Lindholm ($8,100): The Flames are not only heavy home favorites (-350) but also come in with a slate-high 3.77 implied goal total, giving us a clear offense to target. The Flames hold a 63.52 Corsi For (Total Shot Attempts Created) per 60 minutes in five-on-five situations, which is second-best in the league. They also score 2.84 goals in the same situation, which is the seventh-best. They are one of the elite offenses in the league, and with the Devils allowing the second-most (3.18) goals in that same ice condition, this is as lopsided of a matchup as you will find in the NHL.
Lindholm is on the first forward line and the first power-play unit for the Flames, which should make him one of the most popular options on the slate given the matchup. He comes in with 13 NHL points, 31 shots on goal, and 6 blocked shots in his last 10 games.
Patrik Laine ($7,800): With a 6.0-goal over/under and two of the weaker defensive teams in the league, we could be in for plenty of scoring between the Columbus Blue Jackets and the Ottawa Senators. Laine continues to fire the puck at the net with 31 shots on goal over his last 10 games, finding 5 goals in that time. That is what we should be expecting tonight; the Senators are allowing a 59.49 Corsi Against (Total Shot Attempts Allowed) per 60 minutes in five-on-five situations, which is the fourth-worst in the league.
Laine skates on the first forward line and the first power-play unit for the Blue Jackets, who possess a 2.84 implied goal total tonight but could easily exceed that given the easy matchup.
Values Skaters
Tim Stutzle ($5,100): The Senators are also in a great spot since the Blue Jackets are allowing a league-worst 3.31 goals per 60 minutes in five-on-five situations. This game should have a ton of back and forth action and a lack of defense by both teams, setting things up for a perfect game stack. Stutzle comes in with 9 NHL points, 21 shots on goal, and 5 blocked shots over his last 10 games. The second-year player finds himself on the second forward line and the first power-play unit for the Senators, who have scored three-plus goals in four straight games.
Mikhail Sergachev ($5,200): Sergachev is a great point-per-dollar option tonight and could be used as a low-end cash game option. Sergachev is on the second power-play for the Tampa Bay Lightning, which gives him a nice fantasy ceiling, but that's not really why he's a solid fantasy option. His secure floor of points is really his greatest asset, coming in with 23 shots on goal and 16 blocked shots over the last 10 games. Sure, the seven NHL points in that span is also great, but a consistent projection of points from a value option is always a great call.
