NHL Daily Fantasy Helper: Wednesday 4/13/22
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
Darcy Kuemper ($8,300): On a small three-game slate, take the easy answer with Kuemper in net. The Colorado Avalanche are the largest favorites on the slate sitting at -260 and set to take on the Los Angeles Kings, who are on the second night of a back-to-back.
Two things are true for the Kings over the past three weeks: their defense has dropped dramatically, and their offense, which was modest to begin with, has gotten worse. The Kings (2.29) were a top 10 defense for the fewest goals allowed per 60 minutes in five-on-five situations, and that has now dropped to 3.61, putting them as the third-worst team in the league.
Considering the Colorado offense is scoring 2.93 goals in the same situations over this stretch of time, Kuemper will likely be powered to a win via his offense rather than him being the sole reason they win the game.
High-Salaried Skaters
Mika Zibanejad ($7,600): Mika Zibanejad owns the Philadelphia Flyers -- metaphorically speaking.
Between last season and this one, he has played them 11 times and has a total of 21 NHL points. Nearly two points per game is an insane rate, and that could continue tonight with the New York Rangers sporting a 3.45 implied goal total.
Zibanejad enters with 10 NHL points and 18 shots on goal in his last 10 games, and with his role on the first forward line and the first power-play unit, all of that should continue.
The Flyers haven't been good on defense the entire year, but things have gotten even worse over the last three weeks. In that time, they are allowing a staggering 4.35 goals per 60 minutes in five-on-five situations, which is dead last in the league by over half of a goal. Things have gone from bad to awful, and it's time for Zibanejad to rack up the points.
Patrik Laine ($7,500): We often see some players "due" for a goal. Here is Laine, who really due for a goal. With 25 goals on the season, Laine is among the stronger goal scorers in the league -- except for recently. Over his last 10 games, Laine has 0 goals but has still hoisted 31 shots on goal. It's great to see that he's still firing the puck, but man, he needs to find the back of the net.
The Columbus Blue Jackets have a strong 3.55 implied goal total tonight and are taking on the Montreal Canadiens, who are allowing 2.91 goals per 60 minutes in five-on-five situations this season (fifth-worst in the league). If there's any spot for him to break out of his slump, it's this one versus the Habs.
Value Skater
Cole Caufield ($5,600): The Canadiens have a 2.95 implied goal total in that back-and-forth game against the Blue Jackets. The over/under is sitting at 6.5 tonight due to the fact both teams don't play defense, putting us in a spot for plenty of scoring and fantasy points. The Blue Jackets are dead last in the league this season, allowing 3.28 goals per 60 minutes in five-on-five situations.
Caufield is on the first forward line and the first power-play unit, coming in with 8 NHL points and 30 shots on goal over his last 10 games.
