NHL Daily Fantasy Helper: Monday 5/9/22
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): The Calgary Flames are down 2-1 to the Dallas Stars but still find themselves as -160 road favorites tonight. The Flames haven't played up to their potential so far in this series, scoring a total of three goals in three games. This is rather shocking considering the Flames were scoring 2.96 goals per 60 minutes in five-on-five situations, which was the seventh-best in the league during the regular season.
A total of four goals allowed by Markstrom in the first three games has been solid, and frankly, he's doing his part to keep them in the series. Their offense is due for some positive regression, and if Markstrom can maintain his strong performances, he can come away with the win tonight.
High-Salaried Skaters
Gabriel Landeskog ($8,500): The Colorado Avalanche are up 3-0 in their series against the Nashville Predators and can close them out tonight. With a 3.88 implied goal total, the Avs sit at the top of the slate and are clearly an offense to target tonight. They have scored a whopping 16 goals in the first three games of this series, showing they aren't slowing down from their production in the regular season.
Landeskog has been front and center with that scoring, adding in 6 NHL points and 13 shots on goal in the three games of the series. Landeskog will continue to skate on the second forward line and the first power-play unit for Colorado, the latter of which has proven to be a high upside stack during the playoffs.
Sidney Crosby ($8,800): When the playoffs start, Crosby turns things up to another level, there's really no other way to put it. One of the best players of our generation continues to produce in the most crucial time of the year. Through the first three games of their series against the New York Rangers, the Pittsburgh Penguins' captain has 6 NHL points, 16 shots on goal, and 5 blocked shots.
Crosby has been a "good" fantasy option during the regular season but has elevated that, and his salary might actually be a bit too cheap given his level of production. With all three games ending with seven goals or more, there should be plenty of scoring tonight, and Crosby will find his way into the mix, as usual.
Value Skaters
Frank Vatrano ($4,800): The Rangers are down 2-1 in the series against the Penguins, and they need to step up the scoring to stay in this series. Vatrano was a solid addition for the Rangers after the trade deadline and has continued that into the postseason with 4 NHL points in the first three games of the opening round, along with a surprising 14 shots on goal.
The Penguins have their third-string goalie, Louis Domingue, in net for this series, putting the Rangers in a spot to pour in the offense. Vatrano is on the first forward line and the second power-play unit, which should allow him to continue the offense output he's shown so far.
Anthony Mantha ($5,200): Surprisingly, the Washington Capitals are up 2-1 over the top-seeded Florida Panthers, making this a huge Game 4. We have seen six goals or more in each of the first three games, presenting one of the best fantasy environments in the first round. Mantha has seen a nice role and level of production in this series, playing on the second forward line and the second power-play unit while posting 3 NHL points and 10 shots on goal.
