NHL Daily Fantasy Helper: Monday 10/17/22
Hockey is back! The NHL gets the season underway this week with plenty of action across the league.
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 and 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 and take a look at today's slate and some players to consider for your lineups.
Goalie to Target
Igor Shesterkin ($8,600): The New York Rangers are big -260 home favorites and taking on a lackluster Anaheim Ducks lineup. The Rangers should have Shesterkin in net, making him one of the safest options at goalie tonight. The reigning Vezina Trophy winner has a rather easy matchup on home ice.
It's obviously a small sample size to start the season, but the Ducks come in with a 52.97 Corsi For (Total Shot Attempts Created) per 60 minutes in five-on-five situations, which is the 13th-worst in the league. They are also only scoring 1.96 goals per 60 minutes in five-on-five situations, which is the eighth-worst in the league. This puts Shesterkin in a great spot to pick up a clean win tonight.
High-Salaried Skaters
Auston Matthews ($10,100): Matthews has yet to register a multi-point performance this season, but he is going to change that tonight. The Toronto Maple Leafs come in with a massive and slate-high 4.68 implied goal tonight against the Arizona Coyotes.
In non-shocking news, the Coyotes aren't a good defensive team! They are allowing 5.20 goals per 60 minutes in five-on-five situations, which is the third-worst in the league. Of course, that number will drop as the season goes on, but they are going to be worth targeting on any night.
Matthews has 17 shots on goal and 2 NHL points through the first three games while skating on the first forward line and the first power-play unit for the Leafs.
Alex Ovechkin ($8,700): It's been three games into the new season and the great Alex Ovechkin hasn't scored a goal. It hasn't been for a lack of chances, as he has racked up 13 shots on goal through three games, right near his average per game from last season. The Washington Capitals have a 3.17 implied goal total tonight against the Vancouver Canucks, where the over/under is set at 6.0.
Ovechkin is one of the few skaters who has hat-trick potential, and with his salary being under $9,000, he's well worth the roster spot tonight.
Value Skaters
Vincent Trocheck ($5,400): Trocheck and the Rangers have a 3.58 implied goal total tonight and should be in a spot to fill up the scoreboard. As noted above, the Ducks aren't scoring a whole lot of goals, and they are also giving up a ton. The Ducks have allowed the second-most (5.23) goals per 60 minutes in five-on-five situations this season.
Trocheck has an awesome role on the second forward line skating alongside Artemi Panarin, as well as being on the first power-play with him. Trocheck has a solid 3 NHL points and 12 shots on goal through the first three games.
Elmer Soderblom ($3,000): The Detroit Red Wings are going to be a team to keep an eye on this season with all of their young talent and strong off-season moves. One of those young players is Soderblom, who scored his first NHL goal last week in his first NHL game.
The Red Wings are dealing with a few players out of their lineup tonight, which means Soderblom is expected to be on the first power-play unit. Soderblom is the minimum salary for a forward and is going to be seeing first power-play time -- that is the definition of great value.
