NHL Daily Fantasy Helper: Friday 10/21/22
Hockey is back!
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
Alexandar Georgiev ($8,600): It's a small three-game slate, and Georgiev simply brings the safest potential among goalies tonight. Yes, Georgiev is the highest-salaried goalie on the slate, but the Colorado Avalanche are -285 home favorites tonight with the next closest moneyline team sitting at -113. There is a substantial gap in the win expectancy for teams tonight, and Georgiev is worth paying up for.
It's an easy matchup versus the Seattle Kraken since they come in scoring only 1.76 goals per 60 minutes in five-on-five situations, which is the sixth-lowest in the league. The Avs also have the highest (3.96) implied goal tonight that they should be able to reach, putting Georgiev in a spot for the win.
High-Salaried Skaters
Nikita Kucherov ($9,300): As Dexter Morgan says. "Tonight's the night". That's how I feel about Nikita Kucherov, who has yet to find the back of the net through four games this season.
It's not as if Kucherov hasn't had the opportunity to do so; he has 12 shots and 5 assists in four games. He's still on the first forward line and the first power-play unit but just simply hasn't been able to light the lamp.
The Tampa Bay Lightning are visiting the Florida Panthers where the over/under is set at 7.0, putting things in a spot where we should see plenty of scoring. The Panthers' defense is seriously struggling this season and with their top defender, Aaron Ekblad, going on injured reserve, we should see plenty of goals. They are allowing 2.93 goals per 60 minutes in five-on-five situations (10th-worst in the league).
Cale Makar ($7,500): Makar is not only the best defender on tonight's slate, but he is also the best defender in the entire league. The reigning Norris Trophy winner has gotten off to a strong start this season with 5 assists, 10 shots on goal, and 7 blocked shots. He carries a very strong floor along with a very high fantasy ceiling to reach for on a nightly basis.
Makar will always skate on the top defensive pairing and the first power-play unit, putting him in a spot for a multi-point performance every night. The Avs are only scoring 2.27 goals per 60 minutes in five-on-five situations, which should put them in a spot for some positive regression since they posted 3.04 goals per 60 at even strength last season.
Value Skaters
Alexander Wennberg ($4,600): Wennberg is under $5,000, playing on the first forward line and the second power-play unit. That is an amazing role for a player that is low-salaried and gives him strong point-per-dollar value.
Yes, I mentioned above that the Kraken are only scoring 1.76 goals per 60 minutes in five-on-five situations, which is the sixth-lowest in the league. While their offense hasn't been amazing, Wennberg's role has to be acknowledged as one of the strongest you can find for players under $5,000.
Dominik Kubalik ($4,600): The Detroit Red Wings are missing a few of their forwards for various reasons, which has pushed Kubalik onto the top forward line and the second power-play unit. The Wings have a 3.27 implied goal total tonight against the Chicago Blackhawks, which is a matchup that should be a defensive disaster.
The Wings have been solid on offense to start the season, posting 3.14 goals per 60 minutes in five-on-five situations, which is the ninth-best in the league.
