NHL Daily Fantasy Helper: Monday 10/31/22
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
Frederik Andersen ($8,200): The Carolina Hurricanes are strong -210 home favorites tonight, taking on a Washington Capitals' lineup that is missing a few pieces. The Capitals will be without both John Carlson and T.J. Oshie, making their lineup a bit less dangerous overall. Carolina already has elite defense and goaltending, allowing only 2.07 goals per 60 minutes in five-on-five situations this season, which is the fourth-best in the league.
This has put Andersen in a solid spot this season, and he comes in allowing two goals or fewer in three of his five starts. He has strong win equity tonight, and with a depleted Capitals lineup, Andersen is in a great spot.
High-Salaried Skaters
Vladimir Tarasenko ($8,900): The St. Louis Blues are on an ugly four-game losing streak and need to fire up the offense to pick up a win tonight against the Los Angeles Kings. The Blues are scoring 1.69 goals per 60 minutes in five-on-five situations, which is the second-fewest in the league. That's not good. If we look at their Expected Goals Scored (xGF), they should be producing 2.53 goals in the same situations.
That jumps them to only 19th in the league, but it's still the improvement they should be seeing on offense. The good news is that the matchup tonight versus the Kings is a good one since LA is allowing 3.43 goals per 60 minutes in five-on-five situations, the fourth-most in the league.
An underproducing offense that's due for some positive regression facing a very bad defense. Tarasenko is still the straw that stirs the drink for the Blues and has been doing his part with 7 NHL points and 21 shots on goal through seven games this season. He's on the second forward line and the first power-play unit, putting him in a spot to score tonight.
Alex Tuch ($7,000): There are several players around the league who are off to hot starts, and Tuch is one of them. He has 6 goals, 2 assists, and 23 shots on goal in only eight games this season. He's doing a bit of everything for the Buffalo Sabres, who come in with a slate-high (3.42) implied goal total as they host the Detroit Red Wings. Tuch does skate on the third forward line, which isn't ideal, but a role on the first power-play unit will continue to put him in situations to score -- which he's been doing a lot of this season.
Value Skaters
Viktor Arvidsson ($4,700): The Kings are a team that presents the best of both worlds for fantasy hockey -- they are allowing goals (3.43), which I mentioned above, and they are also scoring a ton. So far this season, the Kings are producing 3.30 goals per 60 minutes in five-on-five situations, the fifth-most.
This often puts them in game environments that are high-scoring and allows for plenty of fantasy production for all involved. Arvidsson is heating up with two goals in his last three games while averaging 2.6 shots on goal per game this season.
Teuvo Teravainen ($5,800): If there's any player in the league due for a goal, it's Teravainen. He has 21 shots on goal through eight games and has yet to find the back of the net. The shot volume is great on a nightly basis, but the points should start coming with a strong role on the second forward line and the second power-play unit. Overall, the Hurricanes have an elite offense with a 74.51 Corsi For (Total Shot Attempts Created) per 60 minutes in five-on-five situations, which tops the league, along with the seventh-most (3.19) goals scored.
