NHL Daily Fantasy Helper: Wednesday 2/15/23
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
Jack Campbell/Stuart Skinner ($7,700): The Edmonton Oilers are solid -230 home favorites against the Detroit Red Wings in a spot to pick up the win. The Oilers are coming off a bad 6-2 loss against the Montreal Canadiens, and after a few days of rest, they need to pick up the win against a team they are clearly better than.
The Oilers are allowing 2.48 goals per 60 minutes in five-on-five situations over the last three weeks, which is 15th in the league. They continue to be very average on defense, but they maintain an elite offense with Connor McDavid and Leon Draisaitl leading the way. Ultimately, I don't expect this to be a clean win for whichever goalie is in net, but the salary and win equity are strong for Campbell or Skinner tonight.
High-Salaried Skaters
William Nylander ($8,800): The Toronto Maple Leafs have a slate-high 4.37 implied goal total tonight against the Chicago Blackhawks, putting them in a spot to truly flex their offense. Chicago continues to be terrible on defense and comes in allowing 3.17 goals per 60 minutes in five-on-five situations over the last three weeks, which is the fourth-worst in the league.
Nylander is on fire recently with 14 NHL points and 40 shots on goal over his last 10 games. He sees time on the first forward line and the first power-play unit, putting him in a spot for a multi-point performance every night. While the Maple Leafs are getting Auston Matthews back tonight, it shouldn't impact Nylander's production. In fact, it should only raise his potential ceiling with this favorable matchup.
Zach Hyman ($9,200): With a 3.81 implied goal total, the Oilers should be a very popular team tonight in all formats. Hyman is one of the more reliable fantasy options and truly brings plenty of upside due to his role on the second forward line and the first power-play unit. Over the last 10 games, Hyman has 18 NHL points and 38 shots on goal. He's got more points than either McDavid or Draisaitl in that span.
The matchup is a solid one since the Red Wings are allowing 2.59 goals and a 58.12 Corsi Against (Total Shot Attempts Allowed) per 60 minutes in five-on-five situations, both of which are in the bottom 13 of the league. I'm expecting a higher-scoring game in this matchup, which should give Hyman plenty of chances to rack up the points.
Value Skaters
Alexis Lafreniere ($4,500): Over the last three weeks, the New York Rangers lead the NHL with 3.76 goals scored per 60 minutes in five-on-five situations and now face the Vancouver Canucks, who are allowing 3.83 goals per 60 minutes in five-on-five situations. That's dead last in the league. This is legitimately a matchup of the best offense versus the worst defense.
You want to get some exposure to the Rangers' forwards tonight, and Lafreniere is a value option to consider. He's on the third forward line and the second power-play unit, coming in with 8 NHL points and 20 shots on goal over his last 10 games.
Ryan Hartman ($4,800): The Minnesota Wild have a 3.15 implied goal total against the Colorado Avalanche in what is a very important matchup. These teams are tied in the standings, and with the season coming to the final stretch, every point matters.
In the last three weeks, the Avalanche have seen their defense take a step back. They're allowing 3.04 goals per 60 minutes in five-on-five situations, which is the fifth-worst in the league. Hartman is on the first forward line and the second power-play unit, coming in with 3 NHL points, 24 shots on goal, and 7 blocked shots in his last 10 games.
