NHL

NHL Daily Fantasy Helper: Friday 5/7/21

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

Matiss Kivlenieks ($7,400): It's Friday, so let's get weird with the goalie. The Columbus Blue Jackets have Kivlenieks confirmed as the starting goalie tonight versus the Detroit Red Wings, which is an ugly matchup, to say the least. They are among the six worst teams in the league by their records, and both sit in the bottom three of the league for the fewest goals scored per 60 minutes in five-on-five situations. We have seen this matchup six times this season, and all six games have hit the under, according to KillerSports.

So what are we actually talking about here? Kivlenieks has a super-soft matchup in a game that is likely to have very few goals scored. While the game is a bit of a coin-flip, Kivlenieks is very affordable and allows you to pay up for the top stars on the slate.

High-Priced Skaters

Kirill Kaprizov ($6,700): "Kirill the Thrill" has further cemented himself as this year's future Calder Trophy winner for the NHL's rookie of the year. What was already a foregone conclusion has been put out of reach recently due to Kaprizov scoring 10 goals in his last 10 games, with a staggering 40 shots on goal. These are elite-level numbers in the NHL and he is doing it as a rookie. Those numbers are likely to continue tonight with the Minnesota Wild holding the second-highest (3.44) implied goal total on tonight's slate.

They are at home to host the Anaheim Ducks, who are allowing the ninth-most (2.63) goals per 60 minutes in five-on-five situations. Considering the WIld are scoring the fifth-most (2.86) goals per 60 minutes in five-on-five situations, we have two teams at the opposite ends of the spectrum tonight. It's all about the Wild and Kaprizov find the back of the net yet again.

Jon Marchessault ($6,600): The Vegas Golden Knights remain as a model of consistency in NHL DFS, and that means looking to their first power-play unit with Marchessault. He comes in with 11 NHL points and 26 shots on goal over his last 10 games, a level of consistency you want in your cash game lineups. You can also look to stack him with Mark Stone, Chandler Stephenson, and Shea Theodore on the Golden Knights' first power-play stack. Vegas should be a decently popular option tonight because they are -188 home favorites and carry a 3.11 implied goal total, both of which are the fourth-highest on the slate.

Value Skaters

Daniel Sprong ($4,000): Sprong will be back in the lineup for the Washington Capitals tonight, while Alex Ovechkin is still out. Sprong should be back on the first forward line for the Capitals, who hold a slate-high 3.70 implied goal total. With Ovechkin out, Sprong has posted 3 goals and 13 shots on goal in his last five games. He also sees time on the second power-play unit for the Capitals, which gives him some upside in a favorable matchup versus the Philadelphia Flyers.

Alex Newhook ($3,000): Newhook made his NHL debut for the Colorado Avalanche on Wednesday night and sits at the minimum salary tonight. While he ended with just a single shot on goal in that game, we want to be looking at his salary relative to the role he is playing. The former first-round pick was immediately put on the second forward line and the second power-play unit for the Avalanche, indicating a level of confidence in him despite zero NHL experience. This is ultimately what you want to be buying into. He is far too cheap for the amount of ice time he should be seeing given he is the minimum salary.