NHL Daily Fantasy Helper: Wednesday 5/12/21

NHL DFS is similar to MLB in terms of how you build lineups, view stacking, and 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

Philipp Grubauer ($8,200): The Colorado Avalanche are massive -390 home favorites, making Grubauer the safest option in net. The Avs still have plenty to play for since they are only two points behind the Vegas Golden Knights for the West Division title, so we should see their full effort tonight. Grubauer will be taking on the Los Angeles Kings, who are only scoring 2.17 goals per 60 minutes in five-on-five situations, which is the sixth-lowest in the league. They are one of the worst offensive teams in the league, presenting a very soft matchup.

High-Priced Skaters

Auston Matthews ($9,100): Since Nathan MacKinnon is out tonight (see below), Matthews is the best top-tier player on the slate. He comes in with 12 NHL points and a whopping 52 shots on goal in his last 10 games. There is no player on the slate that can match those numbers. Not a single player. Matthews is on the first forward line and the first power-play unit for the Toronto Maple Leafs, who hold a 3.61 implied goal total against the Ottawa Senators. The Senators are the second-worst team in the league in both Corsi Against (Total Shot Attempts Allowed) and goals allowed, both per 60 minutes in five-on-five situations.

Mark Stone ($7,300): The Golden Knights lead the slate with a 3.67 implied goal total and should be the most popular team. Currently, Vegas are two points ahead of the Avalanche in the standings, while the Avs have one game in hand. This means the Golden Knights can't be taking their foot off the gas and need to continue to win games if they want to hold on to the division lead. This should put Stone in a spot to continue to see plenty of ice time and produce fantasy points. Over his last 10 games, he has 9 NHL points, 18 shots on goal, and 9 blocked shots.

Value Skaters

Tyson Jost ($3,300): With Nathan MacKinnon ($8,800) out of the lineup for the Avalanche, Jost will take his spot on the first forward line. This is the most obvious value spot on the entire slate since the Avalanche hold a 3.54 implied goal total and are -390 home favorites against the Los Angeles Kings. This is similar to taking a backup running back in NFL DFS who is set for a high volume of carries. We also see Jost on the second power-play unit, giving him even more offensive upside. This is a simple value spot you don't want to pass up.