NHL Daily Fantasy Helper: Wednesday 12/1/21
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
Robin Lehner ($7,900): The Vegas Golden Knights are -154 road favorites versus the Anaheim Ducks, and you can look to Lehner in net tonight. The Golden Knights are a bit healthier as of late with Max Pacioretty and Mark Stone both back in their lineup, and that puts them in a good spot to be a bit more dominant on a nightly basis. That's what we're looking for tonight since the Ducks are on the second night of a back-to-back, and ultimately, that will help Lehner pick up the win.
The Ducks are allowing 2.52 Goals per 60 minutes in five-on-five situations this season -- 13th-worst in the league. This is a slightly roundabout way of saying Lehner is in a good spot tonight since the Golden Knights are coming into form and in a spot to see their offense shine and come away with the win at a fair salary.
High-Priced Skaters
Artemi Panarin ($8,000): The New York Rangers have a slate-high 3.42 implied goal total and are an offense you want to be stacking tonight. They are -200 home favorites going up against the Philadelphia Flyers, who are one of the worst defensive teams in the league. This season, the Flyers come in with a league-worst 62.33 Corsi Against (Total Shot Attempts Allowed) per 60 minutes in five-on-five situations, and a league-worst 13.87 High Danger Scoring Chances Allowed per 60 minutes in five-on-five situations.
However, despite being at the bottom of the league in those areas, the Flyers are only allowing 2.53 Goals per 60 minutes in five-on-five situations (11th worst in the league). However, their Expected Goals Against (xGA) per 60 minutes in five-on-five situations is sitting at 2.75 (second-worst in the league). It makes sense; they are giving up that high volume of shot attempts yet only giving up the 11th-most goals. They are due for some regression and that leads us to stack Rangers tonight.
The Breadman comes in with 11 NHL points and 28 shots on goal over his last 10 games. That's a level of production we expect from a skater on the second forward line and the first power-play unit. He's a great option for all formats tonight and should be stacked with Ryan Strome and/or Adam Fox.
Sidney Crosby ($7,500): After a slow start to the season, Crosby has picked things up with five points and nine shots on goal in his last three games. He should be able to keep that going tonight versus the Edmonton Oilers, where the over/under is high at 6.5. We should see plenty of scoring in this game, and plenty of it could come from the Pittsburgh Penguins.
This is due to the Oilers struggling on defense -- again -- this season, allowing the fifth-most (2.85) Goals per 60 minutes in five-on-five situations. This is pretty straightforward to target Crosby, who is on the first forward line and the first power-play unit for the Penguins.
Value Skaters
Lucas Raymond ($5,400): The Detroit Red Wings are coming off a big dub against the Boston Bruins and in a spot to pick up another win tonight versus the Seattle Kraken. The Kraken enter this game allowing a league-worst 3.22 Goals per 60 minutes in five-on-five situations. The Wings have a 2.72 implied goal total tonight, and if they are going to hit that, it's likely coming from their top line. That is where we find Lucas Raymond, who has 7 NHL points and 16 shots on goals in the last 10 games while also seeing time on the team's first power-play unit. There's clear upside for the Wings tonight, and it lies with the top line that includes Dylan Larkin.
Devon Toews ($4,700): The Colorado Avalanche and the Toronto Maple Leafs are set for a star-studded matchup tonight with a 6.0-goal over/under. While there are many top-tier players to spend for in this game, you should also look to Toews for some value. In his only nine games of the season, he has 11 NHL points 24 shots on goal, and 9 blocked shots. He is skating on the second power-play unit and is a solid low-end cash play on defense tonight.
