NHL Daily Fantasy Helper: Wednesday 3/23/22
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
Darcy Kuemper ($8,300): The Colorado Avalanche are heavy -265 home favorites against the Vancouver Canucks, giving Kuemper great win equity. Well, to say the Avs have good win equity would be putting things lightly since they have a home record of 47-7-5 over the last two seasons, which is flat-out bananas. Find the salary for Kuemper, who should give you the safety of a win thanks to the Avs' offense, which comes in scoring 2.96 goals per 60 minutes in five-on-five situations, which is the fourth-most in the league.
The Canucks are a below-average offense, scoring 2.12 goals in the same situations, which is the fifth-fewest in the league. It's a great matchup for Kuemper, who has allowed two or fewer goals in each of his last four starts, a streak that could continue.
High-Priced Skaters
Nathan MacKinnon ($10,000): All Nathan MacKinnon does is put up points. With 17 NHL points in his last 10 games, MacKinnon continues to be one of the most consistent fantasy options in the league and a player who carries massive upside. As noted above, the Avalanche are strong (-265) home favorites, and they hold a 3.91 implied goal total, which is the second-highest on the slate. Of course, we see MacKinnon on the first forward line and the first power-play unit, either of which would be a great spot to stack tonight.
Eight of the last 10 games between these two teams have ended with six-plus goals, putting this matchup in a spot for plenty of back-and-forth action. That presents MacKinnon with tremendous upside, and he should be able to reach for his fantasy ceiling, making him a great asset for tournaments.
Alex DeBrincat ($8,100): DeBrincat is going to score a goal tonight -- sorry for the spoiler. I'm manifesting a goal for DeBrincat, because he's due for one and has a great matchup against the Anaheim Ducks. I don't like using the phrase "he's due," but that's the best way to describe the current situation for DeBrincat, who is the Chicago Blackhawks' leading goalscorer this season with 34. He is still on the first forward line and the first power-play unit, but he comes in with no goals over his last four games despite putting 12 shots on goal in that time.
The Ducks are in the bottom half of the league for the most goals allowed (2.69) and Corsi Against (56.6), both per 60 minutes in five-on-five situations. It's a great matchup on paper for DeBrincat, and the goals are bound to start coming for him.
Value Skaters
Michael Bunting ($5,400): Another player who is somewhat due for a goal is rookie Michael Bunting, who has 20 goals on the season but none over his last six games. The Toronto Maple Leafs are at home and carry a slate-high 4.38 implied total, making them a clear team to target. Bunting skates on the first forward line alongside Auston Matthews, which is an extremely valuable role to hold. The Leafs have a very soft matchup versus the New Jersey Devils, who allow the second-most (3.25) goals per 60 minutes in five-on-five situations.
Rickard Rakell ($5,200): The Pittsburgh Penguins traded for Rakell on Monday, and he made his debut last night. It was an uneventful first game, but he's got a chance to get right back on the ice today in a favorable matchup versus the Buffalo Sabres, who allow the seventh-most (2.72) goals per 60 minutes in five-on-five situations. Rakell was on the third forward line and the second power-play unit last night, which is where should see him for this one. That puts him in a good spot to have a nice fantasy day against Buffalo.
