NHL Daily Fantasy Helper: Friday 12/9/22
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 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
Logan Thompson ($8,300): A soft matchup against the Philadelphia Flyers should make Thompson of the Vegas Golden Knights one of the most popular goalies on the slate. The Golden Knights come in as large -265 moneyline favorites and are a classic example of a team in need of a bounce-back win. They are coming off an ugly 5-1 loss the other night, and the Flyers should present an easy matchup.
This season, the Flyers are one of the worst offensive teams in the league, scoring the sixth-fewest (2.08) goals and the seventh-fewest Corsi For (Total Shot Attempts Created) this season, both per 60 minutes in five-on-five situations. Despite a poor showing in their recent loss, the Golden Knights are still a strong defensive team, allowing the ninth-fewest (2.27) goals per 60 minutes in five-on-five situations.
All of this should put Thompson in a spot to come away with the win tonight.
High-Salaried Skaters
Elias Lindholm ($7,400): The Columbus Blue Jackets are a bad defensive team. That is a nice way of putting things. To be more specific, the Blue Jackets are dead last in the league in goals allowed (3.70) and Corsi Against (65.05), both per 60 minutes in five-on-five situations. That was put on display when they gave up nine goals in their most recent game to the Buffalo Sabres.
Until something dramatically changes, we are going to attack the Blue Jackets every time they are on the slate. This gives the Calgary Flames a slate-high 3.88 implied goal total, and we should be looking to them in all formats.
Lindholm is on the top forward line and the first power-play for the Flames, coming in with 8 NHL points, 28 shots on goal, and 5 blocked shots over his last 10 games. He's riding a four-game point streak and can certainly continue that tonight with this favorable matchup.
Sidney Crosby ($8,500): There's so much quality talent across the league right now that Crosby is actually going overlooked. He comes in with a staggering 18 NHL points and 34 shots on goal in his last 10 games -- a level of production you want in every lineup. The Pittsburgh Penguins have a very solid 3.77 implied goal total against the Sabres, which is a matchup with a big 7.0 over/under.
We should be looking to get exposure to this game since the scoring expectation is very high, and Crosby is a perfect way to do that. The Sabres are allowing 3.10 goals per 60 minutes in five-on-five situations, which is the eighth-worst in the league. Of course, Crosby is on the first forward line and the first power-play unit, giving him plenty of upside.
Value Skaters
William Karlsson ($5,500): The Golden Knights have a 3.61 implied goal total and, as mentioned, are in a good spot against the Flyers tonight.
Karlsson skates on the second forward line and the second power-play unit, which has him coming in with 5 NHL points, 22 shots on goal, and 6 blocked shots in his last 10 games. He offers solid point-per-dollar value against a Flyers' defense that holds the fourth-worst (61.86) Corsi Against.
Taylor Hall ($5,900): The Boston Bruins are rolling on offense right now and enter scoring 3.05 goals per 60 minutes in five-on-five situations, which is the fifth-best in the league. They have scored three goals or more in 12 of their last 13 games, vaulting them to the third-highest-scoring team in the league.
Hall is on the third forward line and the second power-play unit, which isn't overwhelming, but he is doing a lot with that role. He has 11 NHL points, 34 shots on goal, and 5 blocked shots over his last 10 games. That should make him viable in all formats tonight.
