It is October 20th and after a small three-game slate last night, we turn to today with a large, 12-game slate tonight! This slate is going to feature some exciting games. We've got Toronto vs. Dallas, Pittsburgh vs. Los Angeles, Carolina vs. Edmonton as a few that jump off the page tonight!
Today, I'll be bringing you my NHL lineup picks, analysis, and advice for NHL DFS contests on DraftKings and FanDuel on Thursday, October 20th, 2022 at 7:00 PM EST. Be sure to also check out our awesome NHL tools, including our Lineup Optimizer, Research Station, Projections, and DFS Cheat Sheets!
If you have any questions on today's slate, bankroll management, GPP strategy, Cash game strategy, or anything else, don’t hesitate to hit me up via Twitter @Mark_Kieffer or in our NHL discord. Good luck, RotoBallers!
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NHL DFS Analysis and Picks for 10/20/22
With so many games, there are a lot of directions one can go. Below are going to be my favorite plays on the slate at each position. With 12 games, there are dozens and dozens of players that are viable. If you like a play, make that play.
You can check out the latest here: Vegas Odds for the Day
As always, make sure the goalie in your lineup is confirmed before the lineup lock! There is nothing worse than having a great lineup but taking a zero at goalie. This has happened to me before and it stinks!
NHL DFS Goalies
Ilya Sorokin DK $7.7K || FD $8.3K
Opponent - New Jersey Devils
The Islanders are home favorites and this game has the lowest total on the slate. On top of that, Sorokin is at a bargain price on DraftKings especially. In two games, he has a 1.52 GAA and a .941 SV%. Anytime the Islanders are home favorites, I am interested in their goalies if the price is right and tonight it is.
Others To Consider (Cash/GPP): Shesterkin (DK $8.5K || FD $8.8K), Thompson (DK $7.9K || FD $8.1K)
NHL DFS Centers
Mika Zibanejad -DK $7.6K || FD $9.1K
Opponent - San Jose Sharks
On a slate with Connor McDavid, Auston Matthews, and Sidney Crosby, I pick..... Zibanejad! This is all about price right here! Zibanejad is $1300 less than McDavid on both DraftKings and FanDuel. The Rangers are playing some great hockey right now and Zibanejad is off to a great start with four goals and four assists in four games played. He is also averaging six shots on goal per game. The Sharks are allowing 3.8 goals per game. If you decided to go with McDavid, Matthews, et al., you can't really go wrong!
Elias Pettersson -DK $6.5K || FD $7.5K
Opponent - Minnesota Wild
Minnesota's goaltending situation is a mess. They have allowed 20 goals in three games. Last year, they tended to give up goals at home and this year is no different. While some improvement is bound to happen, teams cannot allow six to seven goals per game all season, the Canucks are in a good spot here. Pettersson has three goals and three assists in four games played and is averaging 3.5 shots on goal per game. The only downside is he is not on the power play with the rest of his linemates.
Others To Consider (CASH/GPP): Eriksson Ek (DK $5.5K || FD $5.5K), Suzuki (DK $5.2K || FD $6.3K)
NHL DFS Wings
Kirill Kaprizov- DK $7.8K || FD $9.4K
Opponent - Vancouver Canucks
I like this pick better on DraftKings than on FanDuel. That said, Kaprizov has three goals, two assists, and is averaging 4.33 shots on goal per game against a team that is allowing 4.5 goals per game so far. Both of these teams have issues with defense and I expect to see goals in this game. Kaprizov is a big part of Minnesota's offense and is good to pair with Eriksson Ek or to play as a stand-alone play.
Chris Kreider- DK $6.0K || FD $7.9K
Opponent - San Jose Sharks
Why is Chris Kreider only $6K on DraftKings? Yes he has had two straight games of just three points, but this is still someone who has multiple goal upside every slate he is on. Even with a slow start, he has two goals, one assist, and is averaging three shots on goal per game. Zibanejad and Kreider make for a good correlation play tonight.
Others To Consider (CASH/GPP): Ovechkin (DK $8.0K || FD $8.8K), Caufield (DK $5.8K || FD $7.1K)
NHL DFS Defensemen
Zach Werenski- DK $6.5K || FD $6.3K
Opponent - Nashville Predators
What I like about Werenski is that he scores fantasy points in a variety of ways. He has one goal and one assist in four games this year. He also averages 2.75 blocked shots per game and has gotten the blocked shot bonus in three of four games played. Werenski also shoots the puck as he is averaging 3.75 shots on goal per game, and has reached the shots on goal bonus twice. Saros does not look great and having a defender that shoots the puck is a good thing in a matchup like this.
Quinn Hughes- DK $5.6K || FD $7.1K
Opponent - Minnesota Wild
I expect goals in this game. Hughes has four assists in four games and averages 2.5 shots on goal per game along with 1.75 blocked shots per game. Hughes is on the Power Play as well.
Others To Consider (CASH/GPP): Roy (DK $4.7K || FD $4.5K), Addison (DK $3.0K || FD $4.2K)
NHL DFS Top Stacks
There are so many good spots to go to on this slate. Here are a handful I like:
- New York Rangers 1 or PP1: Going with Kreider-Zibanejad-Kakko isn't bad. Neither is going Kreider-Zibanejad-Trocheck/Fox-Panarin. It depends on your risk tolerance. Rangers could end up with the most goals on the slate.
- Vancouver PP1 OR Minnesota 1: Minnesota averages 6.67 penalties per game -- the most. Their penalty kill is just 69.2% -- sixth lowest in the league. Vancouver has their own issues defensively. Minnesota should score 4-5 goals. Just don't play both in the same lineup.
- Montreal 1: Arizona is really bad and this is a nice value stack.
- Boston 1 or PP1: Anaheim is allowing 42.5 shots on goal per game -- the most. Krejci-Pastrnak is how to start the stack.
- Vegas 1: Winnipeg is coming off a road win against Colorado in OT and on a back-to-back.