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Welcome, RotoBallers! My name is Brandon, and I'll be writing both The First-Serve and The Kick-Off for tennis and soccer. It is the return of the NHL season, which means it's time to sharpen our skills and partake in NHL DFS! As always, I'll give you the best tools to succeed and the info you need to build the best lineups possible for your GPP and cash game NHL contests on both DraftKings and FanDuel.
Today, I'll be bringing you my NHL lineup picks, analysis, and advice for NHL DFS contests on DraftKings and FanDuel for Thursday, October 31, 2024, at 7:00 p.m. EDT. Be sure to also check out RotoBaller's 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 email me at [email protected], via Twitter/X @df_solutions or in our premium Slack chat. Best of luck!
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NHL DFS Analysis and Picks for 10/31/24
Happy Halloween from the Rotoballer Crew!! For all of those participating in the festivities, please be safe and enjoy the spooky night!
Tonight, we have a seven-game slate and no teams playing on a back-to-back. There will be a few different ways to build lineups, with plenty of ‘value’ across all four positions.
The currently live top three highest implied team totals are Toronto with 3.9, Pittsburgh with 3.8, and Washington with 3.6. I will do my best to guide you through this seven-game slate on DraftKings and FanDuel starting at 7:00 p.m. EDT.
DISCLOSURE: Make sure to monitor the NHL news feeds for the latest player status and injury news.
DraftKings and FanDuel Goalies - NHL DFS Picks
Juuse Saros, Goalie - NSH || DK $7.6K || FD $7.2K
Opponent - Edmonton Oilers
The goalie position is projected to see ownership spread out across the board with multiple options available. Juuse Saros is a candidate for ‘Goalie of the Night’. Saros has a 2-2-1 record with a 2.2 Goals Against Average, a 0.925 Save Percentage, and a -0.88 Goals Saved Above Expected Per 60.
The Edmonton Oilers are the top team on the slate in value when assessing Shots Per Goal Per 60. Furthermore, in Per 60 stats, the Oilers are the fourth worst in Goals For and the best in Shots For. This sets up Saros for a potential ceiling performance against a Connor McDavid-less Edmonton Oilers (ankle injury).
Others To Consider (Cash/GPP):
- Dostal (DK $7.1K || FD $7.4K)
- Grubauer (DK $6.8K || FD $7.5K)
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DraftKings and FanDuel Centers - NHL DFS Picks
Sidney Crosby, Center - PIT || DK $7.6K || FD $7.5K
Opponent - Anaheim Ducks
After a poor run of form, the Penguins Captain, Sidney Crosby, returned with a massive three-assist performance in the 5-3 loss to Minnesota on Tuesday. The center has four assists, 15 shots, and one blocked shot over his last five outings.
The Anaheim Ducks are in the bottom five in Scoring Chances Against Per 60, Shots Against Per 60, and High-Danger Chances Against Per 60. Crosby and the Penguins are due for positive regression, and all signs point to this matchup being the potential ‘final crack'.
Pierre-Luc Dubois, Center - WAS || DK $4.5K || FD $5.1K
Opponent - Montreal Canadiens
Three games removed from a three-point blowup; Pierre-Luc Dubois has the opportunity to produce a similar stat line in the matchup at Capital One Arena. Through the center’s last five games, he has one goal, two assists, 14 shots, and three blocked shots. Furthermore, in his most recent four outings, he is averaging three shots Per 60.
The Montreal Canadiens will travel to Washington, coming off an 8-2 loss at home to the Seattle Kraken. Whether it is the poor defense or the woeful goaltending, Montreal is struggling to keep the puck out of the net. The club is in the bottom three in Goals Against Per 60, Shots Against Per 60, Scoring Chances Against Per 60, and High-Danger Chances Against Per 60. This matchup serves as a ‘Perfect Storm’ for Dubois to add to his goals and assists this year.
Others To Consider (CASH/GPP):
- Bedard (DK $7.8K || FD $8.2K)
- Novak (DK $3.2K || FD $4.8K)
DraftKings and FanDuel Wings - NHL DFS Picks
Alex Ovechkin, LW - WAS || DK $6.1K || FD $7.4K
Opponent - Montreal Canadiens
Alex Ovechkin is coming off a two-goal performance in the 5-3 win over the New York Rangers at home on Tuesday. The Capitals Captain now has four goals on the season and has four goals and 18 shots over his most recent five games. Tonight, he has the potential to make history with the highest ownership for one player on a five or more-game slate all season, in any position. It would not be optimal to pass on his salary and matchup.
As mentioned, Montreal is a bottom-of-the-league club, and they just lost 8-2 at home to the Seattle Kraken. With Ovechkin and company firing on all cylinders, many wonder if this could be the ten-goal game that is inevitable for Montreal.
Rickard Rakell, RW - PIT || DK $4.1K || FD $6.2K
Opponent - Anaheim Ducks
Rickard Rakell did not disappoint on Tuesday, notching two goals, five shots, and one blocked shot in his first game on the new first line for the Pittsburgh Penguins. In the five games prior, he had one goal, two assists, 12 shots, and seven blocked shots. After an inconsistent year last season, the winger has been one of the most consistent players to start the season for the Penguins.
As mentioned above, the Anaheim Ducks do not play defense, sitting in the bottom five in all meaningful metrics against Per 60. Considering his role, matchup, and potential ceiling, Rakell could make a case for the ‘Value Play of the Night’.
Others To Consider (CASH/GPP):
- Arvidsson (DK $4.6K || FD $5.2K)
- Kurashev (DK $3.5K || FD $4.3K)
DraftKings and FanDuel Defensemen - NHL DFS Picks
Kris Letang, D - PIT || DK $4.6K || FD $5.7K
Opponent - Anaheim Ducks
When a team is in poor form, it can be a curse and a blessing. This matchup is a blessing for the Penguins, who cost less than typical. Veteran and two-way defenseman Kris Letang is a prime example. Once a $6K defenseman, he now sits at $4.6K with quarterback duties on the top powerplay for the Penguins.
In his most recent five appearances, he has one assist, 19 shots, and four blocked shots. Letang is proving he still has his offensive prowess, averaging just below four shots Per 60.
Letang has the opportunity to thrive in a matchup with the Ducks, who love to concede chances to their opponents. The only concern is if the powerplay struggles, he could be removed from it mid-game. Otherwise, he is expected to meet and exceed value.
Rasmus Sandin, D - WAS || DK $3.2K || FD $4.1K
Opponent - Montreal Canadiens
Rasmus Sandin could be the ‘Ryker Evans’ of tonight’s slate, DEPENDING on teammate Jakob Chychrun’s availability. Chychrun left the 5-3 win at home on Tuesday with an apparent upper-body injury, and he may sit this game out. Sandin would once again fill his role as quarterback on the second powerplay unit if he were not to play.
In Sandin’s last five outings, he has four assists, seven shots, and 11 blocked shots. His peripherals are not anything to write home about. However, with Chychrun out of the picture, Sandin could take on a larger role with the Capitals. For the last and final time, Montreal is not a defensive team, and Rasmus will have every opportunity to surpass his value quickly.
Others To Consider (CASH/GPP):
- Bouchard (DK $6.6K || FD $7.1K)
- Vlasic (DK $3.3K || FD $5.1K)
NHL DFS Top Power Plays and Stacks
- WAS1
- PIT1
- CHI1
NHL DFS Stacks of the Day
Brandon's Stack
- WAS: McMichael-Dubois-Wilson
Chalk Stack
- PIT: Rakell-Crosby-Malkin
Sneaky Stack
- SJ: Gushchin-Wennberg-Zetterlund
NHL DFS News and Injury Alerts
More DFS Lineup Picks and Analysis
