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Chris Wassel's top DraftKings and FanDuel NHL DFS value plays and research for October 22nd, including DFS analysis for goalies, power plays, and stacks.
The NHL season has hit week number two! Some hockey trends have established themselves but many are still to come. 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 Friday, October 22nd, 2021 at 6:00 PM. 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 email me [email protected] or via Twitter @ChrisWasselDFS or in our premium slack chat. Good luck, RotoBallers!
NHL DFS Analysis and Picks for 10/22
We feature just a four-game slate, featuring San Jose, Toronto, Boston, Buffalo, Dallas, Edmonton, Vegas, and Los Angeles. Again, please note that 6:00 pm ET lock.
There is some news worth mentioning. Linus Ullmark will start in Buffalo for the Bruins against his former team. Watch to see who starts for Edmonton against Vegas. Edmonton is the only team on the back end of a back-to-back.
The goal will be to keep things as simple as possible. Our focus will be as much on interactions on social media and in chatrooms. This is because news and numbers have become that fluid now. Everything changes at a breakneck pace.
NHL DFS Goalies
Linus Ullmark - DK $8.1K || FD $8.2K
Opponent - Buffalo Sabres
The question is how chaotic could goaltending be on Friday night. Wednesday night was successful because of "Winnington". Thursday was another risky goaltender in Frederik Andersen. What becomes the winning strategy on Friday night? Does Linus Ullmark face enough shots? That is the unknown with Buffalo. When they face adversity, does their shot and chance numbers plummet? We are about to find out. Ullmark will be motivated as a good performance should net him more starts moving forward. Strange but true considering most thought Ullmark was the starter in Boston.
Braden Holtby - DK $8.0K || FD $7.4K
Opponent - Los Angeles Kings
The Dallas goaltender faces the Los Angeles Kings at home on Friday night. Dallas goes back on the road after this but finally, they are home. Holtby has gotten off to an excellent start with a .947 save percentage on the season. If the goaltender can keep facing 31 shots a night or so, that is solid enough volume to utilize him. Again, Los Angeles can provide the shots. The risk is this. Does Dallas and Holtby relax a bit being at home? We shall see. Holtby's FanDuel price is definitely more value here.
NHL DFS Centers
Connor McDavid - DK $9.2K || FD $9.3K
Opponent - Vegas Golden Knights
The idea is to just keep finding ways to plug Connor McDavid into lineups. His salary can be daunting to fit in on shorter slates but almost has to be done anyway. Here is the scary but good thing. McDavid played just 15:29 on Thursday night so he will be well-rested. Also, the center had four scoring chances but only two shots on goal. Both of those were converted. Also, the pivot had two power-play points on Thursday in Arizona. At this juncture with 11 points in four games, continue finding ways to roster Connor McDavid.
Logan Couture - DK $5.1K || FD $5.0K
Opponent - Toronto Maple Leafs
DraftKings and FanDuel finally allowing 6:00 games on the slate is a sign of progress. Hopefully, this continues so more possibilities exist for DFS players. Couture has been interesting in this early resurgence of sorts for San Jose. No goals but three assists on the season and he has been blocking more shots too (five so far). There could be a little more scoring in Toronto and Couture definitely is filling categories better. Maybe, he is finally 100% after a couple of injury-plagued seasons. Embracing the value here in a sea of options is not a bad idea.
Others To Consider (CASH/GPP): Matthews (DK $8.5K || FD $8.8K), Benn (DK $3.8K || FD $5.3K) -- DraftKings only.
NHL DFS Wings
Brad Marchand - DK $7.4K || FD $8.3K
Opponent - Buffalo Sabres
There are ways to squeeze in a more expensive Leon Draisaitl in lineups but the uncertainty of back-to-backs makes one want to circle back to something else. Cue up the Boston Bruins in Buffalo. Buffalo is playing very well at 3-0 but Boston tends to play well in Buffalo. Furthermore, Brad Marchand has been his usual pesky, goal-scoring self. Three goals on seven shots will not continue forever but ten scoring chances are significant. Buffalo allows 13 high-danger chances per 60 against the Boston top line the past three seasons. There is little reason for that not to continue on Friday night.
Alex Radulov - DK $4.0K || FD $5.4K
Opponent - Los Angeles Kings
This is one of the riskiest plays on the slate Friday night. The Dallas Stars started their season on a four-game road trip. However, a home game should help. Thankfully, price drops have made Dallas players more enticing DFS-wise. On a short slate, this is worth a look. Alex Radulov's DraftKings salary especially is something to consider. With the amount of ice time he is playing, it is only a matter of time before those scoring chances start resulting in points. Even Radulov's FanDuel price is not terrible for a four-game slate.
Others To Consider (CASH/GPP): Meier (DK $6.4K || FD $6.0K, Skinner (DK $3.7K || FD $4.4K), Dadonov (DK $2.8K || FD $4.2K)
NHL DFS Defensemen
Evan Bouchard - DK $3.6K || FD $4.0K
Opponent - Vegas Golden Knights
While Tyson Barrie has been underwhelming for DFS players, Evan Bouchard has been not. The Edmonton defenseman had a monster game already on the season then added an assist on Thursday night with four more shots on goal (seven attempts). It will not be long before Bouchard sees top-four defenseman minutes at this rate. There is still value even with the Oilers on the back end of a back-to-back for peripheral reasons -- shots on goal and blocked shots. The salary is still plenty low as almost a free-square type of play.
Erik Karlsson - DK $4.1K || FD $5.1K
Opponent - Toronto Maple Leafs
Load management is alive and well in the NHL or is it smarter utilization of players? Whatever the case may be, San Jose's resurgence early in the season has gained notice. Erik Karlsson is at the forefront here. Playing less than 20 minutes a night has done wonders for his confidence and health. His production will be tied more to man-advantage production but his peripherals (shots and blocked shots) are inching upward. The question is will Bob Boughner keep Karlsson around this rate of utilization. If he does, the success may just continue.
Others To Consider (CASH/GPP): Ellis (DK $6.1K || FD $5.5K), Martinez (DK $5.1K || FD $4.9K), Whitecloud (DK $2.7K || FD $3.5K)
NHL DFS Top Power Plays and Stacks
- BOS1
- TOR2
- VGK1
- DAL1
Chris’s Line Stack of the Day
VGK: Marchessault-Karlsson-Smith
Obvious Stack
BOS: Marchand-Bergeron-Pastrnak (Do not forget McAvoy)
Sneaky Stack
DAL: Pavelski-Faksa-Raffl (High risk)
Please keep in mind that there will be many shifts in lines with most teams especially early.
NHL Player News and Updates
More DFS Lineup Picks and Analysis
