DraftKings, FanDuel Daily Fantasy Hockey Picks (11/2/23): Today's Top NHL DFS Lineups

Welcome, RotoBallers! If you do not know me, my name is Brandon and I write both The First-Serve and The Kick-Off for tennis and soccer, respectively. If you have not checked those out, make sure you do! 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 on Thursday, November, 2, 2023, at 7:00 PM EDT. 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 at [email protected], via Twitter @df_solutions, or in our premium Slack chat. Good luck, RotoBallers!

NHL DFS Analysis and Picks for 11/2/23

We have finally made it! The 2023-2024 season is upon us and we welcome the next generational talent, Connor Bedard to the front and center! With many big moves over the offseason – Karlsson to Pittsburgh – and many signings during Free Agency, this season will make for yet another interesting race to Lord Stanley!

Tonight we have a 12-game slate and two teams playing on a  back-to-back: Dallas and Arizona. The currently live top-3 highest implied team totals are: Tampa Bay with 3.7, Vancouver with 3.6 and Edmonton with 3.5. I will do my best to guide you through this twelve-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

Semyon Varlamov - DK $7.7K || FD $7.9K

Opponent - Washington Capitals

In an inner-division battle, Varlamov has yet another prime matchup, this time against the Washington Capitals who are the second-worst in Goals For Per 60. They do not take a heavy amount of shots per game though which could limit Varlamov’s upside. Nevertheless, this game is expected to be one of the lowest-scoring games on the slate tonight and Varalamov is in the top five in Goals Saved Above Expected Per 60 in his two appearances thus far. There is also a narrative to be considered after long-time Capital Nicklas Backstrom soft-announced his retirement from the game, leaving the Capitals with a major distraction and heavy hearts coming into this game.                                                                     

Others To Consider (Cash/GPP): 

• Wedgewood (DK $7.1K || FD $8K)
• Lankinen (DK $7K || FD $7.3K)

Want more NHL DFS tools and content? Our NHL Premium package includes our daily DFS Cheat Sheets, Research Station, Lineup Optimizer and access to our VIP Discord Chatrooms. Doug Shain (@BanksterDFS) joins the NHL team in 2023 with his proven track record - join in on the winning!

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DraftKings and FanDuel Centers - NHL DFS Picks

Elias Pettersson - DK $7.7K || FD $9K

Opponent - San Jose Sharks

As to no surprise, whoever plays the Sharks gets featured and tonight it is Canucks centerman, Elias Pettersson. Pettersson has started the season where he left off last year and is a key piece to the surging form the Canucks are in. Throughout his last five games, he has 4 goals, 4 assists, 10 shots and 1 blocked shot. Keep in mind that 75 percent of his goals came in the last game – a hattrick in the 5-2 win over Nashville – and he also took five shots in that game, making up half of his shot total in the aforementioned timeframe. The Sharks provide the perfect matchup to continue this form as well. They are the third-worst in Shots Against, the second-worst in Scoring Chances Against, the worst in High-Danger Chances Against and the sixth-worst in Goals Against – all Per 60 –.       

Brayden Point - DK $7.3K || FD $7.8K

Opponent - Columbus Blue Jackets

To continue the ‘chalk fest’, we have Brayden Point in a juicy matchup with the Blue Jackets. The hosts aren’t nearly as bad as the previously mentioned Sharks, however, they are still considered a bottom-feeder in the NHL. Columbus is the ninth-worst in Shots Against, the fourth-worst in both Scoring Chances Against and High-Danger Chances Against and they sit just outside the bottom ten in Goals Against – all Per 60 –. If not for a recent surge in form for the goaltenders in Columbus, they would be looking even worse. On the other side of the ice, Brayden Point and the Lightning are entering their boost in form. In his last five games, he has 2 goals, 4 assists, 18 shots and 2 blocked shots. After struggling to find the back of the net, Point has finally broken through this season and Columbus offers him yet another big opportunity to add to his total.                                                                 

Others To Consider (CASH/GPP): 

• Poitras (DK $4.3K || FD $4.4K)
• Staal (DK $2.7K || FD $4.2K)

DraftKings and FanDuel Wings - NHL DFS Picks

Warren Foegele - DK $3.8K || FD $4.9K

Opponent - Edmonton Oilers

When someone mentions Warren Foegele, the first thing that should come to mind is consistency. The winger has been consistent throughout his hockey career, from juniors to pros, Foegele has always produced peripherals. He has not struck gold in the points department like he did in juniors and that also isn’t to be expected either. However, playing on a line with ex-Erie Otters teammate Connor McDavid can do him wonders. Since joining his line in three games, he has 2 goals and 9 shots. For under $4K on DraftKings and averaging three shots per game against Dallas who is playing on a back-to-back is an optimal spot for a get-right moment.           

Carter Verhaeghe - DK $5.8K || FD $6.5K

Opponent - Detroit Red Wings

Talk about matchups. Verhaeghe and the Panthers’ second line may have one of the best line matchups on the slate. The trio of Verhaeghe-Bennett-Tkachuk is arguably one of the most productive lines in the entire league with a combined 52 Relative Scoring Chances For Per 60 and 29 Relative High-Danger Chances For Per 60 – keep in mind Bennett has played one game and the numbers are slight outliers –. The line will be matched against Detroit’s second line for the majority of the night and despite their increase in defensive awareness, they are still conceding a combined 16 Relative Scoring Chances Against Per 60 and 4 Relative High-Danger Chances Against Per 60. In Verhaeghe’s last five appearances, he has 1 goal, 1 assist, 19 shots and 1 blocked shot. He has not quite hit the ice running yet in the point department albeit averaging three shots per game, however, it only takes one game to break the ice and tonight very well could be that night.                                

Others To Consider (CASH/GPP): 

• Mikheyev (DK $4K || FD $5.2K)
• Barre-Boulet (DK $3.9K || FD $3.7K)

DraftKings and FanDuel Defensemen - NHL DFS Picks

Oliver Ekman-Larsson - DK $4.5K || FD $4.8K

Opponent - Detroit Red Wings

Keeping it in Florida, unless things change, Ekman-Larsson is expected to suit up tonight after taking an aggressive elbow to the head from Bruins defenseman Charlie McAvoy. In Ekman-Larsson’s last five games, he has 1 goal, 1 assist, 13 shots and 8 blocked shots. As mentioned before in this article, OEL is returning to his former self, one that surged with a mediocre Arizona Coyotes. In an even matchup with the Red Wings and multiple goals from each side expected, OEL could provide an optimal return for his salary point tonight.         

Luke Hughes - DK $4.4K || FD $4.5K

Opponent - Minnesota Wild

In what is expected to be another even matchup between the Devils and the Wild, Luke Hughes will be one of the key cogs to the Devils’ performance tonight. The rookie has provided exactly what the Devils were hoping for when drafting him. In his most recent five appearances, he has 1 goal, 5 assists, 9 shots and 4 blocked shots. His peripherals have yet to fully develop, however, he has been improving and he continues to quarterback the top power-play that happens to have his brother, Jack Hughes on it. With the Wild getting Matt Boldy back tonight, they will be looking for a surge in offense which could result in a surge in blocked shot opportunities for Hughes.                             

Others To Consider (CASH/GPP): 

• Barron (DK $3.6K || FD $3.7K)
• Gudbranson (DK $3.2K || FD $3.6K)

NHL DFS Top Power Plays and Stacks

• VAN1
• TB1
• FLA1
• DAL1
• OTT1
• NJ1

NHL DFS Stacks of the Day

Brandon's Stack

• MIN: Toffoli-Eriksson Ek-Boldy

Chalk Stack

• VAN: Kuzmenko-Pettersson-Mikheyev

Sneaky Stack

• BOS: van Riemsdyk-Coyle-Geekie

NHL DFS News and Injury Alerts

More DFS Lineup Picks and Analysis