RADIO
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 for Tuesday, February 20, 2024, at 7:00 p.m. 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 email me at [email protected], via Twitter/X @df_solutions, or in our premium Slack chat. Good luck, RotoBallers!
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NHL DFS Analysis and Picks for 2/20/24
The 2023-2024 season is halfway complete and the NHL trade deadline is right around the corner. We are now entering the final stretch with many teams having an idea of where they stand for the rest of the season, making teams buyers or sellers as they enter the most crucial part of the season. The race to the Stanley Cup is heating up!
Tonight we have an eight-game slate and six teams playing on a back-to-back: Ottawa, Dallas, Minnesota, Winnipeg, Vancouver, and Vegas. The currently live top-three highest implied team totals are: Los Angeles with 4.1, Florida with 4, and New Jersey with 3.6. I will do my best to guide you through this eight-game slate on DraftKings and FanDuel starting at 7:00 p.m. EST.
DISCLOSURE: Make sure to monitor the NHL news feeds for the latest player status and injury news.
DraftKings and FanDuel Goalies - NHL DFS Picks
Elvis Merzlikins - DK $7K || FD $6.7K
Opponent - Los Angeles Kings
After yesterday’s woeful slate of goalies, today is looking even worse. Despite many ‘viable’ goalies starting yesterday, none of them played to expectations and today’s batch of goalies on paper is much worse. However, Elvis Merzlikins could be in a big spot. The Kings are the top team on the slate in terms of Shots Per Goal Per 60 value and it doesn’t come as a surprise. In the last 10 games, the Kings weigh in as the third-best in Shots For Per 60, but the sixth-worst in Goals For Per 60. Even if Merzlikins gives up three goals, as long as he can hold a steady floor with saves, he could still maintain value.
Others To Consider (Cash/GPP):
- Nico Daws (DK $7.8K || FD $7.7K)
- Ilya Sorokin (DK $7.3K || FD $7.5K)
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DraftKings and FanDuel Centers - NHL DFS Picks
Alexander Barkov - DK $7K || FD $8.3K
Opponent - Ottawa Senators
Barkov and the Panthers are in the best spot on the slate without question. Ottawa did defeat the Lightning last night in Tampa Bay 4-2, but Tampa also lost 9-2 to Florida at home over the weekend. The Senators in their last 10 away games have been outscored 18 to 26, and over their last 10 games, excluding splits, they are in the bottom 10 in Goals Against Per 60. Throughout Barkov’s last five appearances, he has one goal, five assists, seven shots, and one blocked shot. Can Barkov do better than his performance from this weekend?
Eric Haula - DK $4K || FD $5.2K
Opponent - Washington Capitals
Expected Capitals starter Charlie Lindgren is the third-worst goalie on the slate tonight in Goals Saved Above Expected Per 60. Over their last 10 games, excluding splits, the Capitals are in the bottom 10 in Shots Against Per 60 and Goals Against Per 60. Eric Haula and the Devils are in a prime spot, specifically Haula and his second line. In the center’s last five games, he has three assists, five shots, and five blocked shots. For only $4K on DraftKings, he is going to be a high-owned value play, playing next to Jack Hughes.
Others To Consider (CASH/GPP):
- Sidney Crosby (DK $7.7K || FD $8.7K)
- Dmitry Voronkov (DK $4.1K || FD $4.8K)
DraftKings and FanDuel Wings - NHL DFS Picks
Kevin Fiala - DK $5.4K || FD $7.2K
Opponent - Columbus Blue Jackets
Kevin Fiala is in the most optimal spot he has been in all season, finally reuniting with Anze Kopitar and Adrian Kempe on the top line. The winger is in quite the rut coming into tonight with zero points in his last five games and, in that span, he has just 13 shots. That form should change quickly though, with the Blue Jackets in the bottom half of the league in all meaningful metrics. Expected starter Elvis Merzlikins will be hard to crack. However, if Fiala and the Kings can get to him early, it will be a goal fest.
Rickard Rakell - DK $4.2K || FD $5K
Opponent - New York Islanders
Despite the Penguins' poor form and inconsistency, the top line continues to perform no matter who plays on it, thanks to Sidney Crosby. With Jake Guentzel out for a month and potentially no longer a Penguin, Rickard Rakell has been put back on the top line in Guentzel’s place. In two games since his return to the top line, Rakell has two goals, seven shots, and two blocked shots. In his most recent five games, he has two goals, 12 shots, and four blocked shots. The Islanders are playing much better defense in their last 10 games. However, this heated Metro rivalry always seems to spark the offense on both sides of the puck. For just over $4K on DraftKings, playing next to Crosby, Rakell is one of the top value plays of the slate.
Others To Consider (CASH/GPP):
- Carter Verhaeghe (DK $7.2K || FD $8.K)
- Jonathan Drouin (DK $4K || FD $4.5K)
DraftKings and FanDuel Defensemen - NHL DFS Picks
Thomas Harley - DK $5K || FD $6.4K
Opponent - New York Rangers
Miro Heiskanen may be out another game tonight, locking in Thomas Harley as the top defenseman for the Dallas Stars. Yesterday, Harley was on the second pairing and quarterbacked the top power-play unit. In that game, he had one assist, two shots, and five blocked shots. In an expected tightly-played back-and-forth matchup with the New York Rangers, Dallas will rely on Harley’s two-way game heavily. Even though his salary has hit the $5K range again, he is still considered underpriced tonight due to his increase in responsibility. In Harley’s most recent five outings, he has two goals, three assists, 16 shots, and 16 blocked shots.
Kris Letang - DK $4.8K || FD $6K
Opponent - New York Islanders
It is tough to remember the last time Kris Letang was less than $5K on DraftKings, but here we are. Over his last five appearances, he has one assist, nine shots, and 10 blocked shots. As mentioned, the Islanders have been playing better hockey since Patrick Roy took over. However, Letang is still quarterbacking the top power-play unit for the Penguins, making him invaluable. Letang could easily become one of the top-value plays of the slate tonight, barring the form of the Penguins.
Others To Consider (CASH/GPP):
- Alec Martinez (DK $5.5K || FD $5.4K)
- Drew Doughty (DK $5.1K || FD $5.7K)
NHL DFS Top Power Plays and Stacks
- FLA1
- NJ1
- LA1
- PIT1
NHL DFS Stacks of the Day
Brandon's Stack
- NJ: Hughes-Haula-Toffoli
Chalk Stack
- FLA: Verhaeghe-Barkov-Reinhart
Sneaky Stack
- PIT: Smith-Eller-Puustinen
NHL DFS News and Injury Alerts
More DFS Lineup Picks and Analysis
