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, March 5, 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!
NHL DFS Analysis and Picks for 3/5/24
The 2023-2024 season is approaching the crucial stages! The NHL Trade Deadline is in THREE DAYS!! Who will be buyers and who will be sellers as the race to the Stanley Cup goes full throttle?
Tonight we have a nine-game slate and six teams playing on a back-to-back: Columbus, Florida, Boston, St. Louis, Seattle, and Chicago. The currently live top-three highest implied team totals are Dallas with 4.1, Pittsburgh with 4.0, and Arizona with 3.7. I will do my best to guide you through this nine-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
Jet Greaves - DK $6.9K || FD $6.5K
Opponent - Pittsburgh Penguins
The Pittsburgh Penguins’ ice has melted and they are struggling to stay alive. With the season on the line, the hosts have dropped three straight games, being outscored 12 to four in the timeframe. In the last 10 games, excluding splits, the Penguins remain in the top 10 in Shots For Per 60. However, their Goals For Per 60 continue to decline. Furthermore, due to their desperation, there is a sense of urgentness to get the puck at the net and it shows with the lack of Scoring Chances For Per 60 and High Danger Chances For Per 60. This ultimately sets up Greaves for a big performance. In Greaves’s last five starts, he has maintained a 0.900 Save Percentage or better.
Others To Consider (Cash/GPP):
- Sorokin (DK $8.1K || FD $7.7K)
- Demko (DK $7.4K || FD $8.4K)
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Back to back @DraftKings Fantasy Hockey World Championship trips! Let’s get the main prize this year! Thank you to @banksterdfs for the amazing daily fantasy content! @NHL pic.twitter.com/dONSvJMtIR
— 🇺🇦Shockmain (@Shockmain) January 6, 2023
DraftKings and FanDuel Centers - NHL DFS Picks
Ryan O’Reilly - DK $5.5K || FD $6.7K
Opponent - Montreal Canadiens
Nashville is at the top of the list for prime spots tonight. In Montreal’s last 10 away games, they have been outscored 22 to 29 and in their last 10 games, excluding splits, they are in the bottom 10 in Scoring Chances Against Per 60 and in the bottom half of the league in all other stats against. On the other end of the ice, we have Ryan O’Reilly who has managed two goals, two assists, six shots, and two blocked shots in his last five games. Nashville is playing much better hockey at home and with these few games dictating the end of their season, expect O’Reilly and company to come out swinging against expected starter Jake Allen, who is the second-worst goalie in Goals Saved Above Expected Per 60 over the last 10 games.
Sam Bennett - DK $5K || FD $5.9K
Opponent - New Jersey Devils
At this point, anyone can skate right through New Jersey’s defense after teams like the Washington Capitals and Anaheim Ducks walked over them in their last few games. Furthermore, New Jersey’s goaltending is some of the most inconsistent play in the entire league. This has led the Devils to be in the bottom 10 in both Scoring Chances Against and Goals Against – both Per 60 – in the last 10 games, excluding splits. Unfortunately for Sam Bennett, he has had the same luck in the point column with just one goal and one assist over his last five appearances. However, he has also registered 21 shots and seven blocked shots, making up for the lack of points. With the Devils conceding shots galore, Bennett has an opportunity to maintain value and potentially exceed it.
Others To Consider (CASH/GPP):
- Hintz (DK $6.3K || FD $6.8K)
- Hayton (DK $3.5K || FD $3.6K)
DraftKings and FanDuel Wings - NHL DFS Picks
Filip Forsberg - DK $7.8K || FD $9K
Opponent - Montreal Canadiens
Following Ryan O’Reilly, we have linemate and winger, Filip Forsberg. Forsberg is on fire over his last five games producing three goals, four assists, 23 shots, and four blocked shots. Whether it is points or shot volume, he has it covered. As mentioned, Montreal is improving, but they are still a bottom-10 team for the most part and Jake Allen is not any good. At the very least, Forsberg is expected to produce two points and three shots tonight.
Matias Maccelli - DK $4.3K || FD $4.5K
Opponent - Chicago Blackhawks
Maccelli has entered ‘cheap super sneaky producer mode’. In the winger’s most recent five appearances, he has two goals, five assists, and 13 shots. Unsurprisingly, this also coincides with him rejoining linemates Nick Bjugstad and Lawson Crouse on the second line. Arizona is easily in the best matchup of the night, but can they prevail against their inconsistencies? In Per 60 stats, in the last 10 games for Chicago, excluding splits, they are the fifth-worst in Shots Against, the fourth-worst in Scoring Chances Against, and the second-worst in Goals Against. Lastly, expected starter Arvid Soderblom is the third-worst goalie in Goals Saved Above Expected Per 60 in the last 10 games.
Others To Consider (CASH/GPP):
- Nelson (DK $6.2K || FD $7.8K)
- Pavelski (DK $5.8K || FD $6.9K)
DraftKings and FanDuel Defensemen - NHL DFS Picks
Ryan Pulock - DK $4.4K || FD $4.7K
Opponent - St. Louis Blues
Pulock has been a man on a mission since his return from injury, taking shots, blocking shots, and registering the occasional point. Throughout his most recent five outings, he has one goal, two assists, 11 shots, and 16 blocked shots. The Blues are not the heaviest shot-taking team, however, they do not take many high-danger shots either, utilizing their defense to get shots off from the point. This bodes well for Pulock who will be seeking out the shooting lanes. It is expected that Pulock will register a minimum of two shots and two blocked shots.
Ryan McDonagh - DK $3.6K || FD $4.2K
Opponent - Montreal Canadiens
If McDonagh would ever increase his shots per game, he would become one of the most valuable defensemen in the league. The veteran has one goal, three assists, six shots, and 11 blocked shots over his last five games and he is below $4K on DraftKings! He is also coming off a huge performance where he posted two assists and four blocked shots in a 5-1 win over Colorado. Now he gets a much friendlier matchup against the Montreal Canadiens. McDonagh should see more opportunities to shoot here.
Others To Consider (CASH/GPP):
- Harley (DK $5.5K || FD $6.3K)
- Moser (DK $3.6K || FD $4.4K)
NHL DFS Top Power Plays and Stacks
- NSH1
- ARI1
- DAL1
- EDM1
NHL DFS Stacks of the Day
Brandon's Stack
- ARI: Maccelli-Bjugstad-Crouse
Chalk Stack
- DAL: Robertson-Hintz-Pavelski
Sneaky Stack
- NYI: Lee-Pageau-Palmieri
NHL DFS News and Injury Alerts
More DFS Lineup Picks and Analysis