RADIO
The NHL season approaches the end of week number seven as well as the end of November! 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 Saturday, November 27th, 2021 at 7:00 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 at [email protected] or via Twitter @ChrisWasselDFS or in our premium slack chat. Good luck, RotoBallers!
NHL DFS Analysis and Picks for 11/27
We feature a eight game main slate, headlined by Buffalo, Colorado, Pittsburgh, Los Angeles, and yes Edmonton versus Vegas. The lock is at 7:00 which means Seattle and Florida are on their own.
There is some news worth mentioning. Watch out for injuries and sadly much illness (not all COVID-related). Finally, goaltending confirmations and further injury news will be scrutinized heavily on social media. Oh, and still watch for any COVID craziness.
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
Alex Nedeljkovic - DK $8.0K || FD $8.0K
Opponent - Buffalo Sabres
The question is with so many back-to-back scenarios on Saturday night, how does one take a shot with potentially changing projected goalies? Alex Nedeljkovic is 5-2-2 in his last nine decisions. This includes a Wednesday night effort where the Detroit goaltender stopped 35 of 37 shots against the St. Louis Blues. Also, Buffalo is projected to start Aaron Dell. That should be a good spot for the Red Wings on Saturday night. At the very least, Nedeljkovic should have a wider margin for error on Saturday. Again, watch out for confirmations.
Scott Wedgewood - DK $7.3K || FD $7.0K
Opponent - Dallas Stars
The Arizona Coyotes goaltender did not fare so well against the Edmonton Oilers but he did stop 39 of 43 shots in that last start at least. He is just 2-2-1 in his last five starts but the comfort is those regulation losses where Wedgewood has hit the shot bonus. His salary is low enough to spend up elsewhere. The problem Saturday is this. Does one want to spend too high at the goaltending position? If Arizona gets off to a good start, then Wedgewood probably has a shot of winning. However, if Joe Pavelski goes off early again, then all bets are off.
Please watch for late-breaking goaltender confirmations during the early evening. This will allow you to be ready to make pivots as needed.
NHL DFS Centers
Sidney Crosby - DK $7.1K || FD $7.3K
Opponent - Montreal Canadiens
So many teams just do not rest. Both Montreal and Pittsburgh played on Friday night which is kind of a theme with so many teams on the back end of a back-to-back. Crosby assisted on the only goal of the night in their 1-0 road win on Long Island. He also had four shots on goal with three scoring chances. Again, the problem is this. Which Montreal team shows up? Historically. Montreal fares well against Pittsburgh but the Habs are so bad currently. Jake Allen will at least be in goal. There is that. Montreal keeps allowing centers to score almost at will. It happened with Buffalo even. Crosby will be hard to pass up as he starts to finally get going.
Roope Hintz - DK $5.6K || FD $6.4K
Opponent - Arizona Coyotes
Centers tend to do pretty well in this spot lately. Someone should know that Hintz has ten points in his last ten games as Hintz did set up Joe Pavelski for his 400th career goal on Friday night. That Jason Robertson-Roope Hints-Joe Pavelski craziness could just work again. It is just something where speed kills and Hintz has lots of it. Arizona's defense will have issues containing players like Robinson and Hintz. This all comes down to do they have enough energy in the tank? Dallas was gassed badly by the end of the Colorado game on Friday night. Hintz could hit that shot bonus possibly.
Others To Consider (CASH/GPP): McDavid (DK $9.6K || FD $10.2K), Larkin (DK $6.9K || FD $6.5K). Johansen (DK $3.5K || FD $4.2K -- Newhook only $4,1K on FD), Thompson (DK $4.4K || FD $4,7K). The key is to watch pricing discrepancies now. There are going to be some crazy options that open up once goalies are confirmed. Keep that in mind on Saturday evening.
NHL DFS Wings
Jason Robertson- DK $4.6K || FD $5.7K
Opponent - Arizona Coyotes
There are so many ideas here and the nice part is that Robinson has ten points in his last ten games on four goals while shooting almost three times on goal per game. Also, his salary looks better given his current volume of production. Robertson and Hintz have brought life to Dallas and will not overcook one's budget. Also, the duo is 100% healthy. There are no chronic game-time decisions which became a staple last season. Look at how fast Joe Pavelski struck on Friday night. It will not take much and even if Wedgewood wins, the chances he gives up 2-3 goals are astronomical,
Lucas Raymond - DK $5.0K || FD $5.4K
Opponent - Buffalo Sabres
This is one that could be a real boost again to DFS lineups. Now, this is because people still do not realize that Raymond just keeps producing points. The consistent double-digit point per game production is nice. Reality dictates Raymond will get his chances while trading some with Buffalo's top six. Spending middle of the road salaries allows one to go up when needed. The Detroit winger can be paired with a cheap defenseman or even a slightly more expensive forward. Buffalo allows the fifth most goals per game and third most on the road.
Jake Guentzel - DK $6.7K || FD $7.9K
Opponent - Montreal Canadiens
There are lots of possibilities and even Jake Guentzel will be going up against an undermanned Montreal Canadiens team on Saturday night. Pittsburgh will be looking for more revenge based on how they lost in the playoffs a couple of seasons before. Guentzel has five goals and 11 points in his last ten games while averaging four shots on goal a game. Montreal allows the most DFS points to wingers. If one feels a little leery here, Max Pacioretty is in the same position against the Edmonton Oilers. Pacioretty has a slightly better DraftKings price. Goal potential will be significantly elevated even with less than optimal goaltending matchups.
Others To Consider (CASH/GPP): Pacioretty (DK $6.6K || FD $8.0K, Nichushkin (DK $3.8K || FD $5.6K), Marchessault (DK $5.5K || FD $6.5K), Skinner (DK $4.6K || FD $4.5K), Gallagher (DK $4.0K || FD $5.0K). Again, the key is just to keep perusing for values particularly with the later games. Most may key in on Montreal and Buffalo and perhaps attempt a game stack of sorts. Also, again watch out for last minute line shifts as teams try to hedge their lines and occasionally stack around their choices. It will be curious to see how certain teams look as they recover from COVID, etc.
NHL DFS Defensemen
Cale Makar - DK $7.7K || FD $7.1K
Opponent - Nashville Predators
While the weekend is here, Cale Makar keeps on scoring again with seven goals in his last five games. Overall, the blueliner keeps on scoring with nine points in that span. Makar nearly hit both DraftKings bonuses on Friday against the Dallas Stars. It was just that night or was it? That's a great question too. The Colorado defensemen stack is not a bad idea if you can pair Makar with a Burakovsky, etc.
Zach Whitecloud - DK $4.1K || FD $3.5K
Opponent - Edmonton Oilers
This is a risky proposition at best. Just take the damn risk! Whitecloud can block quite a few shots and get several shots on net with ease. He is averaging more than two shots a game and three blocked shots a contest. It seems like a crazy idea but again minimum-salary play. Just trust the floor and take the points. Whitecloud has an assist versus Edmonton and three points in five home games.
Others To Consider (CASH/GPP): Josi (DK $7.6K || FD $7.2K), Heiskanen (DK $6.2K || FD $6.2K), Gostisbehere (DK $5.2K || FD $5.1K), E. Johnson (DK $3.1K || FD $4,4K). Drew Doughty is listed as questionable for Saturday so he may be one to look at or pick on.
TOP Power Play Lines/Stacks for Saturday
- PIT 1
- DAL 1 (Hintz and Robertson)
- EDM 1 (when the goals are bound to happen)
- VGK 2
- BUF 1
- COL 2 (Kadri and Nichushkin plus Burakovsky)
- MTL 1
- ARZ 1 (Do not sleep on Clayton Keller)
Chris’s Line Stacks of the Day
PIT: Crosby-Guentzel-Letang
To The Moon Game Stack
Nashville and Colorado
Less Obvious Stack
BUF: Thompson-Skinner-Olofsson
Please keep in mind that there will be many shifts in lines with most teams especially early. Between COVID, some late injuries, and all sorts of load and travel management, it will be another chaotic Saturday evening. That is what makes it fun.
Oh and don't worry, we will have plenty more on Slack, social media, and yes MORE! Good luck out there.
NHL Player News and Updates
More DFS Lineup Picks and Analysis
