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The NHL season approaches the Christmas season as December begins! Expect the unexpected. 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, December 3rd, 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!
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We feature a five game main slate, headlined by New York, Vegas, Edmonton, Winnipeg, and yes Calgary versus Anaheim,. The lock is at 7:00 which means obviously the afternoon games get their own separate DFS slate.
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, New Jersey, Calgary, and San Jose are both on the back end of back-to-back games.
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
Igor Shesterkin - DK $8.3K || FD $8.5K
Opponent - San Jose Sharks
The New York Rangers' schedule is quite the interesting one as they face an unrested San Jose team who had just gone to overtime against the New York Islanders on Thursday night. Also, San Jose could show some fatigue in this scenario. The Sharks escaped Long Island with a 2-1 win but face a New York team that can put up 3-5 goals without blinking. It will be intriguing to see what kind of offense San Jose can muster up against Shesterkin. Maybe 30 shots is a possibility albeit a slight one on Friday night. Again, with high-volume shooters like Timo Meier and even Brent Burns, San Jose can be a dangerous team no matter who is deployed. The "chalk" goalie keeps on finding ways to tally points.
Connor Hellebuyck - DK $8.2K || FD $7.5K
Opponent - New Jersey Devils
The numbers are out for this. New Jersey has come up with some stinky performances in Winnipeg. It has been a bit of a house of horrors over the last decade or so. Anyway, the odds are stacked a bit here. Add in the fact that Hellebuyck has lost four of his last five starts and he will be none too happy. That is partly why FanDuel has him at just $7,500. It makes him a value play there this evening and nowhere else. It definitely has been a weird sort of season for goaltenders but at least FanDuel wise. this one feels like getting the free square.e
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
Trevor Zegras - DK $4.3K || FD $5.8K
Opponent - Calgary Flames
DraftKings and FanDuel agree here for a change on position but as usual not on salary. Zegras is basically a point-a-game player for the Anaheim Ducks of late. It is his speed which drives opponents nuts. Then, his playmaking only compounds issues for them. Besides the six goals and 11 assists, Zegras shows the ability to pile on shots every so often. That includes 17 shots in his last three games. Between him and Sonny Milano, one has an effective mini-stack at home against a Calgary team on the back end of a back-to-back. At the very least, it saves some dollars and is loaded with speed personified. We are the youth gone wild after all and again it is only a five-game slate.
Logan Couture - DK $5.0K || FD $5.2K
Opponent - New York Rangers
Centers tend to do pretty well in this spot. The nice thing for Couture is the fact that San Jose is not rested. Most will stay away from the pivot here. He tends to play at an even keel. The temptation to go with Mika Zibanejad will be great but again, it just seems the higher end production lies elsewhere on the Rangers. Ryan Strome is the all risk all reward pick from there. Anyway, Couture can easily pile up shots, not quite like Timo Meier, but he is capable. Think of the old cagey veteran that finds a way to accumulate DFS points. That is how Couture works and is salaried just below DraftKings and FanDuel averages.
Others To Consider (CASH/GPP): McDavid (DK $9.5K || FD $10.4K), Draisaitl (DK $9.3K || FD $10.5K). Hertl (DK $4.2K || FD $5.7K), Stephenson (DK $5.1K || FD $5,3K). The key is to watch pricing discrepancies now. There are going to be some fun matchups including again the Edmonton centers versus Seattle's "backup goalie". Also, do not sleep on Vegas and Arizona. Arizona has a few cheap surprises.
NHL DFS Wings
Max Pacioretty- DK $7.3K || FD $8.2K
Opponent - Arizona Coyotes
There are so many ideas here and the nice part is that Pacioretty is back and firing tons of shots on goal. Ah, what else is new? Pacioretty has seven points in five games so far on the season. Arizona gives up the second most DFS points to forwards overall and has started to struggle a bit in goal again. Pacioretty should have a number of opportunities again. Playing a couple of one-offs to a mini-Vegas stack could be a play on Friday night given Pacioretty's ability to shoot the puck early and often. He could attempt close to ten shots on Friday night and has multiple point potential again -- even on the road.
Rickard Rakell - DK $4.7K || FD $4.7K
Opponent - Calgary Flames
This is one that could be a solid boost to DFS lineups. Rickard Rakell can be replaced by Sonny Milano ($4,800 at FanDuel) if need be. However, as a one-off, Rakell is in a great spot because of his potential to pile up five or six shots. He has done this a few times this season. The winger has seven goals in 14 games already and can take advantage of a Flames team that will give up the wings on occasion. This is risky no doubt about it but Calgary and Anaheim can make for some wild late games. It is why looking at the wings on Calgary's top line is not a bad idea. For cheaper options, the Ducks could be where it's at.
Artemi Panarin - DK $7.2K || FD $8.0K
Opponent - San Jose Sharks
There are lots of possibilities and even Clayton Keller will be going up against the Vegas Golden Knights. However, Artemi Panarin versus the San Jose Sharks expects to be a nice matchup to exploit. The Russian winger has 12 points in his last ten games and more than three shots a game. That is up from just barely over two shots a night during the early weeks of the season. New York is well rested after playing Philadelphia in what almost looked like a scrimmage on Wednesdayy. This game at MSG again could be a bit one-sided as San Jose may get caught trying to push the pace a bit. New York and Panarin's line has an ability to do that then strike.
Others To Consider (CASH/GPP): Keller (DK $3.6K || FD $5.3K, Connor (DK $7.9K || FD $8.5K), Henrique (DK $4.3K || FD $5.5K), Bratt (DK $4.5K || FD $5.4K), Milano (DK $3.0K || FD $4.8K). Again, the key is just to keep perusing for values particularly with the later games. Keep an eye on the injuries and yes the flu. It's not just COVID, by the way. Also, note those price discrepancies! Take advantage of them!
NHL DFS Defensemen
Jacob Trouba - DK $5.3K || FD $4.9K
Opponent - San Jose Sharks
While December is now upon us, the slate features a great matchup for both top New York Rangers' defensemen on Friday night. Jacob Trouba is on fire right now. He has four goals and seven points over his last nine games. Furthermore, he is averaging 3.5 shots per game and 2.5 blocks per game. That creates a floor which borders on an elite level. Few expected this type of production but honestly when there is a gift, one must try it at least. It can help form some cheaper stacks from New York. Think C-W-D in terms of stack alignment every so often.
Kris Russell - DK $3.6K || FD $3.5K
Opponent - Seattle Kraken
This is a risky proposition at best. Russell can block shots and for that lone, he is worth examining further at least. He is averaging over three blocked shots a game. That included four in his last game. Now, offense is fleeting as Russell has just one shot a game and two assists overall in his previous nine starts. The best bet here is the idea that one can take a punt play.There are a few options like this on Friday night. The key is sprinkling these in over so one can spend way up to gain the higher-salaried talent. One does not always have to employ a stars and scrubs mix. Change it up a little. Russell just adds some options especially on DraftKings with the blocked shots bonus.
Others To Consider (CASH/GPP): Hamilton (DK $7.7K || FD $7.2K), Bouchard (DK $5.0 K || FD $4.4K), Fox (DK $7.1K || FD $7.0K). Again watch out for pricing and yes COVID because more news will come out before lock (typically around 5:00 pm ET or so).
TOP Power Play Lines/Stacks for Friday
- EDM 1 (Obvious but true)
- VGK 1 (Pacioretty and Stephenson)
- NYR 1 (highest projection on slate per dollar)
- ANA 2 (Milano and Zegras)
- SEA 3 (Get me the Gourde)
- WPG PP 1 (could be a good special teams night)
Chris’s Line Stacks of the Day
ANA: Milano-Zegras-Lindholm
SEA: Gourde-McCann-Oleksiak
To The Moon Game Stack
Calgary and Anaheim
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 crazy Friday 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.
With some expected late in the day news on Wednesday, the idea is to wait a bit.
NHL Player News and Updates
More DFS Lineup Picks and Analysis
