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 MLB 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 Tuesday, 7th, 2023 at 7:00 PM 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] or via Twitter @df_solutions or in our premium slack chat. Good luck, RotoBallers!
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NHL DFS Analysis and Picks for 2/7/23
We officially had our first big trade domino fall during the All-Star Break and there should be many more as we get closer to the trade deadline – March 3rd –. Tonight we have a small 6-game slate and three teams playing on a back-to-back: Anaheim, Tampa Bay and New York Islanders. The currently live top-3 highest implied team totals are: Tampa Bay with 4.1, Edmonton with 3.7 and Chicago with 3.4 goals. I will do my best in guiding you through this six-game slate on DraftKings and FanDuel starting at 7:00 p.m. EST.
DISCLOSURE: Make sure to monitor the news feed and play at your own risk
Goalies
Martin Jones- DK $8K || FD $7.5K
Opponent - Los Angeles Kings
There are a few options on the slate tonight, however, Jones is the ideal option. The netminder is traveling to the Island where the hosts will play the second-half of their back-to-back after a close 2-1 win against Philadelphia last night. Over Jones’s last five games, he is 3-2. Jones has faltered a bit lately and it has not helped that Beniers has been out for a few games. Luckily, the Islanders are still struggling for goals, despite shooting a ton each game, tenth in Shots For Per 60 – 31.95 –, sixth-worst in Goals For Per 60 – 2.09 –, each stat over the last 10 games.
Others To Consider (Cash/GPP): Georgiev (DK $7.8K || FD $8.5K), Saros (DK $7.4K || FD $8.6K)
Centers
Trevor Zegras-DK $5.6K || FD $6.3K
Opponent - Chicago Blackhawks
Thanks to a drop off in production, Zegras’s salary has fallen down to the middle of the salary range. The top-line pivot over his last five games has 3 goals, 3 assists and 14 shots. He may be one of the top-owned centers on the slate due to his manageable salary and premium matchup. The Blackhawks over the last 10 games are the second-worst in Shots Against Per 60 – 36.36 –, the third-worst in Scoring Chances Against Per 60 – 34.57 – and the fourth-worst in Goals Against Per 60 – 3.33 –. Zegras should see a mix of the top two lines and most notably the second-line of the Blackhawks who is by far the worst defensive line, lining up Zegras for an expected ceiling game.
Nathan MacKinnon- DK $9.4K || FD $10.2K
Opponent - Pittsburgh Penguins
The battle of the admired and the admirer will commence tonight. For those that do not know, MacKinnon has built his entire life in the footsteps of Sidney Crosby, down to the exact school. The reigning Stanley Cup Champion has amassed 5 assists and 23 shots over his last five games. The Penguins continue to falter in form, losing important points in the standings. In their last 10 games, they are the eighth-worst team in Shots Against Per 60 – 32.66 – and the twelfth-worst team in Goals Against Per 60 – 2.73 –. Furthermore, their current starting netminder, Casey DeSmith has a Goals Saved Above Expected Per 60 – 0.005 – in all goalies that have started 5 or more games this season. This is a great spot for MacKinnon to continue his current point-streak – 3 games –.
Others To Consider (CASH/GPP): Point (DK $6.8K || FD $8.3K), Glass (DK $3.7K || FD $4K)
Wings
Max Jones- DK $3K || FD $3.6K
Opponent - Chicago Blackhawks
Jones is becoming the beneficiary of uncertainty surrounding the Ducks’ lineup, whether it is poor play or injuries. The winger has scored 1 goal and taken 12 shots in his last five games. Furthermore, his one goal came from the 2-1 overtime win against the Coyotes right before the All-Star break where he played on the top-line. Teammate Troy Terry left the game last night and it is unknown if he will be able to play tonight. If he does not, Jones will be the first option to take his spot next to center Trevor Zegras. This is a worthwhile spot to keep a close eye on, as Jones could be the ultimate ‘value’ play tonight.
Zach Hyman- DK $8.2K || FD $9.5K
Opponent - Detroit Red Wings
Hyman has blown up this season after posting a career year last season. The winger has set a new career-high in assists – 34 – and he is two goals away from surpassing his current career-high – 27 –. However, his current form is even more worthy of mentioning, with 6 goals, 7 assists and 16 shots in his last five games. Those are massive numbers and as long as he plays with teammate Connor McDavid, he will continue to see that type of production. Detroit is not a stellar defense, but they are also not awful. Hyman and company will be a big test for the Red Wings tonight.
Others To Consider (CASH/GPP): Forsberg (DK $6.2K || FD $7.5K), Hagel (DK $5.6K || FD $7.1K)
Defense
Cam Fowler- DK $4.3K || FD $5.1K
Opponent - Chicago Blackhawks
It would be astonishing to see Fowler not become the highest-owned defenseman on the slate tonight. In his last five games he has 2 goals, 3 assists, 16 shots and 6 blocked shots. More importantly, it is his matchup against the lowly Blackhawks that makes Fowler such a gem tonight. The Blackhawks’ defense has been aforementioned above. With the lack of ‘safe’ plays at defense tonight and a few great matchups, it is worthwhile to pay for lower-salaried defensemen in a ceiling potential matchup and Fowler fits the bill.
Jeff Petry- DK $4.5K || FD $5.8K
Opponent - Colorado Avalanche
Petry has been a massive addition to the blueline for the Penguins, since his return from injury. Over his last five appearances, he has 4 assists, 15 shots and 9 blocked shots. In a fast-paced meeting between the Avalanche and the Penguins, it is not Petry’s power-play role that we are after, it is his peripherals. Petry is a big peripheral player and he will be looking to fill shot lanes as much as possible against a threatening offense like Colorado. All it takes is for Petry to block 3 or more shots to get the blocked shot bonus on DraftKings. Anything past that is a bonus.
Others To Consider (CASH/GPP): Hedman (DK $6K || FD $6.6K), Byram (DK $3.5K || FD $5K)
NHL DFS Top Power Plays and Stacks
- ANA1
- EDM1
- TB1
Brandon's Stack of the Day
- ANA: Jones-Zegras-Fowler
Chalk Stack
- TB: Stamkos-Point-Kucherov
Sneaky Stack
- NSH: Forsberg-Glass-Josi