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Hello Rotoballers! The NHL season is in full swing, and we have another action-packed Saturday slate.
In this piece, I will discuss my favorite forward lines to target, defensemen, and goalies in tonight's action. Be sure to keep updated with any injury notes on our newsfeed before setting your lineup.
If you have any questions about further strategy and managing the slate, feel free to chat with me on X @ASmith_FS. All player salaries will be listed as ($DK/FD)
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Forward Lines To Target - NHL DFS Picks
Toronto Maple Leafs L1 - Matthew Knies ($3,800/5,500) - Auston Matthews ($9,300/9,200) - Mitch Marner ($6,600/7,600)
Opponent - St. Louis Blues
The top line in Toronto has been one of the best offensive lines through the early part of the season. Among forward lines who have played at least 40 minutes together, this top unit sits with the seventh-highest 4.20 Expected Goals per 60, according to MoneyPuck.
In addition, they boast a 62.3% xGoals, which is within the top 20.
MATTHEW KNIES HAS 5 GOALS IN HIS LAST 6 GAMES PLAYED! 🍁
And with that, Mitch Marner assisted and got his point ⬇️ #NHL https://t.co/QEz1hTbHbk pic.twitter.com/r9t7mLFczc
— Razed Daily (@RazedDailyBets) November 1, 2024
St. Louis sits with the 13th-worst Expected Goals Per 60 during even-strength play and 12th-worst when shorthanded.
Matthews and Marner have both tallied ten points in their past eight games and should continue their strong start this evening.
Vancouver Canucks L1 - Jake DeBrusk ($3,400/6,000) - Elias Pettersson ($5,600/6,200) - Brock Boeser ($6,300/7,600)
Opponent- San Jose Sharks
The Canucks will be facing the San Jose Sharks, who hold the fourth-worst 3.01 Expected Goals Against Per 60 this season.
This top line has generated a strong 65.2% xGoals and holds a 3.65 Expected Goals per 60 Minutes per MoneyPuck.
Boeser has led this line and has found the back of the net five times through his first nine games. Even though Pettersson and DeBrusk have gotten off to a modest start, they should be in the offensive zone all evening.
San Jose goalies MacKenzie Blackwood and Vitek Vanecek both have negative Goals Saved Above Expected and have been unable to overperform the team’s poor defensive play.
Montreal Canadiens L1 - Cole Caufield ($7,700/8,400) - Nick Suzuki ($6,000/7,100) - Kirby Dach ($4,000/4,800)
Opponent - Pittsburgh Penguins
The Canadiens have one of the most favorable matchups on the slate: facing the Pittsburgh Penguins, who, according to MoneyPuck, currently have the third-worst 3.22 Expected Goals Against Per 60.
The Penguins currently sit within the top 5, allowing the most high and medium-danger scoring chances.
This unit should have ample opportunities to get on the scoresheet in a favorable matchup.
Pittsburgh Penguins L1 - Evgeni Malkin ($7,100/6,900) - Sidney Crosby ($7,900/7,700) - Rickard Rakell ($4,200/6,200)
Opponent - Montreal Canadiens
My final top line to target comes from the other side in this potentially high-scoring affair. The Penguins recently reshuffled their lines and opted to combine Sidney Crosby and Evgeni Malkin on the top unit.
Through their first two games as linemates, this line has generated an incredible 72.3% xGoals and 5.12 Expected Goals Per 60. In this span, Crosby tallied two goals and three assists, and Rakell has found the back of the net twice.
SIDNEY CROSBY SERVES UP A HALLOWEEN TREAT WITH AN OVERTIME WINNER 🎃 pic.twitter.com/886ydHCRW8
— B/R Open Ice (@BR_OpenIce) November 1, 2024
This evening, they will have a great matchup against the Montreal Canadiens, who have allowed the most Expected Goals Per 60 (3.61) and hold the second-lowest xGoals (40.85%).
Other Top Lines To Target (Cash/GPP):
- UTH L1
- VGK L1
- COL L1
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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
Defensemen To Target - NHL DFS Picks
Cale Makar - Colorado Avalanche ($8,400/8,500)
Opponent - Nashville Predators
The star defenseman has scored at least one point (19 total) in each of his first 11 games, eight of which were on the power-play.
In 5-on-5 play, Makar and his linemate Samuel Girard have generated an excellent 68.1% xGoals with a 3.96 xGoals Per 60. On the man advantage, Makar has been just as dominant as the Avalanche hold the second-highest 9.71 Expected Goals For Per 60.
Quarterbacking one of the best offensive units both in even strength and on the power-play makes the 26-year-old one of the safest picks on the slate.
Shea Theodore - Vegas Golden Knights ($6,000/6,500)
Opponent - Utah Hockey Club
The Vegas Golden Knights have a favorable matchup this evening, especially when they are on the man-advantage. The Golden Knights hold the fourth-highest Expected Goals For Per 60 (8.86) when on the power-play, while Utah holds a modest 5.48 Expected Goals Against Per 60 while short handed.
Shea Theodore is a key piece of the Vegas power-play, as he has seen 79.4% of the total ice time in this situation.
On the man advantage, Theodore has tallied four points and has been unafraid to shoot the puck, boasting a 24.67 Shot Attempts per 60, which is seventh-highest among defensemen who have logged at least 30 minutes of time on the man-advantage.
Ryker Evans - Seattle Kraken ($3,700/5,400)
Opponent - Ottawa Senators
My final defenseman to target is Ryker Evans of the Seattle Kraken. The 22-year-old has quietly contributed to the Seattle offense as he tallied seven points (three goals, four assists) through his first eleven games.
Ryker Evans made it one goal closer but too little, too late for Seattle pic.twitter.com/u4oAPSyyfn
— SleeperNHL (@SleeperNHL) October 23, 2024
In addition, he has logged at least three blocks and three hits in three games.
Both Anton Forsberg and Linus Ullmark struggled early in the season, which could very well set up a productive evening for the Kraken.
Others To Consider (CASH/GPP):
- Mike Matheson - Montreal Canadiens ($6,200/6,800)
- Kris Letang - Pittsburgh Penguins ($4,900/5,700)
- Quinn Hughes - Vancouver Canucks ($6,700/7,300)
Goalies To Target - NHL DFS Picks
Anthony Stolarz - Toronto Maple Leafs ($8,100/8,200)
Opponent - St. Louis Blues
The 30-year-old has enjoyed a nice start to his Maple Leaf career, posting a .916 SV% and a 2.45 GAA through his first seven starts.
Under the hood, he boasts a 2.8 Goals Saved Above Expected.
Facing the Blues, who have generated the 11th-fewest Expected Goals For Per 60 in 5-on-5 play, Stolarz is a solid play with upside.
Kevin Lankinen - Vancouver Canucks ($8,500/8,600)
Opponent - San Jose Sharks
Lankinen may be one of the safest goalies on the slate. He should be in a prime position to earn a victory against one of the worst teams in the league, the San Jose Sharks.
Through six games, Lankinen has posted an excellent .920 SV% and a 2.29 GAA with a 4-0-2 record.
His metrics are quite strong, as well as he holds a strong .955 xSV% on unblocked shots and has saved 0.9 Goals Above Expected.
Others To Consider (CASH/GPP):
- Cam Talbot - Detroit Red Wings ($8,000/$7,700)
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