Today's NHL DFS Lineup Picks for DraftKings, FanDuel (11/21/24)

4 hours ago by Brandon Wampler

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Welcome, RotoBallers! My name is Brandon, and I'll be writing both The First-Serve and The Kick-Off for tennis and soccer. 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 Thursday, November 21, 2024, at 7:00 p.m. EST. Be sure also to check out RotoBaller's 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 X @df_solutions or in our premium Slack chat. Best of luck!

NHL DFS Analysis and Picks for 11/21/24

Tonight, we have a ten-game slate and three teams playing on a back-to-back: Carolina, Vegas and San Jose. Tonight’s slate offers value across the board, offering creativity when building lineups.

The currently live top-three highest implied team totals are Tampa Bay with 3.8, Florida with 3.8, and St. Louis with 3.8. I will do my best to guide you through this ten-game slate on DraftKings and FanDuel starting at 7:00 P.M. EDT.

DISCLOSURE: Make sure to monitor the NHL news feeds for the latest player status and injury news.

DraftKings and FanDuel Goalies - NHL DFS Picks

Yaroslav Askarov - DK $7.1K || FD $6.9K

Opponent - St. Louis Blues

With Vitek Vanecek injured and Mackenzie Blackwood starting last night, Yaroslav Askarov’s time waiting for his first Sharks start is over. The young netminder is expected to make his season and Shark’s debut following his trade in the offseason from the Nashville Predators.

At one point, deemed heir to Juuse Saro’s throne in Nashville, Askarov will now have a new crease to take over. In his three starts for Nashville in the 2022 and 2023 seasons, he had a 1-1 record with a 2.61 Goals Against Average and a 0.914 Save Percentage.

The St. Louis Blues have been ‘lucky’ in the goals department since October 21st. They have also experienced negative regression over their most recent ten games. However, that was also without their star center, Robert Thomas.

Whether or not Askarov concedes three or more goals is one possible narrative. He is expected to make 30 or more saves, though. If he can reach the 35-save mark with a few goals conceded, he will still maintain value.

Others To Consider (Cash/GPP):

Bobrovsky (DK $8.5K || FD $8K)
Gustavsson (DK $7.4K || FD $7.3K)

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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

Brayden Point - DK $6.7K || FD $7K

Opponent - Columbus Blue Jackets

Brayden Point dazzled in his return to the ice in the close 3-2 win in Pittsburgh on Tuesday. The centerman had two goals on five shots. He has five goals, three assists, and 13 shots in his last five appearances. His peripherals are not ideal, albeit it is expected.

Tonight has two outcomes. One, Point, and the Lightning score four or more goals against Columbus, or two, Elvis Merzlikins (DK $7K || FD $7.1K) stands on his head. Since October 21st, the Columbus Blue Jackets have been relatively lucky in Goals Against Per 60.

They are sitting just outside the top ten. However, they are in the bottom five in Expected Goals Against Per 60. If Point and the Lightning can get to Merzlikins early, Tampa Bay could run away with it. Expect Point to record two points and three shots.

Robert Thomas - DK $5.1K || FD $4.7K

Opponent - San Jose Sharks

Robert Thomas and the top line for the St. Louis Blues are expected to garner north of 20 percent ownership in most contests tonight. Thomas fractured his ankle a few games into the season and he didn’t miss a beat in his return on Tuesday. The center recorded one assist, two shots, and two blocked shots in a 4-2 loss to Minnesota.

He now gets his best matchup of the season thus far, hosting a traveling San Jose Sharks in the second half of a back-to-back. From any viewpoint, the Sharks are a bottom-three team in the National Hockey League. They are also getting more help from their goaltending, keeping them afloat in games. Robert Thomas does not need a home run to meet value. Expect the veteran center to produce two points and two shots.

Others To Consider (CASH/GPP):

Horvat (DK $5.7K || FD $6.3K)
Bennett (DK $6.2K || FD $6.9K)

DraftKings and FanDuel Wings - NHL DFS Picks

Nikita Kucherov - DK $9.5K || FD $8.9K

Opponent - Columbus Blue Jackets

If there is one player worth paying the salary for tonight, it is Nikita Kucherov of the Tampa Bay Lightning. Kucherov has been electric on the ice this season. Before his goose egg on Tuesday against the Penguins, he had one goal, five assists, 18 shots, and two blocked shots.

The Columbus Blue Jackets, as previously mentioned above, are not a viable defense. The Jackets are a bottom-ten team in both Goals Against Per 60 and High-Danger Chances Per 60 on the season. Despite the Lightning taking fewer shots than average, Kucherov is still averaging four shots Per 60. With the peripherals and the high ceiling, his salary is well worth the reach.

Jordan Kyrou - DK $6.5K || FD $6.6K

Opponent - San Jose Sharks

Another high-shooting player worthy of his salary tonight is Blues winger Jordan Kyrou. In his most recent five games, he has four assists, 14 shots, and four blocked shots. The aforementioned Sharks are traveling on the second half of their back-to-back after losing 5-2 in Dallas last night.

The visitors remain a bottom-five team in the league in all meaningful metrics, and it remains to be seen how expected starter Yaroslav Askarov will play in his debut. For under $7K tonight on DraftKings, all Kyrou needs is two points and three shots to make value—something that is achievable.

Others To Consider (CASH/GPP):

Lee (DK $5.3K || FD $6.1K)
Podkolzin (DK $2.6K || FD $3.6K)

DraftKings and FanDuel Defensemen - NHL DFS Picks

Jakob Chychrun - DK $4.8K || FD $5.4K

Opponent - Colorado Avalanche

What will the Ovechkinless Capitals do without their star captain? Well, one thing is for sure. They will rely on their veterans to pick up the pieces, leaving Jakob Chychrun in his place. The two-way defenseman has bounced around each power-play unit this season. However, with Alex Ovechkin gone, Chychrun will step in and help quarterback the top unit for the Capitals.

In Chychrun’s last five games, he has three goals, one assist, eight shots, and eight blocked shots. Considering that this game is expected to be the fastest-paced game of the night, the defenseman could be in for an optimal floor with the opportunity to reach his ceiling.

Justin Faulk - DK $4.7K || FD $5.1K

Opponent - San Jose Sharks

The final piece of the Blues puzzle is two-way defenseman Justin Faulk. Faulk has recorded 14 shots and four blocked shots in his last five games, shooting more consistently than the month prior. At this point, the Sharks’ poor defense has been highlighted enough to understand why Faulk has made the article.

The defenseman is pushing his salary limits. However, he is still sitting under $5K on DraftKings, and in one of the optimal matchups of the night, he has the potential to surpass value. Remember that the Sharks are one of the worst teams in Shots from the point.

Others To Consider (CASH/GPP):