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 Tuesday, November, 5, 2024, at 7:00 p.m. EDT. Be sure to also 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 Twitter/X @df_solutions or in our premium Slack chat. Best of luck!
NHL DFS Analysis and Picks for 11/5/24
Happy Election Day to those in the States!
Tonight, we have an eleven-game slate and one team playing on a back-to-back, Los Angeles. Tonight’s slate is full of ‘value’ at both the center and wing positions and could offer the opportunity to pay up for safe points at the defender position.
The currently live top-three highest implied team totals are Carolina with 3.9, Colorado with 3.8, and Tampa Bay with 3.7. I will do my best to guide you through this eleven-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
Alex Nedeljkovic - DK $7.4K || FD $7.7K
Opponent - New York Islanders
This is a big matchup between a struggling Penguins team and an injured Islander squad. It is a battle of the Metro between two rivals who happen to be sitting at the bottom of the Metropolitan Division and the Eastern Conference. The New York Islanders are in the top ten in Shots For Per 60 but are the sixth-worst in Goals For Per 60. They also sit in the league's top half in both Scoring Chances For Per 60 and High-Danger Chances For Per 60. Meanwhile, in Per 60 stats, the Penguins are a bottom team in Shots Against, Scoring Chances Against, High Danger Chances Against, and Goals Against.
The levy will break one way or another with the Penguins playing poor defense and being bailed out by their goalie. Can Alex Nedeljkovic stand on his head again, or will the Islanders explode for multiple goals? In the netminder’s last five appearances, he has a 2-2-1 record with a 2.75 Goals Against Average, a 0.903 Save Percentage, and a 0.07 Goals Saved Above Expected Per 60.
Others To Consider (Cash/GPP):
- Kochetkov (DK $8.5K || FD $8.6K)
- Dostal (DK $7.1K || FD $7.6K)
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DraftKings and FanDuel Centers - NHL DFS Picks
Sebastian Aho - DK $7.7K || FD $7.8K
Opponent - Philadelphia Flyers
Sebastian Aho and the Carolina Hurricanes have the opportunity to make their case for ‘Team of the Night’. In his most recent five outings, Aho has one goal, two assists, 17 shots, and two blocked shots. Expected starter for Philadelphia, Ivan Fedotov, in his limited starts, is one of the worst goalies to start the season. He has a -1.94 Goals Saved Above Expected Per 60 in three starts, allowing almost two more goals against below average. Philadelphia’s defense is neither solid nor poor. However, their goalies continue to struggle. Considering Aho and his teammates are averaging approximately four shots Per 60, they are expected to surge past value in this matchup.
Mikael Backlund - DK $3.8K || FD $5K
Opponent - Montreal Canadiens
Mikael Backlund has been up and down the lineup to start the season for the Calgary Flames. However, he has found consistency on the third line lately. The center has one goal, one assist, eight shots, and two blocked shots in his last five appearances.
Luckily, tonight, he and the Flames face a potential historically bad Canadiens team. Montreal in Per 60 stats, is the worst in both Goals Against and Scoring Chances Against, and they are a bottom four team in both Shots Against and High-Danger Chances Against. Backlund is expected to see time against Montreal’s top line and third line and both of them struggle defensively. It is only a matter of time until Calgary’s third line starts producing again and this could be the matchup they have needed.
Others To Consider (CASH/GPP):
- Monahan (DK $6.3K || FD $7K)
- Pettersson (DK $5.7K || FD $5.8K)
DraftKings and FanDuel Wings - NHL DFS Picks
Andrei Svechnikov - DK $7.3K || FD $7.6K
Opponent - Philadelphia Flyers
Another member of the dynamic top line for the Carolina Hurricanes is winger Andrei Svechnikov. He has four goals, three assists, 20 shots, and one blocked shot in his last five performances. As mentioned, Ivan Fedotov of the Philadelphia Flyers is far from perfect.
Svechnikov has averaged four shots per 60 in his last five, and as long as he can maintain that shot volume, he is expected to maintain value.
Artturi Lehkonen - DK $3.5K || FD $6.5K
Opponent - Anaheim Ducks
The anticipated and long-awaited season debut for Arturri Lehkonen is here, and Colorado Avalanche fans must be rejoicing on the streets. In 109 appearances in two full seasons with the Avalanche, the winger has produced 37 goals, 48 assists, 253 shots, and 61 blocked shots.
Depending on who starts in the crease for the Seattle Kraken is ultimately what will dictate the Colorado Avalanche, with Joey Daccord playing much better than his teammate, Philipp Grubauer. Nevertheless, Lehkonen is expected to slot on the top line and top power-play unit. For under $4K on DraftKings, he is expected to make a strong case for ‘Value Play of the Night’.
Others To Consider (CASH/GPP):
- Chinakhov (DK $5.7K || FD $6.4K)
- Zary (DK $3.3K || FD $5.6K)
DraftKings and FanDuel Defensemen - NHL DFS Picks
Zach Werenski - DK $7.8K || FD $7K
Opponent - San Jose Sharks
This version of the Rotoballer Hockey article rarely highlights an ‘expensive’ salaried defenseman, let alone two. The first of the pair is Zach Werenski of the Columbus Blue Jackets. The two-way defenseman has one goal, two assists, 17 shots, and seven blocked shots in his most recent five appearances.
The San Jose Sharks, in Per 60 stats, are a bottom-five team in all meaningful metrics. They have also been known to concede multiple chances from the point. Despite Werenski’s high salary, he will have a plethora of opportunities to maintain and surpass value.
Rasmus Andersson - DK $6.1K || FD $7.4K
Opponent - Montreal Canadiens
Rasmus Andersson of the Calgary Flames is the second of the two ‘expensive’ defenders. The Canadiens were mentioned above for their poor defense and are also another team prone to conceding chances from the point. In Andersson’s most recent five appearances, he has one goal, one assist, 13 shots, and 17 blocked shots.
He may not generate many blocked shots tonight, with Calgary expected to possess the puck for the majority of the game. However, his shot volume is expected to jump in this friendly matchup. Expect the offensive defenseman to produce two points, five shots, and two blocked shots.
Others To Consider (CASH/GPP):
- Pulock (DK $3.7K || FD $5K)
- Byram (DK $3.2K || FD $4.8K)
NHL DFS Top Power Plays and Stacks
- CGY
- VAN
- CAR
- CBJ
- COL
NHL DFS Stacks of the Day
Brandon's Stack
- CAR: Svechnikov-Aho-Roslovic
Chalk Stack
- VAN: DeBrusk-Miller-Boeser
Sneaky Stack
- VAN: Hoglander-Bains-Sprong
NHL DFS News and Injury Alerts
More DFS Lineup Picks and Analysis