
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 bring my NHL lineup picks, analysis, and advice for NHL DFS contests on DraftKings and FanDuel for Thursday, March 13, 2025, 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!
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NHL DFS Analysis and Picks for 3/13/25
Tonight, we have a nine-game slate and zero teams playing on a back-to-back. Tonight’s slate offers value across the board, offering creativity when building lineups.
The currently live top-3 highest implied team totals are: Vegas with 3.7, Chicago with 3.4, and San Jose with 3.3. I will do my best to guide you through this nine-game slate on DraftKings and FanDuel starting at 7:00 p.m. EST.
DISCLOSURE: Make sure to monitor the NHL news feeds for the latest player status and injury news.
DraftKings and FanDuel Goalies - NHL DFS Picks
Jeremy Swayman - DK $7.2K || FD $7.1K
Opponent - at Ottawa Senators
Jeremy Swayman and the Boston Bruins pulled off a big statement win against Florida on Tuesday. The netminder recorded a 0.929 Save Percentage and a 2.03 Goals Against Average. He now has a 2-3 record, a 2.03 Goals Against Average, and a 0.919 Save Percentage in his last five starts. Furthermore, in his previous 10 away appearances, he has a 0.21 Goals Saved Above Expected Per 60, a 2.23 Goals Against Average, and a 0.917 Save Percentage.
When assessing teams for value in Shots Per Goal Per 60, Ottawa takes the cake by quite some bit. Their regression trend backs this up. Comparing their most recent 10 home games to their last 25 home games, they are producing -0.49 fewer Goals Per 60. As long as Swayman can lock in early, he has the potential to be the top value goalie on the slate.
Others To Consider (Cash/GPP):
- Sergei Bobrovsky (DK $7.9K || FD $7.6K) at Toronto Maple Leafs
- Igor Shesterkin (DK $7.5K || FD $7.4K) at Minnesota Wild
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DraftKings and FanDuel Centers - NHL DFS Picks
Macklin Celebrini - DK $7.3K || FD $7.7K
Opponent - vs. Chicago Blackhawks
Macklin Celebrini and the San Jose Sharks will challenge the Vegas Golden Knights as the highest-owned team on the slate. San Jose gets to host the underperforming Chicago Blackhawks. Comparing the visitors’ last ten away games to their last 25 away games, it is very apparent that they are not playing defense. In Per 60 metrics against, Chicago is conceding 1.12 more Goals, 7.87 more Scoring Chances, 3.18 more High-Danger Chances, and is expected to concede 0.79 more Goals.
In the rookie’s last five games, he has two goals, two assists, 20 shots, and five blocked shots. If Spencer Knight starts for Chicago, things could get tricky for San Jose. Nevertheless, Celebrini is on a tear and has arguably the best matchup of the night.
Cody Glass - DK $3.2K || FD $4.8K
Opponent - vs. Edmonton Oilers
Cody Glass has gone from Vegas to Nashville, to Pittsburgh, and now New Jersey in his five-year career. Glass now looks like he may have found his groove. In his two appearances with the New Jersey Devils, Glass has one goal, two assists, one shot, and one blocked shot.
Comparing Edmonton’s last 10 away games to their last 25 away games, they concede 0.2 more Goals Against Per 60. They are also conceding 0.4 more Expected Goals Against Per 60. Furthermore, their projected starter, Stuart Skinner, is also underperforming. He has a -0.95 Goals Saved Above Expected Per 60, a 3.67 Goals Against Average, and a 0.864 Save Percentage in his last 10 away starts. Glass gives the upside needed at a cost-effective salary.
Others To Consider (CASH/GPP):
- Sam Bennett (DK $5.5K || FD $6.8K) at Toronto Maple Leafs
- Boone Jenner (DK $4.7K || FD $6.4K) vs. Vegas Golden Knights (Note: Jenner is a Wing on FanDuel)
DraftKings and FanDuel Wings - NHL DFS Picks
Tyler Toffolli - DK $5.8K || FD $6.4K
Opponent - vs. Chicago Blackhawks
Skating back to San Jose, we have Celebrini’s linemate, Tyler Toffolli. Out of all players within the $5K range on DraftKings, Toffolli is one of the only players in scorching form, meeting the value needed. Within his most recent five games, he has two goals, two assists, 21 shots, and three blocked shots.
As previously mentioned above, the Chicago Blackhawks are going through one of the worst defensive regressions in the league right now. In their last ten away games, in Per 60 metrics against, they are the second-worst in Shots and Goals and the worst in Scoring Chances and High-Danger Chances. Toffolli and company will see their worst defensive pairing as well, setting them up for a potential ceiling performance.
Mackie Samoskevich - DK $4.4K || FD $5.3K
Opponent - at Toronto Maple Leafs
Mackie Samoskevich remains one of the mispriced players of the season. The young winger has jumped onto the scene and cemented himself within the top six this season. He has three goals, one assist, 16 shots, and five blocked shots in his last five outings.
The Toronto Maple Leafs will not be an easy opponent. The hosts are playing well enough defensively but continue to be inconsistent. Samoskevich’s salary and form show that he is worth the risk.
Others To Consider (CASH/GPP):
- Zach Hyman (DK $6.1K || FD $6.4K) at New Jersey Devils
- Jesper Bratt (DK $5.5K || FD $6.8K) vs. Edmonton Oilers
DraftKings and FanDuel Defensemen - NHL DFS Picks
Luke Hughes - DK $4.4K || FD $5.5K
Opponent - vs. Edmonton Oilers
Until Luke Hughes sees his salary climb past $5K on DraftKings, he remains a steal and even then, he still might maintain value. The two-way defender has stepped up since his brother, Jack Hughes, left with a season-ending injury. In Luke’s last five appearances, he has one goal, four assists, eight shots, and five blocked shots.
As mentioned above, Edmonton is not playing well defensively right now, and they are not getting any help from their goaltending. In what is expected to be a shootout game, expect Luke Hughes to reach value.
Timothy Liljegren - DK $4K || FD $4.7K
Opponent - vs. Chicago Blackhawks
Polishing off the San Jose matchup with Chicago is two-way defender Timothy Liljegren. The ex-Maple Leaf is still trying to find his footing with the Sharks. In his most recent five appearances, he has one goal, one assist, 10 shots, and nine blocked shots.
Luckily, he is playing against the Chicago Blackhawks. In a prime matchup, with an ‘affordable’ salary and quarterbacking the second power-play unit, Liljegren is set up for success tonight.
Others To Consider (CASH/GPP):
- Noah Hanifin (DK $5.2K || FD $5.7K) at Columbus Blue Jackets
- Alex Vlasic (DK $4.3K || FD $4.8K) at San Jose Sharks
NHL DFS Top Power Plays and Stacks
- VGK1
- SJ1
- NJ1
- EDM1
NHL DFS Stacks of the Day
Brandon's Stack
- VGK: Saad-Hertl-Dorofeyev
Chalk Stack
- VGK: Olofsson-Eichel-Stone
Sneaky Stack
- CBJ: Chinakhov-Danforth-Kunin
NHL DFS News and Injury Alerts
More DFS Lineup Picks and Analysis