
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 Tuesday, March 18, 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!
NHL DFS Analysis and Picks for 3/18/25
Tonight, we have a nine-game slate and one team playing on a back-to-back, Calgary. Tonight’s slate offers value across the board, offering creativity when building lineups.
The currently live top-3 highest implied team totals are: Dallas with 3.7, Edmonton with 3.7, and Washington with 3.6. 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
Tristan Jarry - DK $7.5K || FD $7.5K
Opponent - vs. New York Islanders
Right as Pittsburgh Penguins fans were preparing for the 2025 NHL Draft, the annual ‘March Of The Penguins’ commenced. Since the beginning of March, the Penguins have split with a 4-4 record and have won all four starts for Tristan Jarry since his return. In that run, Jarry has a 2.34 Goals Against Average and a 0.930 Save Percentage.
In his last 10 home starts, he has a 1.81 Goals Saved Above Expected Per 60, a 0.8 Goals Against Average, and a 0.973 Save Percentage. A negative regression is coming when comparing Jarry’s hot form to his career average. Will it be tonight against the Islanders?
Others To Consider (Cash/GPP):
- Linus Ullmark (DK $8K || FD $7.6K) at Montreal Canadiens
- Spencer Knight (DK $7K || FD $7.1K) vs. Seattle Kraken
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DraftKings and FanDuel Centers - NHL DFS Picks
Matt Duchene - DK $5.6K || FD $6.7K
Opponent - vs. Anaheim Ducks
Matt Duchene and the second line of the Dallas Stars are in line for arguably the best line matchup of the night. The second defensive pairing and the second line for the Anaheim Ducks are, respectively, one of the worst defensive pairing and worst defensive lines in the league over the last 10 games, excluding splits. In Duchene’s most recent five appearances, he has one goal, four assists, and 10 shots.
In Per 60 metrics against, the Ducks in their last 10 away games are the second-worst in High-Danger Chances and the worst in Shots and Scoring Chances. They are relying on goaltending to keep them afloat and if Duchene and the Stars can get going early, can goaltending keep the Ducks alive?
Chandler Stephenson - DK $4.4K || FD $5.2K
Opponent - at Chicago Blackhawks
Will Spencer Knight be able to stand tall for the Chicago Blackhawks, or will Seattle keep their hot form alive? In Stephenson’s last five games, he has one goal, five assists, six shots, and six blocked shots. Unsurprisingly, his shot volume is low. Stephenson is a point-dependent player. With another prime matchup, he is expected to keep his point streak alive.
When comparing Chicago’s last 10 home games to their last 25 home games, they are conceding 0.26 more Goals Against Per 60 and have a positive 0.22 Expected Goals Against Per 60. Looking at Chicago in their last ten home games, they are a bottom-ten team in High-Danger Chances Against Per 60, the third-worst in Scoring Chances Against Per 60, and the worst in Shots Against Per 60. All signs point to Stephenson and company having a big night.
Others To Consider (CASH/GPP):
- Sidney Crosby (DK $7.5K || FD $7.8K) vs. New York Islanders
- Frank Nazar (DK $3.9K || FD $4.7K) vs. Seattle Kraken
DraftKings and FanDuel Wings - NHL DFS Picks
Connor McMichael - DK $4.2K || FD $6.3K
Opponent - vs. Detroit Red Wings
Once again, Connor McMichael finds himself ‘mispriced’. The winger has one goal, three assists, 12 shots, and one blocked shot over his last five appearances and skates into a prime matchup.
Defensively, Detroit is playing well but continues to get lackluster goaltending. They felt the need for another goaltender and decided to bring back Petr Mrazek, who was playing for Chicago before the trade.
In Mrazek’s first three starts back in Detroit, he has a 2-1 record with a 2.01 Goals Against Average and a 0.920 Save Percentage. These numbers do not highlight that Mrazek has conceded three Goals Against in two of his three starts. Dating back to his time in Chicago, over his last 10 away starts, he has a -2.23 Goals Saved Above Expected Per 60, a 5.24 Goals Against Average, and a 0.833 Save Percentage. McMichael is expected to reach value with ease tonight.
Jordan Eberle - DK $4K || FD $6K
Opponent - at Chicago Blackhawks
Heading back to Chicago, we have winger Jordan Eberle. He has one goal, six assists, nine shots, and two blocked shots over his last five outings. As mentioned, Seattle’s second line has a premium matchup tonight against the lackluster Chicago Blackhawks.
The only concern about Eberle’s game is his lack of shots. He has now gone two straight games with zero recorded shots on net. Luckily, he has been producing points to make up for it. However, can he extend his point streak tonight?
Others To Consider (CASH/GPP):
- Mikko Rantanen (DK $7.7K || FD $7.4K) vs. Anaheim Ducks
- Rickard Rakell (DK $5.9K || FD $6.5K) vs. New York Islanders
DraftKings and FanDuel Defensemen - NHL DFS Picks
Brandon Montour - DK $5.7K || FD $5.9K
Opponent - at Chicago Blackhawks
The final piece of the Seattle puzzle is two-way defenseman Brandon Montour. He has recorded four goals, three assists, 15 shots, and four blocked shots in his last five games. This includes a four-point night in a 5-4 home win against Montreal.
Montour produced three shots and one blocked shot in the only meeting with Chicago this season. Chicago concedes shots from the point left and right, setting up the defenseman for a potential ceiling performance.
Alex Vlasic - DK $3.4K || FD $4.7K
Opponent - vs. Seattle Kraken
There is potential for this matchup to have fireworks on both sides. This leads to Alex Vlasic. The young defenseman mans the top power-play unit for the Blackhawks. He has two goals, six shots, and 10 blocked shots in his most recent five appearances, too.
Projected starter Joey Daccord of the Seattle Kraken is out of form right now. He has a 2.94 Goals Against Per 60 and a -0.13 Goals Saved Above Expected Per 60 in his last ten away starts. Expect Vlasic to reach value.
Others To Consider (CASH/GPP):
- Erik Karlsson (DK $5.1K || FD $5.8K) vs. New York Islanders
- Cam Fowler (DK $4K || FD $4.9K) at Nashville Predators
NHL DFS Top Power Plays and Stacks
- DAL1
- WAS1
- PIT1
- OTT1
NHL DFS Stacks of the Day
Brandon's Stack
- SEA: Tolvanen-Stephenson-Eberle
Chalk Stack
- DAL: Robertson-Hintz-Rantanen
Sneaky Stack
- SEA: Nyman-McCann-Burakovsky
NHL DFS News and Injury Alerts
More DFS Lineup Picks and Analysis