The NHL rolls out an eight-game slate tonight, meaning there’s no shortage of ways to get in on the action! I’m heading the DFS route, where I’ve compiled this nine-man roster over at DraftKings. This lineup can be played in any classic $50,000 salary competition. I’ve also listed each player’s price at FanDuel.
Let’s dive into who I believe will have a big night on the ice!
Today’s NHL DFS Picks & Analysis
The lineup below is based on DraftKings, but FanDuel prices are also listed.
C1: Tomas Hertl (SJ) | $5,500 DK, $6,800 FD
The Toilet Bowl is scheduled for tonight as the Sharks square off against the Blackhawks in Chicago. Both teams are horrendous this season, ranking outside the top 25 in both scoring and defense. However, this is a great opportunity for a veteran player like Tomas Hertl to light up the stat sheet. He leads San Jose in scoring (13G, 17A), and nine of those points (5G, 4A) have come on the power play. The Sharks take on the Hawks’ side, which is 29th defensively (3.44 GAA) and 27th on the penalty kill (75.36%).
C2: Ross Colton (COL) | $3,400 DK, $4,600 FD
I have a trio of Avs in my lineup tonight as they take on the Senators in Ottawa. First up is a cheaper centerman in Ross Colton. He’s seventh on the team in scoring, adding 10 goals and 10 helpers. He also has 78 shots on goal (SOG), which is good enough for sixth on the Avalanche. Colton will have a great matchup against an Ottawa side that’s 31st defensively, conceding 3.55 goals per game.
W1: Mikko Rantanen (COL) | $8,500 DK, $9,900 FD
Next is Colton’s teammate, Mikko Rantanen. Rantanen is a horse, trailing only Nathan MacKinnon (23G, 47A) in terms of scoring. Rantanen has 22 goals and 34 assists, with nine of those goals and 18 assists coming on the power play. Ottawa’s 31st on the PK, killing off just 71.77% of opposing man-advantage opportunities. Colorado’s offense should be licking its lips heading into tonight’s game. Look for Rantanen to light it up.
W2: Nino Niederreiter (WPG) | $4,300 DK, $5,700 FD
The Jets host the Isles tonight, and this isn’t your New York squad from recent history that likes to try to win games 2-1 every night. They’ve been a tad worrisome defensively this season, ranking 20th overall (3.12 GAA). I think this is a great opportunity to play the Jets in some capacity. They’ve been hot recently, going 8-0-1 in their last nine games, averaging 3.0 goals per game over the stretch. Let’s play Nino Niederreiter, who has 12 goals and 12 assists.
W3: Andrew Mangiapane (CGY) | $3,700 DK, $4,200 FD
The final winger I have in my lineup is Andrew Mangiapane. He’s putting together a decent season in Calgary, ranking sixth on the team in scoring (8G, 17A). The Flames welcome a Coyotes team that’s struggled away from home, going just 8-9-2. I like for Mangiapane to have his hand in a goal tonight.
D1: Cale Makar (COL) | $8,400 DK, $8,900 FD
The final Avs player I’ll lock in is Cale Makar. For the same reasons as Rantanen, Makar should have a massive night. He runs point on the top power play, where he has collected 23 (4G, 19A) of his 51 total points (10G, 41A). Colorado takes on Ottawa, who has allowed an average of 4.7 goals per game in their last six contests.
D2: Darnell Nurse (EDM) | $5,100 DK, $6,300 FD
My second d-man tonight is Darnell Nurse. The 28-year-old scored an overtime winner against Detroit on Thursday, giving him two points (1G, 1A) over his last three games. The Oilers host the Maple Leafs tonight, which gives Edmonton a chance to improve its current win streak to 11 games. I’ll take Nurse (6G, 10A) to make his way onto the scoresheet against a Toronto squad that has surrendered 13 goals over its current 0-2-1 stretch of hockey. He’s eighth on the team in SOG (89), which makes him last in the middle tier before it drops off to the depth players in the 50-to-60 SOG range.
G: Lukas Dostal (ANA) | $6,900 DK, $6,900 FD
Maybe I’m crazy, but I will take Lukas Dostal in-net tonight. The Anaheim netminder hasn’t been great this season, going 7-10-1 with a 3.55 GAA and .901 SV%. However, this is a great matchup for the 23-year-old as he takes on a Capitals side that’s 30th in both scoring (2.3 GPG) and on the power play (13.39%). This is a potential breakout spot for Dostal, so I’ll take a chance on him.
UTIL: Mason Marchment (DAL) | $4,200 DK, $5,900 FD
I’ll round out my lineup with Mason Marchment tonight. This second line of Dallas (Marchment-Matt Duchene-Tyler Seguin) has been very impressive this season, combining for 44 goals. Fourteen of those goals (and 19 total assists) belong to Marchment. It’ll be a tall task for the Stars tonight, as they host a Kings team that’s third defensively (2.43 GAA). However, they haven’t been great lately, going just 1-4-4 over their last nine games. I like Marchment as a value option to potentially have a big night.
Subscribe: Apple Podcasts | Spotify | Google Podcasts | RadioPublic | Breaker | Castbox | Pocket Casts