We have a thrilling 11-game NHL slate today, so I’m heading the DFS route to get some skin in the game. I’ve locked in this nine-man roster for the classic $50,000 salary format at DraftKings. This lineup is playable in the seven games starting at 7:00 p.m. ET or later. I’ve also listed each player’s price at the $55,000 FanDuel equivalent. 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: Shane Pinto (OTT) | $5,900 DK, $6,900 FD
I have three players in tonight’s Senators vs. Devils game, starting with Pinto. The 23-year-old has played in 27 games this season, picking up 21 points on seven goals and 14 assists. You’re bound to rack up the helpers when playing on the top line with Brady Tkachuk and Drake Batherson. Mainly, I love this play for the matchup against the Devils. New Jersey still hasn’t figured things out in their own zone, considering they’re 24th in overall defense (3.07 GAA) and a pedestrian 14th on the penalty kill (80.29%).
C2: Chandler Stephenson (VGK) | $3,700 DK, $5,500 FD
This feels like a great value spot to play Stephenson. The Golden Knights host the Blue Jackets, who are coming off a 6-1 pummeling at the hands of the Avalanche last night. Columbus is 28th defensively (3.39 GAA) and 22nd on the PK (77.00%). I don’t expect them to figure things out on the second night of a back-to-back. Stephenson comes into this contest as the fifth-highest-scoring Golden Knight (15G, 27A). The second-line center scored a goal in Thursday’s 3-1 win over Seattle, and I think he stays hot against this lowly Columbus club.
W1: Brock Boeser (VAN) | $6,400 DK, $7,700 FD
My top winger tonight is Boeser. He leads Vancouver in both goals scored (36) and SOG (185), and he’s fourth on the team in overall scoring (30A). The Canucks host the Flames tonight, who are 2-4-0 in their last six games, conceding 4.33 goals per game over the six-game sample size. I think the Suter-Miller-Boeser line can have a big night against a Calgary team that has essentially thrown in the towel on the 2023-2024 campaign.
W2: Jesper Bratt (NJ) | $6,000 DK, $7,400 FD
The first of two Devils I have in my lineup, Bratt is tied for the lead in scoring (22G, 45A) on New Jersey’s roster. The winger is second in SOG with 222. Of his team-leading 67 points, 25 (6G, 19A) have come on the power play. The Devils get a great matchup tonight against the Senators’ 31st-ranked PK (73.00%). Honestly, I’m surprised that this total is sitting at 6.5 with standard -110 juice to the over. I think we’ll see a ton of scoring in this contest featuring two bottom-tier defenses. I also expect Bratt to get in on the action.
W3: Ryan Nugent-Hopkins (EDM) | $5,200 DK, $7,200 FD
I’ll round out my wingers with Nugent-Hopkins, as his Oilers square off against the Maple Leafs tonight. The former first-overall pick has been solid this campaign, adding 59 points on 16 goals and 43 assists. With all of the offensive firepower on the ice tonight in Toronto, I expect this game to get a little loose. I’ll lock in RNH, as he gets a decent matchup against a Leafs squad that’s 18th in overall defense (2.97 GAA) and an underwhelming 24th on the PK (76.60%).
D1: Evan Bouchard (EDM) | $6,100 DK, $7,800 FD
The other Oiler on my roster is Evan Bouchard. The d-man is putting together a big season, amassing 67 points (15G, 52A) while playing a team-leading 23:00 minutes each night. He’s third on Edmonton’s roster in scoring and fifth in SOG (180). Bouchard also runs point on the top power play, which is cashing at a 26.63% clip (2nd in the NHL). It’s worth a shot splurging on Bouchard as the Oil take on a questionable Leafs defense.
D2: Luke Hughes (NJ) | $3,700 DK, $4,900 FD
My second d-man is Hughes, who has been lighting it up this week. The 20-year-old has five assists over his last two games. The Devils have outscored their opposition a combined 9-3 in those matchups. New Jersey gets an Ottawa side that’s back to its losing ways, as they’ve dropped three straight games (0-3-0), getting out-scored 18-6. Hughes is New Jersey’s leading defenseman when it comes to scoring with 38 points (8G, 30A). I think he stays hot against this abysmal Sens defense.
G: Petr Mrazek (CHI) | $8,000 DK, $7,400 FD
I’m going with a value option in net tonight by playing Mrazek. The veteran netminder had been serviceable this year (especially considering his surrounding cast), going 15-26-4 with a 3.09 GAA (35th) and .904 SV% (25th). Mrazek faces the Sharks tonight. He just made 25 saves on 27 shots faced (.926 SV%) in a 5-2 win against them on Sunday. San Jose is dead last in overall offense (2.2 GPG) and a middle-of-the-road 18th on the power play (20.12%). I like the ceiling with this cheap play in net.
UTIL: Quinton Byfield (LA) | $4,900 DK, $5,700 FD
I’ll take a flier on Byfield as my util-man. The winger is fourth on Los Angeles’ roster in scoring (19G, 31A) and sixth in SOG (133). He added an assist in Wednesday’s 6-0 shellacking of the Wild, giving him three points (3A) in his last four games. The Kings host the Lightning, and Tampa is still a little shaky on defense, ranking 25th in overall defense (3.10 GAA).
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