With eight games on the NHL docket, we have a myriad of ways to get in on the action tonight. I’m heading the DFS route in this article, where I’ve compiled this nine-game lineup at DraftKings. This roster fits their classic $50,000 salary format, and I’ve also listed each player’s price at the $55,000 salary FanDuel equivalent.
Here’s who I believe is due for 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: Evgeni Malkin (PIT) | $5,300 DK, $6,300 FD
The Penguins make the trip to Newark, N.J., tonight to take on the Devils in a battle of teams that likely won’t make the postseason. For New Jersey, it has simply been a lack of defense that’s held them back this season. They’re just 24th in overall defense (3.05 GAA), and they’ve allowed the ninth-most high-danger shots (165) during 5-on-5 play this year.
Look for Evgeni Malkin to have his hand in a goal tonight. Malkin’s playing well, adding three points (2G, 1A) over his last three games. He’s up to 56 points (21G, 35A) on the year, which is second on the roster. He’s also third in the team in SOG (176).
C2: Pavel Zacha (BOS) | $4,800 DK, $6,100 FD
Pavel Zacha has been a mainstay in my lineups recently. The top-line center went on a tear in March, racking up 15 points (6G, 9A) over 14 games. He’s riding a three-game point streak, which includes adding three assists and a goal. Zacha’s up to fourth on Boston’s roster in scoring (18G, 33A), and he’s sixth in SOG (133). Anyone who centers David Pastrnak is worth a shot at a price under $5,000.
W1: Gustav Nyquist (NAS) | $5,500 DK, $6,800 FD
Keeping it in the same game, I’ll flip sides and play Gustav Nyquist as my top winger. The 34-year-old has stepped up for the Preds over their insane 18-game point streak. The streak has officially ended, but over the last 21 games, Nyquist has amassed 28 points (10G, 18A). He’s third on the team in scoring (22G, 46A), and I love the chemistry that he has formed with Filip Forsberg on the top line. Let’s play Nyquist as the Predators host a Bruins squad that’s just 2-3-0 in their last five games.
W2: Drake Batherson (OTT) | $5,100 DK, $6,200 FD
The Senators take on the Wild tonight, and I can see this game getting loose, which is why I have two players from this cross-conference tilt. First, it’s Drake Batherson, who’s occupying a spot on the top line, playing alongside Brady Tkachuk and Shane Pinto. Batherson’s fourth on the team in both scoring (26G, 32A) and SOG (173). The Sens are on a five-game winning streak, and Batherson has registered seven points (3G, 4A) over the five-game run.
W3: Jonathan Huberdeau (CAL) | $3,900 DK, $5,000 FD
This has been a forgettable season for the Flames, but they have an opportunity to collect an easy two points in front of their home crowd tonight as they host the Ducks. Anaheim’s defense has really fallen off, dropping to 31st in both overall defense (3.44 GAA) and on the penalty kill (72.88%). Jonathan Huberdeau seems like a great value play at this price. While he hasn’t been as dominant as the 115-point campaign in Florida, the crafty Huberdeau should make a scoring contribution tonight against this lousy Anaheim defense.
D1: Charlie McAvoy (BOS) | $5,400 DK, $6,400 FD
The other Bruin I have in my lineup tonight is Charlie McAvoy. He’s Boston’s leading defenseman in scoring (10G, 34A), TOI/G (24:56) and SOG (117). The Bruins take on the Predators tonight, and you’d typically think we’d see a low-scoring affair with these organizations. However, Nashville has conceded 19 goals over their last three games (6.3 GAA)! I think we could see a lot of goals in this one, so I’ll lock in Boston’s top D-man.
D2: Brock Faber (MIN) | $5,000 DK, $5,500 FD
As noted, I can see this Senators/Wild game getting a little loose. Ottawa brings in the 29th-ranked defense, conceding 3.33 goals per game. They’re also 30th on the PK (73.61%) and have allowed the seventh-most 5-on-5 high-danger shots (151) this campaign. Meanwhile, Faber has emerged as the top D-man in Minnesota, and he’s up to 41 points (7G, 34A) on the year. Twelve (2G, 10A) of his points have come on the power play, which gets a great matchup tonight against Ottawa’s penalty kill.
G: Sergei Bobrovsky (FLA) | $8,300 DK, $8,600 FD
I’ll ride with Sergei Bobrovsky in the crease tonight. The veteran netminder is sneakily putting together an excellent season, going 33-17-3 (the third-most winsin the NHL) with a 2.46 GAA (fifth) and a .912 SV% (12th). Bobrovsky gets a Montreal team that’s just 27th in overall offense (2.7 GPG) and 24th on the power play (17.60%). Over their last 11 games (4-6-1), the Habs are scoring just 2.1 goals per contest.
UTIL: Bo Horvat (NYI) | $6,700 DK, $7,300 FD
I’ll round out my lineup with Bo Horvat, who’s coming off a one-goal performance against the Flyers last night. Horvat gets a Chicago defense that’s 28th overall, allowing 3.32 goals per game. They’re also just 21st on the PK (77.62%) and 17 (9G, 8A) of Horvat’s 64 points (20G, 34A) have come on the power play. New York is still hanging around in the playoff race, so look for Horvat to play an elevated role in securing the two points against this bottom-feeding Chicago team.
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