I’m heading the DFS route to get some skin in the game for tonight’s seven-game NHL slate. Below I’ve listed the nine-man lineup I’m playing in one of DraftKings’ classic $50,000 salary competitions. I’ve also included each player’s price at FanDuel’s $55,000 salary equivalent competition. Let’s dive into some of the players who I believe will have a big night on the ice.
Tuesday’s NHL DFS Picks & Analysis
The lineup below is based on DraftKings, but FanDuel prices are also listed.
C1: Marco Rossi (C – MIN) | DrafKings: $4,800/FanDuel: $5,900
I have to feature someone from Minnesota’s roster in my lineup tonight, as they take on St. Louis, who brings in the 28th-ranked defense (3.26 GAA). I’ll take a shot on Marco Rossi, who is third on the team in scoring with five goals and nine helpers. Rossi lit the lamp against the Blues in a 4-1 victory back on October 15th. He also has four points (two goals, two assists) in his last five games. Let’s back the centerman against this floundering Blues squad.
C2: Josh Norris ( C – OTT) | DrafKings: $4,500/FanDuel: $5,900
I’m pretty excited to get this cheap price on Josh Norris tonight. The centerman is second on the Senators in goals (seven), while ranking fourth overall on the team in points (12). Mostly, I love this matchup against the Oilers, who bring in the second-worst team SV% (.875). Edmonton’s also coming off of a 3-0 loss to Montreal last night, so they could run into tired legs as this game drags on. Norris and the Sens are primed for a big night against Edmonton’s 31st-ranked penalty kill (67.35%).
W1: Bryan Rust (RW – PIT) | DrafKings: $6,300/FanDuel: $5,700
Pittsburgh’s Bryan Rust has played in only 13 games this year, but he’s accumulated a modest seven points (five goals, two assists). He does have a couple of goals in his last three games. If the Lightning have a weakness, it’s their penalty kill, which is just 17th (79.25%). Rust is slotting in on the top power-play unit for the Pens, and it’s where two of his five goals have come from this season.
W2: Chris Kreider (LW – NYR) | DrafKings: $5,600/FanDuel: $5,900
The Rangers take on the Canucks tonight. Vancouver is allowing 3.8 goals per game over their last five contests (2-3-0). I’ll ride with the always-dangerous Chris Kreider to light the lamp against the Canucks. All eight of Kreider’s points have come via goals this year, which is second on the team to only Artemi Panarin (10). With the Canucks sliding right now, I think it’s worth a flier on Kreider to do some damage.
W3: Troy Terry (C – ANA) | DrafKings: $4,900/FanDuel: $6,100
I’ll ride with Troy Terry as my third winger. The Anaheim winger leads the team in both scoring (12 points) and goals scored (six) through 17 games. His 41 shots on goal (SOG) are second to only Frank Vatrano‘s 52 SOG. Terry will be looking to score on a mid-tier Chicago defense that’s 11th in GAA (2.61) and 14th in SV% (.899). This offense runs through the young winger, so if the Ducks score a few goals, Terry will likely be involved. I like him at this cheap price of $4,900.
D1: Victor Hedman (D – TB) | DrafKings: $7,000/FanDuel: $6,900
I have a couple of Lightning players in my lineup, the first of which is Victor Hedman. The Swedish defenseman is on a tear right now, logging eight points (two goals, six assists) in his last seven games. That includes a two-point night (one goal, one assist) against the Devils on Saturday. Hedman and the Bolts should have no issues racking up the goals against a Penguins squad that’s dead last defensively (3.70 GAA).
D2: Adam Fox (D – NYR) | DrafKings: $6,000/FanDuel: $6,100
Adam Fox continues to amass points from the blue line, as his 13 points are the third-most on New York’s roster. Fox’s 13 points are the 12th-most among defensemen in the NHL. With Fox running point on New York’s seventh-ranked power play (25.58%), I think he’ll at least make his way onto the scoresheet with another assist tonight.
G: Lukas Dostal (G – ANA) | DrafKings: $7,200/FanDuel: $7,400
It’s unconfirmed who will start in net tonight for the Ducks, but I’ll ride with their goaltender against the lowly Blackhawks. We’re getting a huge discount on Lukas Dostal in this spot. Dostal has been serviceable this season, going 5-6-2 with a 2.69 GAA (21st) and .924 SV% (5th). The SV% is key here, as Dostal gets a Chicago offense that’s 28th in team shooting percentage (8.68%) and dead last in scoring (2.3 GPG). In the event Dostal doesn’t start, John Gibson ($7,200 on DraftKings, $7,400 on FanDuel) would be the likely goaltender for Anaheim.
UTIL: Nick Paul (LW – TB) | DrafKings: $3,700/FanDuel: $5,600
Let’s round out our lineup with Tampa Bay’s Nick Paul. Paul’s slotting in on Tampa’s second line nowadays, playing alongside Brandon Hagel and Anthony Cirelli. Paul is nearly a point-per-game guy this year, logging 13 points (five goals, eight assists) through 16 contests. Being that the Bolts get a great matchup against the Penguins’ horrendous defense, I think it’s worth taking a flier on this depth winger.
