The NHL rolls out a 12-game schedule tonight, providing us with plenty of different ways to get in on the action. I’m heading the DFS route and I’ve listed the nine-man lineup I’m playing in one of DraftKings’ classic $50,000 salary competitions. I’ve also listed each player’s price at FanDuel’s $55,000 salary equivalent competition. Here’s who I believe is primed for a big night on the ice.
Thursday’s NHL DFS Picks & Analysis
The lineup below is based on DraftKings, but FanDuel prices are also listed.
C1: Pavel Buchnevich (LW – STL) | DraftKings: $5,100/FanDuel: $5,400
Let’s start with St. Louis’ Pavel Bucnhevich as my top center tonight. He’ll take on a Utah defense that hasn’t been great this year, ranking 28th in overall defense (3.38 GAA). As for Buchnevich, he’s up to seven points in 13 games, lighting the lamp four times while adding three assists.
Those aren’t overpowering stats, but this is a good spot against a struggling, not-so-physical Utah squad. Buchnevich should be able to pick up a point or two tonight against the Hockey Club.
C2: Marco Rossi (C – MIN) | DraftKings: $4,700/FanDuel: $5,500
The NHL night wraps up out west with a contest between the Wild and the Sharks. I’ll play Minnesota’s top-line center Marco Rossi in my lineup tonight. The centerman has registered 10 points this year, courtesy of three goals and seven assists.
It’s a favorable matchup for the Wild’s offense, as they take on a Sharks team ranked 27th in overall defense (3.36 GAA), 30th in high-danger shots against (59) and 30th in expected goals against per 60 minutes (3.11) during 5-on-5 play. The last stat is critical as Rossi is mostly a 5-on-5 skater in Minnesota’s offense.
W1: Nikolaj Ehlers (LW – WPG) | DraftKings: $5,700/FanDuel: $7,300
Nikolaj Ehlers is one of two Jets skaters I have in my lineup tonight. Ehlers is putting together a great start to the year, where he’s logged 17 points on eight goals and nine apples.
He’s been very active offensively, amassing 34 shots on goal (2.6 per game), which is the second-most on the team. I like this matchup for the Jets against the Avalanche tonight. Colorado has been horrendous defensively, ranking 30th in overall defense (3.46 GAA) and dead last in team SV% (.841).
W2: Logan Stankoven (C – DAL) | DraftKings: $4,700/FanDuel: $5,700
The Stars return home from a 0-2-0 road trip to Finland, where they were swept by the Panthers. They’ll have a much easier defense to face tonight as they take on the Blackhawks. I’m adding Logan Stankoven to my lineup tonight.
The winger’s 10 points (one goal, nine assists) are the second-most on the team. The lack of goal production hasn’t been due to him not shooting the puck, as Stankoven’s 27 SOG (2.5 per game) is the second-most on the team. The Hawks have faced the fourth-most overall SOG (421) and the third-most high-danger shots (59) this year, so Stankoven should get chances to light the lamp.
W3: Stefan Noesen (RW – NJ) | DraftKings: $3,800/FanDuel: $5,100
I’ll ride with New Jersey’s Stefan Noesen as my third winger. The winger has been producing a lot more than his $3,800 price reflects. Noesen is third on the team in scoring with 13 points. His six goals trail only Nico Hischier‘s 10 tallies. This is a great matchup for New Jersey’s offense, as they take on a Montreal defense completely in shambles. I’ll dive into some of their numbers below in the section about Timo Meier.
D1: Josh Morrissey (D – WPG) | DraftKings: $5,800/FanDuel: $7,000
The Jets bring in the hottest offense in the NHL, scoring 4.8 goals per game. Josh Morrissey, Winnipeg’s top defenseman, has been on a tear to start the year. His 16 points (two goals, 14 assists) trail only Cale Makar‘s 23 points (five goals, 18 assists) among defensemen in the NHL.
Morrissey is running the blue line on Winnipeg’s top-ranked power-play unit (44.44%), which draws a matchup against Colorado’s 29th-ranked penalty-kill unit (68.57%). I think Morrissey stays hot tonight against an Avs team that cannot keep the puck out of their net.
D2: Adam Fox (D – NYR) | DraftKings: $5,700/FanDuel: $5,500
Adam Fox is off to a solid start this year, where he has nine points on nine assists. Those nine points are the 11th-most among NHL defensemen. The Rangers host the Sabres tonight, and Buffalo is a mid-to-bottom-tier defense. They’re 25th on the penalty kill (73.81%), 21st in expected goals against per 60 minutes (3.15), and 20th in SOG against (396). I expect Fox and this New York power play to have a big night.
G: Jeremy Swayman (G – BOS) | DraftKings: $8,100/FanDuel: $7,800
While it’s still extremely early, Boston’s Jeremy Swayman hasn’t been living up to his eight-year, $66 million contract. He enters tonight’s game against the Flames with a 4-5-1 record with a 3.14 GAA (40th) and .894 SV% (36th).
However, since the turn of the calendar to November, Swayman is 1-1-0 with a 1.51 GAA, a .939 SV%, and one shutout. Being that the Flames are trending downward, averaging only 2.0 goals per game over their current 2-5-0 slide, I think Swayman is primed for another big outing.
UTIL: Timo Meier (RW – NJ) | ($6,300 DK, $6,100 FD)
I’ll round out my lineup with New Jersey’s Timo Meier, who is slotting in on their top line nowadays. The star winger has looked excellent out of the gate, amassing 13 points (six goals, seven assists) through 15 games.
He has not been shy about getting pucks on the net, as he has 43 SOG through 15 games (2.9 per game). Meier gets a crack at a Montreal defense that’s dead last in both overall defense (3.77 GAA) and expected goals against per 60 minutes (3.9). Meier and this New Jersey offense should feast tonight.
