The NHL rolls out a 10-game schedule tonight, providing us with plenty of different ways to get in on the action. I’m heading the DFS route for tonight’s slate, and I’ve listed the nine-man lineup I’m playing in one of the 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: Roope Hintz (C – DAL) | DraftKings: $5,400/FanDuel: $6,200
It hasn’t been as fruitful of a season offensively for the Stars this year, who are averaging only 3.2 goals per game (15th) compared to their 3.6 tallies (second) last year. Included in the scoring drought is Roope Hintz, who has just nine points (five goals, four assists) through 14 games played.
However, Hintz did find success against the Bruins in their first meeting this year, lighting the lamp while registering four shots on goal (SOG). Boston’s defense has been suspect this season, ranking just 18th in team GAA (2.94).
C2: Marco Rossi (C – MIN) | DraftKings: $5,100/FanDuel: $5,700
I’ll take a flier on Minnesota’s Marco Rossi as my second centerman tonight. The top-line center ranks fourth on the team in scoring (four goals, nine assists), and his 30 SOG are the fourth-most as well.
Rossi will look to rack up the points against Montreal’s abysmal defense. The Habs are dead last in both GAA (3.88) and high-danger shots against (79) while ranking 31st in SV% (.865%).
W1: Alexis Lafreniere (LW – NYR) | DraftKings: $4,900/FanDuel: $5,400
This feels like a relatively cheap price on Alexis Lafreniere, who has emerged as a true threat in New York’s top six forwards group. The winger’s 12 points (six goals, six assists) are second on the team to only Artemi Panarin‘s 22 points (10 goals, 12 assists).
The Blue Shirts host the Sharks tonight. With the way these teams are trending, it should be an absolute massacre. San Jose is 26th in GAA (3.13) and 30th in expected GAA per 60 minutes (3.53).
W2: Teuvo Teravainen (LW – CHI) | DraftKings: $4,600/FanDuel: $4,900
The Blackhawks take on the Kraken tonight. Seattle has surprisingly been very shaky defensively this year. They’re 16th in overall defense (2.88 GAA), but rank 28th in expected GAA per 60 minutes (3.47) and 31st in high-danger shots against (77).
I’ll lock in Teuvo Teravainen, who has a pedestrian eight points (four goals, four assists) this year. Teravainen is still slotting in on Connor Bedard‘s top line, as well as getting time on the top power-play unit. He should get some quality looks tonight against the Kraken.
W3: Oliver Bjorkstrand (RW – SEA) | DraftKings: $3,600/FanDuel: $5,400
Keeping it in the same game, I like Seattle’s Oliver Bjorkstrand as a depth option at wing. He has seven points through 15 games, which have come on four goals and three shots.
The lack of scoring production hasn’t been due to not shooting the puck, as his 38 SOG are the third-most on the team. Bjorkstrand will look to light the lamp against a Chicago defense ranked 27th in expected GAA per 60 minutes (3.35).
D1: Mike Matheson (D – MON) | DraftKings: $5,700/FanDuel: $5,600
There are more ways to rack up the points in DFS hockey than just scoring, although Montreal’s Mike Matheson has logged a respectable 10 points (0G, 10A) through 16 games. I like Matheson because he’s been excellent at blocking shots this year.
The defenseman is fourth in the entire NHL in blocked shots (45). I anticipate the Habs being under siege all night against a superior Wild squad.
D2: Adam Fox (D – NYR) |DraftKings: $5,700/FanDuel: $5,800
The other Ranger I have in my lineup is defenseman Adam Fox. He’s tied on New York with the above-mentioned Lafreniere in points with 12, and they’ve all come on assists. Fox typically does his best work on the power play (seven assists). He gets a matchup against San Jose’s mid-tier, 13th-ranked penalty kill (81.54%).
G: Kevin Lankinen (G – VAN) | DraftKings: $8,100/FanDuel: $8,000
I’ll ride with Vancouver’s Kevin Lankinen in net tonight. The journeyman goaltender has been productive in the crease this year, going 8-1-2 with a 2.46 GAA (10th) and .911 SV% (16th).
He is tasked with slowing down a bottom-feeding Islanders offense. The Isles enter the night ranked 27th in overall offense (2.5 goals per game) and 29th on both the power play (12.50%) and in high-danger shots (42).
UTIL: Cole Caufield (RW – MON) |DraftKings: $6,900/FanDuel: $6,200
I’ll round out my lineup with Montreal’s Cole Caufield. The Canadiens take on the Wild tonight, who are a top-five defense. I still like this matchup for Caufield, who essentially is the Canadiens’ offense.
He’s registered the second-most points on the team (13), and his 12 goals are the most in the league. The young winger is constantly getting pucks on net, where he has 41 SOG this season. You can never go wrong with Caufield, even if it is against a tough Minnesota defense.
