The NHL is back with a nine-game slate tonight, and we have several thrilling matchups on the docket. I’m heading the DFS route to get a stake in the action. Below I’ve listed the nine-man unit that I’m rolling with.
This DFS lineup is eligible for DraftKings’ classic $50,000 salary competitions, but I’ve also listed each player’s price at FanDuel’s $55,000 salary equivalent.
Thursday’s NHL DFS Picks & Advice
The lineup below is based on DraftKings, but FanDuel prices are also listed.
C1: Leon Draisaitl (C – EDM) | DraftKings: $7,800/FanDuel: $8,600
My biggest splurge of the night is Edmonton’s Leon Draisaitl, who enters tonight leading the Rocket Richard race with 23 goals. He’s also third in the NHL in scoring with 47 total points. Only Connor McDavid‘s 94 shots on goal (SOG) are more than his 90 SOG on Edmonton’s roster.
The Oilers have been on a tear recently, scoring 4.4 goals per game over their current 8-2-0 run. They’ll be looking to rebound from a 6-5 barn-burning loss to the Panthers on Monday. I think they’ll take out their frustrations on a mid-tier Bruins squad tonight.
C2: Matty Beniers (C – SEA) | DraftKings: $4,400/FanDuel: $5,300
Thanks to my budget skills, Matty Beniers slots in as my second centerman. The 22-year-old is still trying to find his footing in the NHL. He’s logged 17 points (four goals, 13 assists) in 33 games this season.
The Seattle center is sixth on the team in scoring (17 points) and fifth in SOG (58) this season. He has been producing consistently as of late, adding seven points (all assists) in his last nine games. Beniers also went for a goal and three SOG in a 3-1 victory over the Blackhawks back on November 14th, so maybe he’ll be playing with some confidence tonight.
W1: Timo Meier (RW – NJD) | DraftKings: $6,400/FanDuel: $6,100
The Devils should be licking their lips as they take on a Blue Jackets team ranked 31st in GAA (3.44), 32nd in SV% (.873) and 25th in high-danger shots against (117). I’ll back Timo Meier, who is fifth on the team in scoring (10 goals, 12 assists) and second in SOG (105).
With his high-volume shooting approach (3.18 shots on goal per game), I think Meier lights the lamp against a Columbus team that cannot get a stop in net.
W2: Valeri Nichushkin (RW – COL) | DraftKings: $5,000/FanDuel: $6,100
The Avalanche take on the Sharks in tonight’s NHL nightcap, and they should have no issue racking up goals against this lowly team. San Jose enters the night ranked 29th in GAA (3.26). They’ve faced the fourth-most high-danger shots (136) and most overall SOG (1,104).
I need to back someone on Colorado’s roster, and I think Valeri Nichushkin is the most valuable option. He’s up to 12 points (eight goals, four assists) in just 16 games since returning from his suspension. He has a massive ceiling tonight against a bad San Jose defense.
W3: Ivan Barbashev (C – VGK) | DraftKings: $4,000/FanDuel: $6,300
The Golden Knights welcome the Canucks, who just lost a 3-2 overtime contest to the Utah Hockey Club last night. With Vegas being a veteran team playing at home with a rest advantage, I think there’s a good chance they destroy Vancouver tonight.
I’ll back their veteran top line of Ivan Barbashev-Jack Eichel-Mark Stone to lead the charge by locking in Barbashev. He’s the team’s leading goal scorer (15 goals) and ranks second on the roster in points with 30.
It is worth mentioning that Barbashev is listed as day-to-day with an upper-body injury, so Pavel Buchnevich ($4,000 DraftKings; $5,800 FanDuel) or Tyler Toffoli ($3,900 DraftKings; $6,000 FanDuel) could serve as decent substitutions if he’s unable to go.
D1: Rasmus Andersson (D – CGY) | DraftKings: $5,700/FanDuel: $5,900
I’ll ride with Rasmus Andersson as my top defenseman tonight. He enters tonight’s game against the Senators with 15 points, which have come via six goals and nine assists. However, I’m mostly interested in Andersson’s shot-blocking ability. He’s second in the NHL with 87 blocked shots, averaging 2.7 per game.
The Flames host a Senators team rolling offensively, so Andersson should have opportunities to step in front of shots and rack up the fantasy points.
D2: Luke Hughes (D – NJD) | DraftKings: $2,900/FanDuel: $4,400
I don’t usually go this cheap when it comes to defensemen, but I think we can make a decent case for backing New Jersey’s Luke Hughes tonight against Columbus. All of the anti-Blue Jackets stats from the Meier section also apply here.
As for Hughes himself, he’s been contributing quite a bit offensively as of late. He’s notched seven points (one goal, six assists) in his last nine games, bringing his total up to 11 points (one goal, 10 assists) on the season. Hughes runs the blue line on the second power-play unit as well. New Jersey will be looking to score on Columbus’ 28th-ranked penalty kill unit (72.45%).
G: Joey Daccord (G – SEA) | DraftKings: $8,200/FanDuel: $8,200
Joey Daccord has emerged as the top netminder in Seattle, pushing Philipp Grubauer and his 3.50 GAA (53rd) to the side. Daccord enters tonight’s matchup with Chicago with a record of 12-7-2 (ninth-most wins), a 2.46 GAA (11th) and a .915 SV% (seventh).
In four starts this month, the 28-year-old is 2-1-1 with a 2.01 GAA and .926 SV%. Daccord is tasked with slowing down a Blackhawks side ranked 28th in scoring (2.5 goals per game) and dead last in expected goals per 60 minutes (2.36).
UTIL: Drake Batherson (RW – OTT) | DraftKings: $5,600/FanDuel: $7,000
I’ll round out my lineup with Ottawa’s Drake Batherson, who is cementing himself as a top-six forward in the NHL. The winger ranks second on the team in scoring (33 points) and goals scored (13) while sitting third in SOG (69).
Batherson has been lighting it up lately, going for 17 points (six goals, 11 assists) in his last 14 games. I like him to contribute tonight as his red-hot Sens take on a mid-tier Flames squad allowing 3.8 goals per game during their current 3-5-3 stretch.