Tonight’s 10-game slate in the NHL provides us with a myriad of different ways to get some skin in the game. I’m heading the DFS route, where I’ve locked in the nine-man lineup that you’ll find below. This roster 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.
Tuesday’s NHL DFS Picks & Advice
The lineup below is based on DraftKings, but FanDuel prices are also listed.
C1: Connor Bedard (C – CHI) | DraftKings: $7,000/FanDuel: $6,700
Chicago’s Connor Bedard is catching fire, as he’s logged 11 points (4G, 7A) in his last 10 games. That includes scoring the game-winning goal against the Islanders in a 5-3 victory on Sunday. Bedsy is up to 26 points on the year, which have come via seven goals and 19 helpers. He leads the team in both scoring and SOG (77). The Hawks take on a Caps squad that owns the seventh-best defense (2.57 GAA), but I think it’s worth a flier on Bedard, considering his upward-trending form.
C2: Anthony Cirelli (C – TB) | DraftKings: $5,400/FanDuel: $7,000
The Lightning hosts the Blue Jackets tonight, and this game should be an absolute demolition in favour of the Bolts. Anthony Cirelli, who has 27 points (12G, 15A) this year, should turn in another monster night tonight. Cirelli and the Lightning will be looking to score on a Jackets side that’s 30th in GAA (3.42), 31st in SV% (.874), and 26th in high-danger shots against (115). The second-line center should be good for at least 1-2 points tonight at home.
W1: Kevin Fiala (LW – LA) | DraftKings: $5,500/FanDuel: $5,900
Los Angeles’ Kevin Fiala has been serviceable this season, ranking fourth on the team in scoring with 18 points (10G, 8A). His 10 goals are the third-most on the team, and his 76 SOG are the second-most on this Kings side that’s in the midst of a 7-1-0 run. Fiala will be looking to light the lamp against a Penguins defense that’s dead last in GAA (3.53), 25th in SV% (.887), and 27th in high-danger shots against (118).
W2: JJ Peterka (RW – BUF) | DraftKings: $4,900/FanDuel: $5,400
I have three players from tonight’s Sabres vs. Canadiens contest in Quebec. First, it’s winger JJ Peterka, who enters this game ranked fourth on Buffalo’s roster in scoring with 20 points (8G, 12A) in 29 games. Peterka has been active when it comes to shooting the puck, as he’s fifth on the team in SOG (59). He’ll be looking to score on a Habs side that’s 31st in GAA (.875) and 30th in SV% (.875). Considering the matchup, Peterka makes a solid value option.
W3: Aliaksei Protas (C – WSH) | DraftKings: $3,900/FanDuel: $6,100
The Capitals continue to win hockey games, and one of the key reasons has been the emergence of Aliaksei Protas. The second-line winger dominates 5-on-5 play, as all 26 of his points (11G, 15A) have come during even-strength play. Protas has five points (3G, 2A) in his last five games, and the Caps get a decent matchup against an inferior Blackhawks side tonight. The Hawks are without their top netminder, Petr Mrazek, and they’re allowing 3.8 goals per game over their current 2-7-0 stretch.
D1: Josh Morrissey (D – WPG) | DraftKings: $6,300/FanDuel: $6,800
Winnipeg’s Josh Morrissey continues to light up the scoreboard this year, as he’s up to 30 points (3G, 27A) on the campaign. His 30 points are fourth in the NHL among fellow d-men. You can never go wrong with fading the Sharks, who are 28th in GAA (3.24) this year. This Winnipeg offense, which is third in the NHL (3.7 GPG), should rack up the goals tonight. Look for Morrissey to have his hand in a few of the tallies.
D2: Mike Matheson (D – MTL) | DraftKings: $5,600/FanDuel: $5,600
Montreal defenseman Mike Matheson is primed for a big night tonight. The d-man is up to 16 points (2G, 14A) this year, and his 50 SOG are the third-most on the roster. Matheson also contributes heavily on the defensive side, where he has blocked the 22nd-most shots (62) in the NHL. Circling back to the offense, this is a great matchup against a Buffalo defense that’s in absolute shambles. They’ve lost 10 straight games (0-7-3), and are allowing 3.9 goals per game over the 10-game stretch.
G: Darcy Kuemper (G – LA) | DraftKings: $7,600/FanDuel: $7,800
The Kings have been absolutely rolling, going 7-1-0 in their last eight games. Over the eight-game sample size, they concede an average of only 1.5 goals per game. I’ll ride the hot hand at a decent price and play Darcy Kuemper in net tonight. The 34-year-old has looked sharp, going 7-2-3 with a 2.27 GAA (5th) and .916 SV% (6th). He’s tasked with slowing down a top-heavy Pittsburgh offense that’s just 20th in scoring (3.0 GPG) this season.
UTIL: Juraj Slafkovsky (LW – MTL) | DraftKings: $3,800/FanDuel: $5,000
I’ll round out my lineup with Montreal’s Juraj Slafkovsky. The former first-overall pick (2022) is still finding his footing in the NHL, but he has made some contributions this season. The winger has 15 points, which have come via two goals and 13 assists. All of the aforementioned anti-Buffalo statistics apply here, and I think Slafkovsky makes a decent value option to close our lineup. We should see plenty of goals in this one, and I think the Habs winger will make his way onto the score sheet.