After a measly four-game schedule last night, the NHL returns with a loaded 10-game slate for us to bet on tonight. I’m heading the DFS route in this article, and below you’ll find the lineup that I’m playing over at DraftKings. This roster is playable in DraftKings’ classic $50,000 salary format, but I’ve also listed each player’s price at FanDuel’s $55,000 salary equivalent. Here’s who I believe is set to have a big night on the ice.
Thursday’s NHL DFS Picks & Advice
The lineup below is based on DraftKings, but FanDuel prices are also listed.
C1: John Tavares (C – TOR) ($6,900 DK, $7,700 FD)
This is an excellent matchup for the Maple Leafs tonight, as they square off against a Sharks squad that has been abysmal defensively. San Jose is dead last in GAA (3.43) and high-danger shots against (295), while sitting 29th in SV% (.885) and 26th in penalty killing (74.77%). John Tavares (32G, 33A) occupies a spot on Toronto’s top power-play unit, and this group is cashing at a rate of 26.04% this season (fifth). I think it’s worth splurging on Tavares in this spot.
C2: Roope Hintz (C – DAL) ($6,100 DK, $7,000 FD)
Roope Hintz has been lighting it up recently, amassing 24 points (3G, 21A) across his last 13 games. He racked up three assists in last night’s 4-3 win over the Oilers. The Stars are looking to complete the “Alberta sweep” tonight, and they take on a Flames team that’s 16th in GAA (2.76) this year. They’re also just 27th on the PK (74.38%), so look for this Hintz-led power-play unit to do some damage. Hintz should keep his scoring run alive in this one.
W1: Drake Batherson (RW – OTT) ($5,100 DK, $6,300 FD)
The Red Wings haven’t looked sharp recently, going just 3-10-0 in their last 13 outings. During the 13-game sample size, they’re allowing 3.5 goals per contest. One of the biggest issues this season has been their penalty-killing unit, which is 32nd in the NHL at 68.48%. To put that in perspective, the 1979-80 Kings are the worst of all time at 68.2%. We’re on the verge of history with how bad this group is. I’ll take Drake Batherson (20G, 37A), who has seen 26 (10G, 16A) of his 57 points come on the power play.
W2: Aliaksei Protas (C – WAS) ($4,600 DK, $5,300 FD)
I have three Capitals skaters in my lineup, but I think it could be worth it since they’ve been the third-best scoring team over the last 10 games (3.86 G/60 minutes). Aliaksei Protas continues to light up the league, yet still fly under the radar this season. He has scored 64 points (29G, 35A) in 71 games played. Over the last 10 games, the top-line winger has 13 points (6G, 7A), which is the 14th-most points in the NHL during the sample size. I like this matchup for the Caps tonight against the sliding Wild.
W3: Jordan Eberle (RW – SEA) ($4,000 DK, $5,600 FD)
This feels like a bargain to snag Seattle’s Jordan Eberle at just $4,000. He’s played in only 32 games this season, but he’s racked up 22 points on nine goals and 13 helpers. Eberle draws a matchup against an Edmonton club that’s on the second night of a back-to-back. The Oilers have allowed four goals in each of their last three outings, including a 5-4 contest against the Kraken last week. Eberle should turn in a solid outing against a potentially tired Oilers team with its backup goalie.
D1: Jakob Chychrun (D – WAS) ($5,300 DK, $5,700 FD)
Picking it back up with this matchup between the Capitals and the Wild, one major advantage for Washington comes in the special teams department. Their power play will be taking on a Minnesota penalty kill that’s just 31st in the NHL at 71.43%. Fourteen (5G, 9A) of Jakob Chychrun’s 44 points (18G, 26A) have come on the man advantage this season. He’s averaging 2.4 SOG/G this season, and I like his chances to pick up at least one point tonight.
D2: Lane Hutson (D – MTL) ($5,100 DK, $5,500 FD)
I love this matchup for the Habs tonight against the floundering Flyers. Philadelphia is in the midst of an 0-5-1 stretch, where they’re allowing 4.5 goals per game. They’re now dead last in SV% (.871), 29th in GAA (3.21), and 17th on the PK (77.35%). I’ll take the emerging Lane Hutson as my second d-man tonight. He’s seventh in the NHL in scoring amongst defensemen this season with 54 points (5G, 49A). This under-the-radar Canadiens offense should light up the Flyers tonight, and I expect Hutson to get in on the scoring action.
G: Sam Montembeault (G – MTL) ($7,800 DK, $7,400 FD)
Keeping it in the same game, I’m also going to take a flier on Montreal’s netminder, Sam Montembeault. The netminder draws a favorable matchup against a Philly offense that’s 31st in scoring (2.27 G/60 minutes), 27th in high-danger shots (62), and 29th in shooting percentage (8.8%) over the last 10 games. Montembeault has been subpar this season with a 2.93 GAA (38th) and .898 SV% (34th), but I think this is a great get-right spot for the 28-year-old goalie.
UTIL: Pierre-Luc Dubois (LW – WAS) ($5,000 DK, $6,300 FD)
Minnesota’s defense has been a volatile bunch this season. Specifically over the last 20 games, they’re a mediocre 13th in GAA (2.88). They’ve lost two straight games, allowing 4.0 goals per game during the stretch. Meanwhile, Washington’s second line of McMichael-Dubois-Wilson continues to produce at a high level. Pierre-Luc Dubois has been excellent this year, racking up 61 points (18G, 43A) in 71 games. He’s scored 12 points (4G, 8A) in his last 11 outings. I like him at this relatively cheap price to round out our lineup.
