Welcome to the DFS Army NHL Game Break!! You have to start your research somewhere, and often times going game by game thinking about matchups and key players is the first step in our process. I’m your buddy @Choppodong and you can find me on both Twitter and YouTube with supplemental commentary and teaching. But, you’ll really find me in our VIP coaching forums inside coaching and detailing plays and strategic hockey maneuvers across all our main sports. If you are looking for it, we cover it! Follow me, watch me, interact with me, I welcome it all.
NHL DFS Matchup Rankings L10 Games
Last 10 games sample size. Home teams in white, away in gray. GF = Goals For, GA = Goals Against. MU Score is a combined metric showing how one matchup tonight compares to the others on paper. Green is good, red is bad. We are looking for the best matchups of teams scoring goals facing teams allowing goals. Not exactly rocket science, so don’t overthink it. PPMU is another telling metric, but I save that one for VIPs. Just ask me in our coaching forums…
My plan is to describe the games some and drop quality players in these lists. You will get my player pool (VIPs might get bonus plays in our coaching forums later). My cash players are those I would happily use in head-to-head formats, 5050 contests, small leagues, and even some larger leagues. They will anchor my lineups in all formats and contain a lot of value plays and/or punts. The core gets you to the dance. The slightly funky plays off your core push you into the gpp money. Your core is everything! Even gpp-only players need a core of solid production to build from.
Tampa Bay Lightning @ Toronto Maple Leafs
Odds: TOR -115, 6.5 leaning over
Tampa Bay charges into Canada with the deadliest offense in the league. TOR isn’t known for defense, but has been better of late allowing only 2.2 goals per game over their last 10. Mediocre MU Scores in the 50s vs Vegas implying this is one of the better shootouts tonight. If I play TBL, and pay these prices, I’ll be centered on that PP1 again with mixes of Kucherov, Stamkos, Palat, Point, and Hedman. Anyone else is just a one-off filler for me. Goalie – Big price for a potential shootout and a nearly 5050 game at -115 odds….I can look elsewhere.
5 star plays – Kucherov (W)
4 star plays – Stamkos (C), Point (C), Hedman (D)
Cash gamers – Kucherov, Cirelli (C)
GPP Sleeper – nothing sleepy here
Toronto has similar issues in that they score but face a Tampa team that is quite stingy currently. MU Score makes this a tough game to be confident in with Vegas predicting a good bit of scoring. Toronto has the 2nd best power play going right now, but the 4th worst penalty kill. We should likely focus on special teams in this one for Tampa, but I’ll be looking to even line scoring for Toronto and value like Kapanen, Johnsson, Hyman types. Goalie – Again, not much confidence in high priced goalies in shootouts with low odds to win.
5 star plays – none
4 star plays – Marner (W), Matthews (C), Tavares (C), Reilly (D)
Cash gamers – normally, yes, but not in this matchup
GPP Sleeper – still nothing sleepy
Columbus Blue Jackets @ New York Islanders
Odds: NYI -115, 6 leaning under
Columbus forgot how to score these last few games. Only sporting a 2.2 average in ten games, they do draw a NYI team that isn’t as elite as they were a month ago, defensively….giving 3.0 goals against when they were in the 1.7 range. That’s quite the slump, and something we might try to take advantage of if facing a little more potent offense. Any Columbus skaters tonight would be gpp-only. Goalie – We have a chance at a lower scoring affair here, but I’m not as inclined to take the goalie on the road that is still technically the underdog here.
5 star plays – none
4 star plays – Atkinson (W)
Cash gamers – none
GPP Sleeper – nothing I’m rostering
New York isn’t scoring either, making this appear to be a rather boring game for DFS. Columbus is playing solid defense, at least, and that further rains on my DFS parade. I’ll likely pass on this game entirely outside of the goalies. Goalie – Not a super strong option, but gpp possibilities exist.
5 star plays – none
4 star plays – none
Cash gamers – none
GPP Sleeper – NYI1 qualifies as sneaky and has some upside….Pulock can also mix in
Ottawa Senators @ Philadelphia Flyers
Odds: PHI -260, 6.5 leaning strong on over
Ottawa is another team that seems allergic to offense right now (1.7 goals avg in L10), but the Flyers aren’t exactly elite defensively. I think this one leans more to the Philly side for DFS, but there might be a one-off or two on the Senators tonight. Goalie – very little chance
5 star plays – none
4 star plays – Tkachuk (W)
Cash gamers – Tkachuk
GPP Sleeper – none
Philadelphia carries huge Vegas odds at -260 here and the game is trending very hard on the over. Vegas seems to think this will be all Flyers tonight and I tend to agree. Both scoring lines are in play here from Coutrier to Van Reimsdyk/Giroux. There is a litany of defensemen from this game that should support some scoring, as well. However, your best spread in coverage might be that PP1. You gain some correlation with these combinations on the man-advantage, but you are broken across multiple scoring lines at even strength. This technique is a great “cash play” and we talk about it frequently with our VIPs in the DFSA. Goalie – Carter Hart has fallen from grace a bit, but this -260 from Vegas is very strong on a night most goalies aren’t.
5 star plays – Coutrier (C), Giroux (W)
4 star plays – Sanheim (D), Lindblom (W), Gostisbehere (D), Van Reimsdyk (W), Provorov (D), Konecny (W)
Cash gamers – Coutrier, Giroux, Sanheim, Provorov, Konecny
GPP Sleeper – lower owned in probably any combination believe it or not…..stack em and rack em!
What a weekend for NBA!! Our coaches have done a lot of explaining, and our members have done a lot of winning. The edge clearly resides in coaching. Content and tools are nice, but how can you exploit your opponents when you don’t have the experts teaching you how to apply the content and tools? That’s where DFS Army steps in. Become a VIP and see what all the fuss is about…..#RaiseYourEdge!!
San Jose Sharks @ Minnesota Wild
Odds: SJS -130, 6 o/u
San Jose has a potent offense right now, and I wouldn’t want to be in their way. Good news…..I’m not a Wild fan. But, the Wild are only giving up 2.4 goals per game L10 themselves. Neither side scores well on our MU Score chart (both in the 50s), so we might want to focus attention on other games for the most part tonight. One offs always make sense, but complete line stacks aren’t likely to pan out from this game. Goalie – I don’t mind taking a goalie here. Lower scoring with two teams not giving up much. Fairly safe spot to avoid getting a goalie blown up and wrecking your slate.
5 star plays – Meier (W), Hertl (W)
4 star plays – Pavelski (W), Couture (C), Burns (D), Labanc (W)
Cash gamers – Meier, Hertl
GPP Sleeper – boring game…any stack should be sneaky, but low upside and high risk.
Minnesota has a few one 0ffs, as well. I’m not interested in stacking their scoring or power play lines. Ryan Donato has been a favorite of mine lately, and Joel Eriksson Ek has been a solid punt that can’t really hurt you due to pricing, but can provide random scoring punch. It’s always nice to know where the real cheapies on the slate live so you can confidently build premium stacks under the Fandeul or Draftkings caps. Goalie – Sure, but I lean more gpp here being the underdogs.
5 star plays – none
4 star plays – Donato (W), Parise (W), Zucker (W)
Cash gamers – Donato
GPP Sleeper – none
Arizona Coyotes @ Chicago Blackhawks
Odds: CHI -125, 6.5 leaning over
Who’dathunkit, but Arizona comes into tonight with the 2nd highest MU Score on the night at 71. CHI can’t keep pucks out of their own net right now and rely on their own elite scoring to stay in games. Arizona also gets to take some advantage of a weaker penalty kill. We have a lot of sensible options right now, and pricing might mean we don’t even need to look at games like Ottawa or Minnesota for punt plays. I can’t see any recency pointing to hot skaters, so this one carries risk, but there isn’t hardly a better spot for scoring for any team on the night. Goalie – I like the spot for catching everyone off guard, but I don’t at all like the fact CHI can hang 5 on you in the blink of an eye.
5 star plays – none
4 star plays – Chychrun (D)
Cash gamers – none
GPP Sleeper – just about any of them…..no idea where the scoring is coming from based on recent play.
Chicago will need to score to keep a win within reach, and they have all the firepower in the world to do so. Led by my favorite night-in, night-out stack….the CHI PP1 (Kane/Toews/Strome/DeBrincat/Gustafsson), it seems to produce again and again. However, ARI has tightened up the defense enough I might look for pricing here and limit myself to the cheaper options. CHI is no “value” anymore. I may have to include a Kahun or Animisov type to round things out. Goalie – Probably not with a 4.3 goals against average….that just feels suicidal, even in tourneys.
5 star plays – Kane (W), DeBrincat (W), Toews (C), Gustafsson (D)
4 star plays – Keith (D), Strome (C), Animisov (C)
Cash gamers – Kane, Toews
GPP Sleeper – not sleepy at all….people know about them.
Carolina Hurricanes @ Colorado Avalanche
Odds: COL -110, 6 leaning over
Carolina has really been strong lately, for both DFS and real life. I’m not sure how Colorado is favored here. This game feels a little defensive, so I’m not as inclined to just stack it up, either. I’ll take a few shots and have exposure to the bigger guns like Aho, Williams, Teravainen, but I’m not going crazy. Goalie – I like a couple goalies better, like PHI or EDM, but I can see taking a shot or two here.
5 star plays – Aho (C), Pesce (D)
4 star plays – Williams (W), Teravainen (W), Neidereitter (W), Faulk (D)
Cash gamers – Aho, Pesce
GPP Sleeper – possibly contrarian being we have a lot of bigger offenses on the slate.
Colorado is matching up very mediocre vs CAR, too. Middling offenses and solid defenses aren’t great matchups for fantasy production. They sometimes have the ability to erupt in tourneys, but you don’t want to focus tons of energy here in cash type contests. If you like the tourney idea, you should get either side at lower ownership. And, one hard way to make an easy living (when they are right) is the COL1 of MacKinnon, Rantanen….provided they play, and are on the same line. That stack can win a gpp for you on any given night. It hasn’t been nearly as strong as it was early in the year, but the potential never fades. Goalie – I’ll just leave this one with a resounding “perhaps…”
5 star plays – none
4 star plays – MacKinnon (C), Rantanen (W), Barrie (D), Soderberg (C), Compher (W)
Cash gamers – Compher
GPP Sleeper – nothing super sleepy tonight…
New York Rangers @ Edmonton Oilers
Odds: EDM -155, 5.5 leaning over
I would love to get excited about this #HammerGame, but it’s the Rangers and Oilers. Blah city. 5.5 leaning over? Whoopie……I’m supposed to get jazzed by the over in a 5.5 game? I think not. I won’t be focused on any Rangers here tonight. Goalie – not him either.
5 star plays – none
4 star plays – none
Cash gamers – none
GPP Sleeper – none
I might, however, have some Edmonton. I’m not concentrating much in this game with that puny game total, but I will have a few pieces scattered through my lineups. Draisaitl and McDavid are the obvious names here. The Rangers aren’t exactly giving up goals, and that keeps both MU Scores in the crapper here. Not a great target tonight, but not completely off our radar, either. Goalie – Now, I will look to the goalie here with the -155 moneyline currently. NYR isn’t intimidating, we are at home, and Vegas likes our chances………pretty much good enough for me. We don’t need to overthink this stuff.
5 star plays – Draisaitl (W), McDavid (C)
4 star plays – Russell (D), Klefbom (D), Nugent-Hopkins (C)
Cash gamers – Draisaitl, McDavid, Russell
GPP Sleeper – Deep sleeper if you must.
Here is a one game view of our NHL Research Station matchup page. My daily videos typically walk you through this page and point out how I quickly decipher the best plays on the slate. When you unlock access to this page, you get team stats with large and small sample sizes to pick up trends, all the basis statistics, pricing, scoring lines, power play lines, scoring production including shots and blocks, and you get it all in one easy to read view. But, you only get it as a VIP. 99% of the stats I reference are directly from this single page. Your research has never been easier!!
Hockey is incredibly similar to baseball. Are you getting spring fever? Fire up a quick refresher with The Top 5 Stats You’ll Only Find At DFS Army!
Favorite NHL DFS Stacks for Tonight…
What is NHL without stacking?!
PHI combos – PHI1, PHI2, PP1, etc….just mix and match at will and include defensemen.
CAR1
COL1
SJS PP1
SJS hybrid – Meier with defensemen
GPP Sleeper stack = ARI PP1 – I have no idea who is actually going to score, but this is a great spot to simply shut our eyes and go for it! Chyrchrun/OEL are great options for #DoubleDs, and we can mix in a forward with them. But, you can certainly take two forwards and a defenseman, too.
Hopefully, those pointers get you started in your research. I will be bouncing in and out of our NHL coaching room all day, with the rest of our coaches, to guide anyone with questions. I plan to drop a slate video showing our research process most days, and with a little time, our VIPs request shorter, strategy videos to help them shore up fundamentals, too. All free videos can be found on my YouTube channel, but all VIP videos need the key to unlock the vault.
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I hope to see you inside soon. Have a blessed day.