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. NHL 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 NHL 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.
Boston Bruins @ New York Islanders
Odds: BOS -115, 5.5 o/u
The Boston scoring has dipped a smidge over their recent 3-game losing streak. I have matchups I’d rather target today due to the NYI defense allowing under 2.5 goals per game for seemingly months. But, a gpp shot isn’t completely out of the question here. I like to focus on the Krejci line on the road, but the Marchand/Bergeron line does most of the scoring night in and out. Charlie McAvoy is still a reasonably priced defenseman that might yield some access to this offense without breaking the bank. Goalie – Rask is a gpp goalie with is ups and downs.
5 star plays – none
4 star plays – Marchand (W), Bergeron (C), Krejci (C), McAvoy (D)
Cash viable – none
GPP Sleeper – Krejci and PP1
Winners of 5 of their last 7, the Islanders specialize in low-scoring games. While not great for fantasy, you can find the odd value here in better matchups. I will keep the cheaper plays in my player pools, but won’t go overboard stacking this team facing a competent defense like Boston. Goalie – Being favored and the home team, I can see a gpp shot on the goalie, but I won’t have a lot of him.
5 star plays – none
4 star plays – none
Cash viable – none
GPP Sleeper – none
Detroit Red Wings @ New York Rangers
Odds: NYR -140, 5.5 o/u
You can roll the dice with some of the Detroit skaters as one-offs, but I won’t be. No one, including Dylan Larkin at the moment, is rolling particularly well right now, and the team is giving up goals in return. I’ll pass here with many other choices tonight. Goalie – Not as an underdog in this one.
5 star plays – none
4 star plays – none
Cash viable -none
GPP Sleeper -none
Tony Deangelo is about the only Ranger I’ll consider tonight, and it’s solely because he’s so cheap he can produce value easily. The rest are gambles at best even with the Red Wings giving goals lately. It’s just so unpredictable in guessing who will do the scoring for the price…….and DFS isn’t for unpredictability. Goalie – You are banking on the win here, and I think you have a good chance. You might even have gpp winning upside if the NYR goalie shuts out DET.
5 star plays – none
4 star plays – Deangelo (D)
Cash viable – Deangelo
GPP Sleeper – none
Montreal Canadiens @ Philadelphia Flyers
Odds: PHI -115, 6 o/u
Interesting matchup in that PHI can give up goals. Montreal just can’t score them lately. It’s just a goofy situation I can see going either way. I’m opting out due to my more conservative style. Goalie – PHI can score in bunches, so this one is a no from me.
5 star plays – none
4 star plays – Gallagher (W), Weber (D), Petry (D)
Cash viable – Petry
GPP Sleeper – MTL2, but serious potential to tank your lineup
Philadelphia is rolling offensively scoring 31 goals in 8 games this month with a few big outbursts. MTL has been playing solid defense, but I’m willing to roll the dice on know producers like Coutrier, Voracek, and Giroux. Goalie – Probably fairly risky in that PHI is also prone to laying eggs defensively and giving up goals in bunches.
5 star plays – Voracek (W), Van Riemsdyk (W), Giroux (W), Coutrier (C)
4 star plays – Laughton (W)
Cash viable – Coutrier
GPP Sleeper – PHI1 is my favorite, but they always seem underowned across the board
Pittsburgh Penguins @ Carolina Hurricanes
Odds: CAR -140, 6.5 o/u
Not a great matchup for Pittsburgh. Carolina plays a defensive style most times and carries the league’s best penalty kill over the last 10 games. But, Pittsburgh is Pittsburgh and is loaded with talent. However, with only scoring 3 goals per game lately, we’d like to see a softer matchup for cash contests. Keep these guys to gpps tonight. Goalie – Pittsburgh is playing solid defense right now, but I’m keeping him gpp only on the road.
5 star plays – none
4 star plays – Crosby (C), Guentzel (W), Kessel (W)
Cash viable – none
GPP Sleeper – Crosby/Guentzel/Kessel………expensive as hell, but low owned due to overlapping lines….no one will have this one.
Carolina enters what can be a softer matchup defensively, but might find a rude awakening with Pittsburgh playing solid defense lately. I’m saving the big CAR guns for gpps. Goalie – With the firepower of PIT, this one is gpp only.
5 star plays – none
4 star plays – none
Cash viable – none
GPP Sleeper – Aho (C), Williams (W), Teravainen (W)
Washington Capitals @ New Jersey Devils
Odds: WAS -235, 6 o/u
An obvious stud matchup finally appears before our eyes midway through the slate. Washington has been scoring nearly 4 goals per game, and their power play is as strong as anyone’s with Alexander Ovechkin camping on the left dot. Vegas agrees, and this one will be chalky tonight. Goalie – people will flock here with the big -200+ odds in the Caps favor.
5 star plays – Ovechkin (W), Carlson (D), Backstrom (C)
4 star plays – Connolly (W), Eller (C), Wilson (W)
Cash viable – Orlov (D), Carlson, Ovechkin
GPP Sleeper – no one is a sleeper here…..maybe the Eller line.
New Jersey isn’t scoring (1.9 goals per game), and Washington isn’t giving goals lightly (2.7 against per game). That matchup isn’t good for DFS NHL at all. I’m passing completely. Goalie – no way.
5 star plays – none
4 star plays – none
Cash viable – none
GPP Sleeper – none
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Edmonton Oilers @ St. Louis Blues
Odds: STL -210, 5.5 o/u
Edmonton can score goals, and is led by studs Draisaitl and McDavid along with some defensemen containing howitzers for slap shots. However, this isn’t a good road matchup for them. STL is a defensive minded team most times. STL is prone to some implosions, but I’d keep this to a very gpp-only exposure in my player pools and lineup builds. Goalie – not as a big underdog.
5 star plays – none
4 star plays – none
Cash viable – none
GPP Sleeper – McDavid, Draisaitl, Russell, Klefbom
I can’t recommend Blues on such a large slate. They have really struggled to score goals lately with only one game over 3 goals in their last 5 games. That’s just not reliable for DFS purposes. They do, however, have a great matchup for their power play. I’m not a big fan, but I’m not completely opposed to stacking the power play unit in gpps. Goalie – Strong chance at a win here, but not something no one else sees tonight. All format viable like Washington.
5 star plays – none
4 star plays – none
Cash viable – none
GPP Sleeper – STL PP1
Toronto Maple Leafs @ Nashville Predators
Odds: NSH -125, 6.5 o/u
I can see both sides of this game shooting out. Toronto has been scoring and yielding goals in volume lately. While this puts their own offense in a great spot, it also puts the Predators in a great spot, too. I like the Matthews line on the road, but some Tavares exposure with an overlapping Rielly will balance scoring should you go that route. Goalie – not the way TOR plays defense.
5 star plays – Matthews (C), Tavares (C), Marner (W), Rielly (D)
4 star plays – Hyman (W), Johnsson (W)
Cash viable – Nylander (W), Matthews
GPP Sleeper – Matthews/Tavares
Nashville isn’t scoring a ton right now, but they do draw a great matchup versus a team that loves to forget about defense.
5 star plays – Josi (D), Forsberg (C), Smith (W)
4 star plays – Arvidsson (W), Ellis (D)
Cash viable – Smith
GPP Sleeper – PP1, including Smith
Colorado Avalanche @ Minnesota Wild
Odds: MIN -135, 5.5 o/u
The Colorado offense is up and down like a yo-yo lately. They may score 4, and they may get shut out. We just don’t know, and that’s not great DFS material. With MIN only giving 2.8 goals per game lately, I can look for better matchups. Even though this should be a very potent offense, it just isn’t right now. Goalie – Not anything I’m chasing, largely due to weaker special teams play that can lead to an unraveling of your lineup.
5 star plays – none
4 star plays – MacKinnon (C), Barrie (D)
Cash viable – MacKinnon
GPP Sleeper – none
Minnesota doesn’t draw a good matchup here, either. But, a couple skaters are showing signs of playing some white hot hockey right now. I’d consider them as one-offs, and possibly a gpp stack. Goalie – An abnormally “safe” matchup vs COL, and one no one will tackle. Intriguing gpp target.
5 star plays – none
4 star plays – Donato (W), Parise (W), Spurgeon (D)
Cash viable – Donato
GPP Sleeper – MIN PP1 with Spurgeon…Spurgeon is on the PP2, but overlaps even-strength lines providing continuity to the stack.
Florida Panthers @ Dallas Stars
Odds: DAL -160, 5.5 o/u
I love rostering Florida, but I hate targeting Dallas. I think this is one where Dallas wins and I skip the Panthers in this one. Dallas is only giving 1.5 goals against over a 10 game sample, and I’m just not going to get a lot of scoring from a defense like that most nights. I’ve mentioned better targets. Goalie – we don’t need to gamble here, either.
5 star plays – none
4 star plays – none
Cash viable – none
GPP Sleeper – FLA PP1 can light up any matchup….gpp worthy
On larger slates, I don’t get in the habit of targeting any team averaging only 2.4 goals over 10 game samples. I will look for one-offs like Roope Hintz, but, I’m not stacking this one. Goalie – 5 wins in a row for Bishop, 4 shutouts, and only 2 goals each allowed in both recent losses. Pretty good…..and worthy of boarding the train if you can afford it.
5 star plays – none
4 star plays – Hintz (W), Radulov (W), Klingberg (D), Seguin (C)
Cash viable – Radulov
GPP Sleeper – none
Columbus Blue Jackets @ Calgary Flames
Odds: CGY -140, 6.5 o/u
Columbus really struggles on offense right now. Calgary has played fairly well on defense, too. This is not a good combo, and I’ll happily pass. Goalie – not typically against the Flames.
5 star plays – none
4 star plays – none
Cash viable – none
GPP Sleeper – none
Not a cupcake matchup for Calgary, but we do have some hot Flames skaters to watch. Matthew Tkachuk just came off a stellar game, and Johnny Gaudreau also recently popped a big one. Where Tkachuk has had a couple, and was rolling before, Gaudreau seems to be a one trick pony lately. Giordano is another consistent performer, with Backlund, right now. All are viable, but Gaudreau is most definitely a gpp-only play. Goalie – yes, in play. I like others better, but Mike Smith isn’t great with his sub .900 save percentage.
5 star plays – Tkachuk (W)
4 star plays – Giordano (D), Backlund (C)
Cash viable – Giordano
GPP Sleeper – PP1 hammer play at home
Here is a skater-stats view of our NHL Research Station page. My videos typically walk you through the slate and point out how I quickly decipher the best games on the slate. However, as a VIP, you unlock access to this page, and 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. 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?!
PHI1
WAS PP1
TOR2
NSH PP1
GPP Sleeper stack = WAS PP1 – the slate is big enough, we don’t need to fret too hard regarding ownership. I can get my lower owned matchups with my secondary plays. The WAS PP1 absolutely has the chance to win you a gpp tonight should your other plays pan out along with it.
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.