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The top daily fantasy hockey lineup picks for DraftKings and FanDuel on February 15, 2024. Brandon's NHL DFS goalies, value plays, stacks, and power play picks.
Welcome, RotoBallers! If you do not know me, my name is Brandon and I write both The First-Serve and The Kick-Off for tennis and soccer, respectively. If you have not checked those out, make sure you do! It is the return of the NHL season, which means it's time to sharpen our skills and partake in NHL DFS! As always, I'll give you the best tools to succeed and the info you need to build the best lineups possible for your GPP and cash game NHL contests on both DraftKings and FanDuel.
Today, I'll be bringing you my NHL lineup picks, analysis, and advice for NHL DFS contests on DraftKings and FanDuel for Thursday, February 15, 2024, at 7:00 p.m. EST. Be sure to also check out our awesome NHL tools, including our Lineup Optimizer, Research Station, Projections, and DFS Cheat Sheets!
If you have any questions on today's slate, bankroll management, GPP strategy, cash game strategy, or anything else, don’t hesitate to email me at [email protected], via Twitter/X @df_solutions, or in our premium Slack chat. Good luck, RotoBallers!
NHL DFS Analysis and Picks for 2/15/24
The 2023-2024 season is halfway complete and the NHL trade deadline is right around the corner. We are now entering the final stretch with many teams having an idea of where they stand for the rest of the season, making teams buyers or sellers as they enter the most crucial part of the season. The race to the Stanley Cup is heating up!
Tonight, we have a 12-game slate and three teams playing on a back-to-back: Florida, Pittsburgh, and San Jose. The currently live top-three highest implied team totals are: Calgary with 4.1, Ottawa with 3.9, and New York with 3.8. I will do my best to guide you through this 12-game slate on DraftKings and FanDuel starting at 7:00 p.m. EST.
DISCLOSURE: Make sure to monitor the NHL news feeds for the latest player status and injury news.
DraftKings and FanDuel Goalies - NHL DFS Picks
Jake Oettinger - DK $7.9K || FD $8.3K
Opponent - Nashville Predators
After a stellar performance by Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen of the Buffalo Sabres on Tuesday, tonight’s slate is much harder to predict with goalies. Although, Jake Oettinger of the Dallas Stars seems to check off most of the boxes. Nashville is the fourth-best value team in Shots Per Goal Per 60 on the slate and it comes as no surprise. Excluding splits in their last 10 games, they are just outside the top 10 in Shots For Per 60 and they are the seventh-worst in Goals For Per 60.
Furthermore, in their last 10 home games, they are being outscored 13 to 21. Finally, Oettinger is in the top 25 goalies in Goals Saved Above Expected Per 60 in the last 10 games when playing 120 minutes or more with a 0.48. Despite his ‘higher’ salary on DraftKings and FanDuel, Oettinger is one of the top value goalies on the slate tonight.
Others To Consider (Cash/GPP):
- Swayman (DK $8.1K || FD $8.7K)
- Blackwood (DK $6.9K || FD $6.6K)
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DraftKings and FanDuel Centers - NHL DFS Picks
Vincent Trocheck - DK $6.5K || FD $7.3K
Opponent - Montreal Canadiens
It is ‘Let’s Attack Montreal Night’. Despite Montreal’s poor performances this season defensively, Anaheim was never able to crack the scoreboard open on Tuesday, being shutout 5-0 in Montreal. However, many expected that due to Anaheim’s poor offensive numbers and the sheer fact that they were playing away. A much different outcome is expected tonight at MSG. Despite the Rangers playing a clip or two below at home in their last 10, they are still expected to do serious damage to the Canadiens.
The Canadiens have an Expected Goals Against (xGA) of 24.47 when playing away in their last 10 games, three goals higher than their xGA at home. In Per 60 stats, they are also the second-worst in Scoring Chances Against and the worst in Shots Against, High Danger Chances Against, and Goals Against all in their last 10 games.
The Rangers are on a big run of form at home right now, defeating, Colorado, Tampa Bay, and Calgary in their last three home games by a total score of 7-2. Despite the club’s success, Trocheck has not been a big part of it, with two assists, 12 shots, and five blocked shots in his last five games. Although, it only takes one big performance to get out of a funk.
Erik Haula - DK $3.7K || FD $5.2K
Opponent - Los Angeles Kings
At this point, Haula will remain in the article until further notice due to every platform’s lack of effort to increase his salary and NOBODY is complaining. The Valley of the Kings is no longer. The great flood has come and washed away all production and willingness to play the game and it shows.
Excluding splits in their last 10 games, they are in the bottom 10 in Scoring Chances Against Per 60 and they are the fourth-worst in Goals Against Per 60. The bulk of their issue is the goalie and the entire league understands this. Out of 52 possible goalies who have played 120 minutes or more for their respective club in the last 10 games, expected starter Cam Talbot is the fourth-worst goalie in Goals Saved Above Expected Per 60.
Meanwhile, Haula continues to play lights out next to star Jack Hughes, amassing one goal, three assists, 11 shots, and three blocked shots in his last five games with the bulk of that production coming after Hughes joined Haula’s line. For under $4K on DraftKings and just above $5K on FanDuel, Haula is one of the top value plays of the night at any position.
Others To Consider (CASH/GPP):
- Crosby (DK $7.9K || FD $8.8K)
- Norris (DK $4.7K || FD $6.2K)
DraftKings and FanDuel Wings - NHL DFS Picks
Artturi Lehkonen - DK $4.9K || FD $5K
Opponent - Tampa Bay Lightning
Two goals, two assists, and five shots later and Artturi Lehkonen’s salary has risen by $200 on DraftKings. That is astonishing in more ways than one. It didn’t take long for Lehkonen to find his way back to the top line for Colorado after he struggled to produce on the second line with teammates Ross Colton and Miles Wood.
It also didn’t take long for Lehkonen to explode once returning to the top line. Luckily for him and his fantasy owners, he has another prime matchup tonight in Tampa Bay. The hosts are doing much better in mitigating chances against; however, they remain in the bottom half of the league in Goals Against Per 60. Can Lehkonen repeat his performance from Tuesday?
Alexis Lafreniere - DK $4.5K || FD $5.5K
Opponent - Montreal Canadiens
Heading back to the Big Apple and we have a former first overall and winger, Alexis Lafreniere. Laffy seems to be finally finding his confidence and stride with three goals, one assist, and 17 shots in his last five games after only registering four points in his 11 games prior.
As mentioned, the Canadiens are far from good and they have the league’s second-worst defense. The trio of Artemi Panarin-Vincent Trocheck-Alexis Lafreniere will see Montreal’s second line for the majority of the night, setting them up for instant success. With a moderate salary on both DraftKings and FanDuel, Lafreniere has the opportunity to be one of the top plays of the night.
Others To Consider (CASH/GPP):
- Guentzel (DK $7.4K || FD $8.9K)
- Lindholm (DK $5.3K || FD $6.6K)
DraftKings and FanDuel Defensemen - NHL DFS Picks
Noah Hanifin - DK $5.4K || FD $5.7K
Opponent - San Jose Sharks
Continue to watch the news as the trade deadline looms; however, until the news breaks that Hanifin has been traded, he remains a top option night in and night out. Throughout his last five appearances, he has one goal, three assists, 10 shots, and six blocked shots.
His peripherals are lacking a bit based on expectations, otherwise he is playing tremendous hockey for a Flames team that lacks consistency on the blueline. However, that is not the main reason he is being highlighted tonight. The main reason is that he and the rest of the Flames are hosting the San Jose Sharks!
For those that have not paid attention, the Sharks prior to last night did not play a game for 15 days! Unsurprisingly, they held Winnipeg to a 1-0 win last night but now must travel to Calgary for the second part of their back-to-back.
This opens up Calgary for a potential goal fest. In Per 60 stats, the Sharks are in the bottom three in Shots Against, High Danger Chances Against, and Scoring Chances Against. This will either be a 6-0 Flames win or another game where San Jose’s goalies show up and bail them out with a 45-save performance.
Timothy Liljegren - DK $3.5K || FD $4.2K
Opponent - Philadelphia Flyers
After a dreadful performance from teammate Jake McCabe, it would be a shock to many if he continues to take on teammate Morgan Reilly’s power play duties while he is suspended. In 21 minutes of Time On Ice (TOI) in the 4-1 win at home against St. Louis, McCabe had zero fantasy points. ZERO POINTS!!
That is unheard of, especially considering both Mitch Marner and John Tavares were out. However, Timothy Liljegren had one shot and three blocked shots, generating some sort of value. It would not be surprising if he or teammate Mark Giordano gets a crack at the top power play unit moving forward, making either one of them a top value defenseman. The Flyers are not easy competition, but if Liljegren can continue racking up peripherals and perhaps getting a bigger special teams role, he could easily surpass value.
Others To Consider (CASH/GPP):
- Fox (DK $5.8K || FD $6.5K)
- Pettersson (DK $3.7K || FD $4.4K)
NHL DFS Top Power Plays and Stacks
- PIT1
- NJ1
- NYR1
- OTT1
- COL1
- CGY1
NHL DFS Stacks of the Day
Brandon's Stack
- NJ: Hughes-Haula-Toffoli
Chalk Stack
- COL: Lehkonen-MacKinnon-Rantanen
Sneaky Stack
- CGY: Schwindt-Backlund-Coleman
NHL DFS News and Injury Alerts
More DFS Lineup Picks and Analysis
