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The top daily fantasy hockey lineup picks for DraftKings and FanDuel on March 4, 2025. Brandon's NHL DFS goalies, value plays, stacks, and power play picks.
Welcome, RotoBallers! My name is Brandon, and I'll be writing both The First-Serve and The Kick-Off for tennis and soccer. 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 bring my NHL lineup picks, analysis, and advice for NHL DFS contests on DraftKings and FanDuel for Tuesday, March 4, 2025, at 7:00 p.m. EST. Be sure also to check out RotoBaller's 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 X @df_solutions, or in our premium Slack chat. Best of luck!
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NHL DFS Analysis and Picks for 3/4/25
Tonight, we have a 10-game slate and four teams playing on a back-to-back: Tampa Bay, Buffalo, New York, and San Jose. Tonight’s slate offers value across the board, offering creativity when building lineups.
The currently live top-3 highest implied team totals are Edmonton with 4.3, Colorado with 4.2, and Buffalo with 4.1. I will do my best to guide you through this 10-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
Connor Hellebuyck - DK $7.9K || FD $7.7K
Opponent - at New York Islanders
Connor Hellebuyck is in terrific form, posting a 4-0-1 record with a 1.95 Goals Against Average and a 0.928 Save Percentage over his most recent five starts. The New York Islanders are coming off a 4-0 loss at the Big Apple last night, and bench boss Patrick Roy was not thrilled with their efforts. The hosts have a big question mark surrounding their future, with the NHL Trade Deadline in three days. This is a vital game for them, signifying whether they will be sellers or buyers. As long as Hellebuyck can lock in early, he is projected to reach value.
Others To Consider (Cash/GPP):
- Samuel Ersson (DK $7.8K || FD $7.6K) vs. Calgary Flames
- Cam Talbot (DK $7.3K || FD $7.3K) vs. Carolina Hurricanes
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DraftKings and FanDuel Centers - NHL DFS Picks
Connor McDavid - DK $8.5K || FD $8.9K
Opponent - vs. Anaheim Ducks
Connor McDavid and the Edmonton Oilers have arguably the best matchup on the slate tonight. In Anaheim’s last 10 away games, in Per 60 metrics against, they are a bottom-3 club in Shots, Scoring Chances, and High-Danger Chances. In McDavid’s previous five games, he had four assists, 10 shots, and four blocked shots.
Projected starting netminder Lukas Dostal will not be easy to break down. However, the defense in front of him is very giving. The star center is expected to go against Anaheim’s worst defensive lines and pairings, setting up McDavid for a big night.
Jiri Kulich - DK $4.8K || FD $5.3K
Opponent - vs. San Jose Sharks
Jiri Kulich continues to hold his own as the top center for the Buffalo Sabres despite his drop in production. Within his last five games, he has one goal, one assist, eight shots, and five blocked shots. Luckily, he has a prime matchup tonight in Buffalo against the San Jose Sharks.
The Sharks remain a bottom-ten team in both Goals Against Per 60 and Shots Against Per 60 over their last 10 away games. They will also be traveling on a back-to-back, on the road, after pulling off a big comeback win in the shootout, winning 3-2 in Toronto. Can they keep their groove coming into Buffalo, or will the additional cold wear them down?
Others To Consider (CASH/GPP):
- Nathan MacKinnon (DK $9K || FD $9.1K) vs. Pittsburgh Penguins
- Vladislav Namestnikov (DK $4K || FD $5.6K) at New York Islanders
DraftKings and FanDuel Wings - NHL DFS Picks
Kyle Connor - DK $7.6K || FD $8.6K
Opponent - at New York Islanders
After last night, the New York Islanders seem to be back to themselves. They are barely producing any offense, and their defense and goaltending are invisible. Over their last 10 home games, in Per 60 metrics against, the Islanders are a bottom-10 club in Scoring Chances and Goals, and they are a bottom-5 club in High-Danger Chances.
Meanwhile, Kyle Connor and the top line for the Winnipeg Jets remain their only lifeline. The winger has produced one goal, four assists, 25 shots, and one blocked shot in his last five outings. His shot volume has been inconsistent over that timeframe. Although, against a traveling Islanders team on a back-to-back, he and the Jets could very well take advantage. Remember, the hosts are expected to run out Jakub Skarek for the second-half of the back-to-back. He has a -1.891 Goals Saved Above Expected Per 60 in two appearances this season.
Ryan Nugent-Hopkins - DK $5K || FD $5.9K
Opponent - vs. Anaheim Ducks
Ryan Nugent-Hopkins is getting another run next to star center Connor McDavid. In his first two games back on the top line, RNH produced five shots. Unsurprisingly, he did not muster a single point. The former first overall selection is on pace for his worst season in the McDavid era in Edmonton. Fortunately, he has a prime matchup against the Anaheim Ducks tonight.
As mentioned above, the visitors continue to play poor defense. Without their goaltending, their record would be much different. RNH and the top line for the Oilers are projected to see Anaheim’s worst defensive lines, too. Can the winger/center hybrid break his cold spell in a good matchup?
Others To Consider (CASH/GPP):
- Gustav Nyquist (DK $4.5K || FD $4.2K) at Seattle Kraken
- Yegor Chinakhov (DK $4.4K || FD $5.4K) at Tampa Bay Lightning
DraftKings and FanDuel Defensemen - NHL DFS Picks
Mason Lohrei - DK $4.6K || FD $4.8K
Opponent - vs. Nashville Predators
If there was ever a blessing in disguise, it goes by the name of Mason Lohrei. The young blueliner has stepped up admirably with star defenseman Charlie McAvoy on the IR. In Lohrei’s most recent five appearances, he has one goal, four assists, 20 shots, and six blocked shots.
In shocking fashion, after large amounts of effort went into building up Nashville’s squad in the offseason, the Predators now sit as the worst club in their last ten away games in Shots Against Per 60 and Goals Against Per 60, they are the second-worst in Scoring Chances Against Per 60 and they are a bottom-10 team in High-Danger Chances Against Per 60. As the top power-play unit quarterback in a prime matchup, expect Lohrei to reach value.
Luke Hughes - DK $4.1K || FD $4.5K
Opponent - at Dallas Stars
Luke Hughes could be in line for a big bump in production after his brother, Jack Hughes, suffered a potential season-ending injury in the 2-0 loss in Vegas on Sunday. Not only has the former been given a promotion from the bottom pairing to the top, but he may now be relied on even more when on the ice. In his last five games, he has four assists, 11 shots, and nine blocked shots. This current stretch of games is arguably the defenseman’s best run of games.
The Dallas Stars will not be an easy matchup, especially in Dallas. This may force Luke Hughes to produce peripherals on both sides of the ice. Barely sitting above $4K on DraftKings, he is expected to reach value.
Others To Consider (CASH/GPP):
- Rasmus Ristolainen (DK $3.7K || FD $4.5K) vs. Calgary Flames
- Ryan Shea (DK $2.7K || FD $4.3K) at Colorado Avalanche
NHL DFS Top Power Plays and Stacks
- EDM1
- BUF1
- WPG1
- TBL1
- COL1
NHL DFS Stacks of the Day
Brandon's Stack
- CBJ: Chinakhov-Jenner-Johnson
Chalk Stack
- EDM: Nugent-Hopkins-McDavid-Hyman
Sneaky Stack
- PIT: Beauvillier-Malkin-Tomasino
NHL DFS News and Injury Alerts
More DFS Lineup Picks and Analysis
