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Chris Wassel's top DraftKings and FanDuel NHL DFS value plays and research for November 6th, including DFS analysis for goalies, power plays, and stacks.
The NHL season approaches the end of week number four! Some hockey trends have established themselves but many are still to come. 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 Saturday, November 6th, 2021 at 7:00 PM. 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 [email protected] or via Twitter @ChrisWasselDFS or in our premium slack chat. Good luck, RotoBallers!
NHL DFS Analysis and Picks for 11/6
We feature a ten-game slate, headlined by Winnipeg, Pittsburgh, Philadelphia, Washington, Toronto, and yes Vegas versus Montreal. The lock is at 7:00 which means obviously the afternoon games get their own separate DFS slate.
There is some news worth mentioning. Watch out for injuries and sadly much illness (not all COVID-related). Finally, goaltending confirmations and further injury news will be scrutinized heavily on social media.
The goal will be to keep things as simple as possible. Our focus will be as much on interactions on social media and in chatrooms. This is because news and numbers have become that fluid now. Everything changes at a breakneck pace.
NHL DFS Goalies
Elvis Merzilkins - DK $6.8K || FD $7.2K
Opponent - Colorado Avalanche
The question is do you love a free square? Absolutely. Merzlikins has one not-so-good performance against the New York Rangers (33 saves on 37 shots) and the DFS world turns on him. Yes, Colorado and Columbus played a wild game earlier in the week but the Columbus goaltender at home has some interesting prospects. Again, take a look at that salary. That makes placing Merzlikins even in a few lineups almost necessary. The Columbus goaltending has won all four home starts while allowing just six goals on 126 shots.
Scott Wedgewood - DK $7.0K || FD $6.5K
Opponent - Seattle Kraken
The new Arizona Coyotes goaltender will try and end the Coyotes season-long winless streak on Saturday night. It is going to be interesting as Arizona looks more like an expansion team compared to the Seattle (actual expansion team) Kraken. Seattle could get close to 30 shots on Saturday in Arizona and the adrenaline of changing teams may serve the former New Jersey Devil well. At the very least, again this is about salary to spend up elsewhere. YES, THIS IS A RISK! With several teams on the back end of a back-to-back, this slate will involve taking some shots at what is not considered the norm.
James Reimer - DK $8.3K || FD $7.8K
Opponent - New Jersey Devils
The risk of playing a goaltender against a short-handed New Jersey team is always dicey. Now, will James Reimer start? That is a big question mark at this point. If he does start, this would not be a surprise as Adin Hill has now lost three straight games. Hill's .886 save percentage has included some stoppable goals and worse, poor rebound control. The door is at least open for Reimer to potentially start on Saturday against an unrested New Jersey team. It will be fun to see what happens as lock will happen well after a goaltender is named more than likely.
Please watch for late-breaking goaltender confirmations during the early evening. This will allow you to be ready to make pivots as needed.
NHL DFS Centers
J.T. Compher - DK $5.3K (W) || FD $5.3K
Opponent - Columbus Blue Jackets
The idea is crazy but think about this. J.T. Compher is averaging just four fewer DFS points than Nathan MacKinnon. How the heck is that possible? The numbers do not lie. Maybe Compher has figured it out finally. Either way, he is averaging a real-world point a game. The plus is that Compher is playing just over 19 minutes a night. So, the chances are there. With lower salaries prevalent this Saturday, finding the right bargain will be essential. Some pure-Center options in the salary range include Pierre-Luc Dubois and Boone Jenner. Watch for Jeff Carter as well on Saturday since he is still the number one center option in Pittsburgh with Sidney Crosby out.
Filip Chytil - DK $3.1K || FD $3.4K
Opponent - Calgary Flames
DraftKings and FanDuel finally have one of those goofy matchups much like last night in Edmonton. The fact that the Rangers are playing a back-to-back like this almost lends it t0 more goals. Taking advantage of the rock-bottom salary, Chytil played top-six minutes on Friday and delivered with a goal, assist, and four shots on goal. Hopefully, Gerard Gallant figures this out and keeps playing his young forward more. When the salary is this low, one has to roster Chytil somewhere. The New York Rangers are an entertaining team and will give up many chances as well as create them. It is why one keeps exploiting matchups like this while one can.
Nick Suzuki - DK $5.8K || FD $6.0K
Opponent - Vegas Golden Knights
Centers tend to do pretty well in this spot lately. Someone in DFS figured out Nick Suzuki is still pretty good. How much more scary would Suzuki be if his linemates could even pot a few more of the opportunities he can create. Vegas gives up the most DFS points to centers in the NHL Suzuki also comes in at a reasonable salary as well. He has ten shots, two goals, and five points in his last two games. This is the center that most expected at the start of the season. Some will be concerned about this but Suzuki absolutely feasted on the Golden Knights all last postseason. The studs are nice but it will be your depth that buoys one to glory.
Others To Consider (CASH/GPP): Matthews (DK $8.9K || FD $8.7K), MacKinnon (DK $8.7K || FD $9.0K). Copp (DK $6.1K || FD $5.6K -- listed as Wing on FD), Lindholm (DK $7.2K || FD $7.6K).
NHL DFS Wings
Blake Coleman - DK $4.5K || FD $4.6K
Opponent - New York Rangers
There are so many ideas here and Blake Coleman just has a way of thriving against tri-state area hockey teams. Just ask Philadelphia, both New York teams, and even New Jersey. Either way, Coleman may only have four points but he has 32 shots on goal and nearly 30 scoring chances. The idea is to look for the shot bonus on DraftKings and hope for some more offense against a Rangers team that just allowed six goals to Edmonton and now has to play Calgary without rest. Expect Coleman to be able to use his speed and acceleration to generate opportunities. Play it again as they say.
Alex Ovechkin - DK $9.0K || FD $9.5K
Opponent - Philadelphia Flyers
This is one that could be a real helper to DFS lineups. Now, this is because of who one chooses to stack Ovechkin with. Think of it as having the perfect starter for a sandwich. One still has to surround that sandwich with quality. Washington's left winger has ten goals in ten games with 48 shots on goal and 54 scoring chances. It does not hurt that Ovechkin has five power-play points on the young season as he attacks the record books. Philadelphia is going to give up multiple goals. Now, because one is spending up to the top of the slate here, there needs to be some alternative to bring down the salary per player. Remember one only gets $5,555 per player on DraftKings and $6.111 FanDuel to spend. It's a lot more about surrounding and conquering. Tom Wilson and Dmitry Orlov are two big stack mates to start with.
William Nylander - DK $7.2K || FD $7.0K
Opponent - Boston Bruins
There are lots of possibilities and even Claude Giroux as a counter here. However, William Nylander apparently loves playing against the Montreal Canadiens and of course the Boston Bruins). That being said, the winger is finding more and more value as the one who shoots the puck more once again. He now has 35 shots overall with 36 scoring chances on the season. Also, Nylander is dangerous on the rush, on the power play, and in all set situations. The winger is playing over 19 minutes a night and can more than handle the load. Keep playing him at this price. Plus Philadelphia's defense is full of holes. Call him a junior Ovechkin in the making. More importantly, he has four points in his last four games.
Lucas Raymond - DK $4.9K || FD $4.7K
Opponent - Buffalo Sabres
This is one of the safer plays on the slate Saturday night. The Buffalo Sabres have had a tendency of giving up goals against the flow of play. Lucas Raymond excels in this role and that is partly why a speedy winger like him has to be utilized somewhere in lineups. Cost relief is cost relief but more importantly, there is that shot release. Raymond changes angles like Joe Sakic and quickly. This ten-game slate is one to take some bigger shots than usual. Buffalo is in some real trouble, honestly. They are struggling err beginning to struggle. Raymond also does not have to worry about Dylan Larkin stealing his production potential. Moritz Seider. That will help save some dollars.
Others To Consider (CASH/GPP): Connor (DK $7.8K || FD $8.9K, Marchand (DK $7.5K || FD $8.8K), Wahlstrom (DK $3.9K || FD $4.5K), Guentzel (DK $6.5K || FD $6.9K), Giroux (DK $6.3K || FD $6.5K)
NHL DFS Defensemen
Bowen Byram - DK $4.4K || FD $4.3K
Opponent - Columbus Blue Jackets
While the injuries and inconsistency are the order of the day, the biggest constant this season on defense has been change? That's right. Byram has stepped up even more since Cale Makar got injured. Makar is now on the injured reserve which boosts Byram's fortunes that much more. He has five points in his last five games. Besides that two-goal, three-point night, with six shots and six scoring chances, Byram's skating can break down defenses quickly which is why Nathan MacKinnon heaped praise among the young defender. Colorado knows what it has here.
Nic Hague - DK $3.4K || FD $4.0K
Opponent - Montreal Canadiens
A week ago, people wondered why to buy low on Nic Hague. Now, his percentage ownership is rising. He has three points in his last three games but can provide an excellent floor at times. The ten shots and 11 scoring chances in that span are a bonus. This could be a higher-scoring game than most expect. These two teams do not like each other and expect fireworks early! Montreal bounced Vegas from the playoffs in a dramatic fashion. Expect lots of the same end-to-end action in this tilt. Also, this nice budget pick helps save for elsewhere.
Neal Pionk - DK $5.3K || FD $5.0K
Opponent - New York Islanders
Give me all the risks on Saturday evening. The warm winds blow into the Winnipeg valleys as Neal Pionk has five helpers and a goal in his last six games. This is ultimate high-risk because the defenseman does not block a ton of shots and misses quite a few on the offensive end. However, when he connects, he connects. The New York Islanders are usually a bastion of defense but Winnipeg plays a style that can suck teams in. Even the Islanders may give in to this pace on Saturday night. Also, note that Pionk has 19 scoring chances created in the last half dozen contests. Several Winnipeg defenders are in play.
Others To Consider (CASH/GPP): Seider (DK $4.8K || FD $4.2K), Reilly (DK $2.5K || FD $3.9K), Dumba (DK $6.2K || FD $4.6K), Burns (DK $7.4K || FD $5.0K), Gostisbehere (DK $4.7K || FD $4,0K).
TOP Power Play Lines/Stacks for Saturday
- WPG 1
- SJ 1
- BOS 1 (use Reilly to save some salary)
- TOR 2
- CGY or PHI 1
- WSH 1 (Always find a way to sneak Ovechkin in lineups)
Chris’s Line Stack of the Day
MIN: Kaprizov-Eklund Ek-Dumba (Pittsburgh injury situation)
Obvious Stack
BOS: Marchand-Bergeron-Pastrnak (mix things up a little and look at Reilly).
Less Obvious Stack
CGY: Lindholm-Tkachuk-Kylington
Sneaky Stack
NJD: Mercer-Bratt-Zacha
Please keep in mind that there will be many shifts in lines with most teams especially early.
NHL Player News and Updates
More DFS Lineup Picks and Analysis
