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The top daily fantasy hockey lineup picks for DraftKings and FanDuel on October 28, 2023. 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 on Saturday, October, 28, 2023, at 7:00 PM EDT. 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 @df_solutions, or in our premium Slack chat. Good luck, RotoBallers!
NHL DFS Analysis and Picks for 10/28/23
We have finally made it! The 2023-2024 season is upon us and we welcome the next generational talent, Connor Bedard to the front and center! With many big moves over the offseason – Karlsson to Pittsburgh – and many signings during Free Agency, this season will make for yet another interesting race to Lord Stanley!
Tonight we have a 7-game slate and three teams playing on a back-to-back: Vegas, Los Angeles and Vancouver. The currently live top-3 highest implied team totals are: Boston with 3.8, Winnipeg with 3.6 and New York Rangers with 3.6. I will do my best to guide you through this seven-game slate on DraftKings and FanDuel starting at 7:00 p.m. EDT.
DISCLOSURE: Make sure to monitor the NHL news feeds for the latest player status and injury news.
DraftKings and FanDuel Goalies - NHL DFS Picks
Ilya Sorokin - DK $8.3K || FD $8.1K
Opponent - Columbus Blue Jackets
Sorokin is a man on a mission and the 20th-best goalie in Goals Saved Above Expected Per 60 when considering all goalies this season who have played at least 120 Total On Ice – TOI – minutes. Without Sorokin, the Islanders would be faring much worse to start the season, as they are the ninth-worst in High-Danger Chances Against Per 60, the fifth-worst in Shots Against Per 60 and the second-worst in Scoring Chances Against Per 60.
However, they do have a friendly matchup against the Blue Jackets who are just outside the top ten in Shots For Per 60 and just outside the bottom ten in High-Danger Chances For Per 60 and Goals For Per 60. Albeit having poor defense at best, Sorokin can still make value tonight as one of the top salaried goalies.
Others To Consider (Cash/GPP):
- DeSmith (DK $7.4K || FD $7.7K)
- Saros (DK $7.3K || FD $7.2K)
Want more NHL DFS tools and content? Our NHL Premium package includes our daily DFS Cheat Sheets, Research Station, Lineup Optimizer and access to our VIP Discord Chatrooms. Doug Shain (@BanksterDFS) joins the NHL team in 2023 with his proven track record - join in on the winning!
Back to back @DraftKings Fantasy Hockey World Championship trips! Let’s get the main prize this year! Thank you to @banksterdfs for the amazing daily fantasy content! @NHL pic.twitter.com/dONSvJMtIR
— 🇺🇦Shockmain (@Shockmain) January 6, 2023
DraftKings and FanDuel Centers - NHL DFS Picks
Matthew Poitras - DK $4K || FD $4.5K
Opponent - Detroit Red Wings
Poitras is in the running for the top-value play on the slate. The center has thrived since pre-season started for the Bruins and that same success has made its way into the regular season. Over his last five games, he has 3 goals, 1 assist, 9 shots and 4 blocked shots. Not only is he making the score sheet most nights, but he is also adding peripherals. As a young player, this is a rare case of overall value and against a giving Detroit defense, this is a recipe for success.
Evgeni Malkin - DK $6.9K || FD $7.3K
Opponent - Ottawa Senators
At this point in the season, most know that Ottawa’s defense is non-existent and their goaltending is questionable at best. This makes them a perfect team to attack, especially in a bring-back stack. Malkin in his last five performances, has 3 goals, 2 assists, 15 shots and 4 blocked shots. It is no secret that he and newcomer Reilly Smith have hit it off immediately either.
The Senators are the fifteenth-worst in Shots Against Per 60, the twelfth-worst in Scoring Chances Against Per 60, the eighth-worst in Goals Against Per 60 and the seventh-worst in High-Danger Chances Against Per 60. This meeting is expected to be a fast-paced encounter with multiple goals. Malkin will have numerous opportunities to hit the score sheet.
Others To Consider (CASH/GPP):
- Tavares (DK $7.2K || FD $9K)
- Chytil (DK $4.3K || FD $5.3K)
DraftKings and FanDuel Wings - NHL DFS Picks
Tanner Pearson - DK $3.9K || FD $4.1K
Opponent - Winnipeg Jets
The Jets have been entirely too streaky to start the season and an in-form Canadiens side is no slouch. One of the current keys to the Canadiens’ cog is Tanner Pearson. The winger has been a surprise for many and is looking like a genius deal for the Canadiens. Throughout his last five games, he has 2 goals, 2 assists, 15 shots and 7 blocked shots. The fact that he has barely moved in salary and that he is still under $4K on DraftKings, makes him a top optimal play tonight.
Bryan Rust - DK $5.2K || FD $6K
Opponent - Ottawa Senators
Rust is hands down one of the top in-form wingers in the league. Over his last five games, he has 4 goals, 1 assist, 12 shots and 7 blocked shots. Due to his surge in form, he has been rewarded or tasked with top power-play time to help fix its success rate. Playing alongside Sidney Crosby in both even strength and the power-play holds unspeakable value, especially in what is expected to be a back-and-forth match with the Senators. At a salary point of just over $5K on DraftKings, Rust is another candidate for value play of the night.
Others To Consider (CASH/GPP):
- Stone (DK $5.6K || FD $5.6K)
- Roslovic (DK $4.2K || FD $4.6K)
DraftKings and FanDuel Defensemen - NHL DFS Picks
Alexandre Carrier - DK $3.6K || FD $3.9K
Opponent - Toronto Maple Leafs
Speaking of value plays. Carrier should be a ‘lock’ in every single lineup that is made tonight. Nashville has moved players around the lineup and it has ultimately ended up with sliding Carrier in both the second power-play unit and the top penalty-kill unit. With that, he has seen a spike in TOI – roughly three minutes –. Going up against a Maple Leafs team that averages 32 Shots For Per 60, Carrier will have to try not to make value. In his last five games, he has 1 assist, 9 shots and 20 blocked shots.
Justin Barron - DK $3.3K || FD $3.6K
Opponent - Winnipeg Jets
Barron makes it back-to-back articles after another successful performance in the 4-3 victory over the Blue Jackets on Thursday. In Barron’s last four appearances, he now has 2 goals, 5 shots and 8 blocked shots. Going up against Winnipeg, Barron is expected to see a similar performance and under $3.5K salary on DraftKings, he is an optimal play.
Others To Consider (CASH/GPP):
- Dobson (DK $6K || FD $5.9K)
- Walman (DK $4.6K || FD $5.5K)
NHL DFS Top Power Plays and Stacks
- TOR1
- OTT1
- PIT1
NHL DFS Stacks of the Day
Brandon's Stack
- BOS: DeBrush-Poitras-Marchand
Chalk Stack
- PIT: Rust-Crosby-Malkin
Sneaky Stack
- WPG: Niederreiter-Lowry-Appleton
NHL DFS News and Injury Alerts
More DFS Lineup Picks and Analysis
