RADIO
We have an 11-game slate to break down giving us plenty of options to look at tonight. There are a ton of high-priced skaters you want to be rostering tonight and plenty of games with high over-unders, so could be in for a slate with inflated scores.
Vegas lines are big when it comes to picking games to target, and that's a good place to start for goalies. When it comes to skaters, goal totals is another main place to start. Usually, 5.5 goals are average, so targets game at six, and can look for goalies in games with a total at five.
In this article, I will be providing you with my daily fantasy hockey lineup picks for DraftKings and FanDuel on 12/18/18. The lineup picks will range from some of the elite players to mid-priced options and value plays. If you have any questions or comments, feel free to hit me up on Twitter @DFS_Tom. Let's get to it, shall we?
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DFS Forwards to Consider
Auston Matthews - C, TOR @ NJD (FD - $8,300, DK - $8,100)
Matthews has posted two very bad games in a row, with no points and only three shots. That is drastically different compared to his normal production and you should be willing to go right back to the well with him and have him in your lineups. This game has an over-under set at 6.5 goals, which is high, so we want to be targeting this game for plenty of offense. Matthews is 100% viable for both cash games and tournaments tonight despite two bad games, as he is still up on the first forward line and the first power-play unit.
Yanni Gourde - W, TB @ VAN (FD - $5,200, DK - $4,800)
Gourde isn't too expensive tonight and is up on the first forward line for the Lightning, who are up against the Canucks and their defense, who are giving up over three goals per game. Gourde is also on the first power-play unit, which gets you some cheaper exposure to both Stamkos and Kucherov, something that can be beneficial in both cash games and tournaments. Just take the bit of savings and drop him into your lineups.
DFS Defenders to Consider
Darnell Nurse - EDM vs STL (FD - $4,000, DK - $5,700)
Nurse is now on the first power-play unit for the Oilers since Klefbom is hurt, so you want to get a bit of exposure to him tonight. His price hasn't been adjusted on FanDuel, so he makes a solid option in all formats due to the fact he gets you very cheap access to Connor McDavid, in a very favorable spot, as they are up against the Blues who are giving up over three goals per game.
Rasmus Ristolainen - D, BUF vs FLA (FD - $5,200, DK - $5,500)
Ristolainen is back on the first power-play unit for the Sabres, who are on fire as of late. They had a super long win streak, then a losing streak, now back to winning, so don't hop off the wagon yet. They are scoring multiple goals per game and a ton of the production comes from Eichel, Skinner, and Reinhart, with Ristolainen on the first defensive pairing and the top power-play unit. Low-end cash game option but great in a tournament stack.
DFS Goalies to Consider
Andrei Vasilevskiy - G, TB @ VAN (FD - $8,700, DK - $8,400)
Vasilevskiy is back from his injury and looking good so far in the crease. He has a chance to pick up a road win, as the Lightning come in as -180 favorites versus the Canucks, who despite their hot start, are clearly one of the weaker teams in the league. He is very expensive, but also very likely to come away with the win tonight, so you are paying that premium.
