RADIO
Chris Wassel's top DraftKings and FanDuel NHL DFS value plays and research for October 15th, including DFS analysis for goalies, power plays, and stacks.
Welcome back to hockey season, RotoBallers! If you do not know me, my name is Chris and I write a little about several sports (including NASCAR, PGA, NCAA Football, NHL, and more). If you have not checked those out, make sure you do! It is the return of the NHL 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 Friday, October 15th, 2020 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 Intro & Overview
If you are new to playing NHL DFS, there are several things to know that will help you get caught up to speed. The first thing to know is that stacking lines is important and correlating your plays can pay off. In hockey, if someone scores a goal, there's a good chance that some on his team will receive an assist on that goal, so you want to build lineups around players skating together.
The idea behind stacking forward lines is that if when one skater scores there is a higher percentage and chance that either of his linemates would get credited with an assist, therefore, resulting in more fantasy points. You can then take the stack even farther and correlate it with the power-play, which at times provides even more rewards.
Not only will you get even-strength points, when another player from the opposing team is in the box for a penalty, but you will also get power-play points too. These same ideas can tie right into MLB DFS if you are familiar with order stacking.
One trend that has emerged is the early-season offensive surge. We saw this last year where the first month of the season saw games average 6.48 goals per game combined. That was more than half a goal a game above the season average. Watching some of these small-sample-sized quirks are more important early on.
NHL DFS Analysis and Picks for 10/15
We will look into the three-game Friday slate with home openers for the New Jersey Devils and Philadelphia Flyers. Also, the Minnesota Wild start their season in Anaheim as they face the Anaheim Ducks.
There is some news worth mentioning. New Jersey will start Jonathan Bernier in the net tonight as MacKenzie Blackwood is still recovering from heel and ankle issues. The other news is that none of tonight's teams are on the back end of a back-to-back. That seemed to play some havoc on Thursday night. Columbus scored eight goals, Tampa and Detroit combined for 13 goals, Los Angeles lit Vegas up for six goals, etc.
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 now.
NHL DFS Goalies
Carter Hart - DK $8.0K || FD $7.8K
Opponent - Vancouver Canucks
The Philadelphia Flyers open their season at home against Vancouver tonight and we get to see what Carter Hart looks like in the net. It has been over-documented about what Hart went through last year. Hart will see an upgrade in defense with Ryan Ellias playing a big role and Rasmus Ristolainen there to provide a bit more muscle. Vancouver does have a dangerous offense that can strike quickly. Hart's reflexes and resolve will be tested early.
Others To Consider (Cash/GPP): Bernier (DK - $7.8K, FD - 7.5K), Gibson (DK - $7.4K, FD - 6.8K)
Extra goaltending notes
Please keep in mind that John Gibson was not confirmed as of press time, there is a slight chance that Anthony Stolarz could play. Also, Cam Talbot should play but had been out due to a personal matter. Marc-Andre Fleury may face double-digit high-danger scoring chances once again for Chicago.
NHL DFS Centers
Jack Hughes - DK $5.9K || FD $6.3K
Opponent - Chicago Blackhawks
The idea is to expect offense and that is what the Chicago-New Jersey matchup has provided the last several times. Chicago looked lost defensively against the Colorado Avalanche. Yes, any team can do this but Jack Hughes excels at zone entries and creating off not just dumping the puck in. He only had 31 points (11 goals) in 56 games last year but that total expects to be easily eclipsed this year. Hughes and his wingmates get a boost and it does not hurt that Dougie Hamilton is on the blueline to create even more.
Joel Eriksson Ek - DK $6.1K || FD $4.5K
Opponent - Anaheim Ducks
The FanDuel price alone raises his ownership rate on such a short slate and yet Eriksson Ek is worth a look. He will be starting the season with Kirill Kaprizov. Kaprizov easily has 30-30 potential or greater and for that alone, Eriksson Ek should fly past last year's totals of 21 goals and 33 points in 56 games. With a full schedule and a plus matchup tonight, the center expects to have several opportunities to get on the score sheet.
Others To Consider (CASH/GPP): Toews (DK $5.6K || FD $5.6K), Zegras (DK $4.8K || FD $5.2K), Horvat (DK $4.8K || FD $6.0K), Dach (DK $2.9K || FD $5.3K)
NHL DFS Wings
Cam Atkinson - DK $5.6K || FD $5.4K
Opponent - Vancouver Canucks
There are just a bunch of methodologies to utilize on Friday night. One is looking at a high-volume shooter in a more ideal situation and matchup. The one thing the Vancouver Canucks do is allow scoring chances. Atkinson's speed down the wing and shot release should be an asset in Philadelphia. Vancouver's penalty kill has been in the bottom third for the past couple of seasons. Atkinson and the Flyers should see a high goal potential on Friday night.
Dominik Kubalik- DK $5.4K || FD $6.0K
Opponent - New Jersey Devils
This could be a play that sees increasing ownership tonight. Kubalik had nine points in his last ten games of the 2021 regular season. He picked up where the winger left off with a power-play goal in Colorado on Wednesday night. New Jersey had the league's worst penalty kill last season and Jonathan Bernier will find out the hard way that this may not be easily correctable. Either way, Kubalik will cause matchup problems with New Jersey defenders (especially with Ty Smith and Damon Severson out).
Others To Consider (CASH/GPP): Giroux (DK $ 560K || FD $5.5K), Garland (DK $5.8K || FD $5.4K), Comtois (DK $4.5K || FD $4.5K), DeBrincat (DK $6.6K || FD $7.5K), Kurashev (DK $3.2K || FD $3.7K), Tatar (DK $3.3K || FD $4.7K), Chiasson (DK $4.0K || FD $3.6K)
NHL DFS Defensemen
Cam Fowler - DK $3.6K || FD $3.8K
Opponent - Minnesota Wild
The Anaheim Ducks' blueliner had a solid game on Wednesday night with a power-play assist and two blocked shots. He did miss several shot attempts and that is a bit troubling. Fowler will be on the second unit power-play while playing top minutes at even-strength. He should draw a decent matchup against a Minnesota team that could get caught reading their own press clippings -- much like Winnipeg did on Wednesday.
Dougie Hamilton - DK $6.7K || FD $6.5K
Opponent - Chicago Blackhawks
Hamilton is the high-priced defender on this night of NHL hockey. It is his season debut after signing a long-term contract with the New Jersey Devils during the summer. He is expected to inject a great deal of scoring into his lineup. Special teams, particularly on the power play, are where Hamilton should deliver the greatest impact. He does have a calm about him and that should serve the rest of New Jersey's defense well.
Others To Consider (CASH/GPP): Ellis (DTD) (DK $6.3K || FD $5.1K), Jones (DK $6.4K || FD $6.4K), Ekman-Larsson (DK $4.9K || FD $4.5K), McCabe (DK $3.2K || FD $3.6K), Myers (DK $4.4K || FD $3.6K), Fowler (DK $3.2K || FD $3.8K)
NHL DFS Top Power Plays and Stacks
- NJD1
- CHI2
- MIN1
- PHI1
- VAN1
Chris’s Line Stack of the Day
NJD: Hughes-Sharangovich-Hamilton (Note the C-W-D alignment here)
Obvious Stack
CHI: Kane-DeBrincat-Jones (see if McCabe sneaks in some power-play time)
Sneaky Stack
PHI: Atkinson-Giroux-Provorov*
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
