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Chris Wassel's top DraftKings and FanDuel NHL DFS value plays and research for November 17th, including DFS analysis for goalies, power plays, and stacks.
The NHL season has hit week number six! Some hockey trends have established themselves but more are 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 starting on Wednesday, November 17th, 2020 at 9:00 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 11/17
We feature a four-game slate, featuring the Colorado Avalanche, Chicago Blackhawks, Washington Capitals, and the Los Angeles Kings.
There is some news worth mentioning. Please note the later lock and do watch out for COVID-related news. The Lars Eller news almost came out of nowhere right around lock on Tuesday night.
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
Jonathan Quick - DK $7.6K || FD $7.2K
Opponent - Washington Capitals
The question is who to choose goaltending-wise on Wednesday night. Most anyone is scared to death at seeing a goaltender against the Washington Capitals. However, with injuries to Washington players and an unrested Capitals team, the Los Angeles Kings' goaltender is one to look at. Can he continue his amazing start? That is a valid question. However, this matchup is one that would be considered advantageous. Quick posted a shutouts in his last appearance -- a 34 save gem versus the Ottawa Senators. His salary is also quite cheap.
Darcy Kuemper - DK $8.1K || FD $8.6K
Opponent - Vancouver Canucks
The Colorado goaltender faces the Vancouver Canucks on the road this Wednesday night. Now, the good news is that Vancouver allows the most DFS points to goaltender on this NHL slate. Kuemper can use all the help he can get given his uneven start. That is not all Colorado's fault as injuries and inconsistency have plagued the Avalanche. With a small slate, Kuemper attracts added value. Also, the Chicago-Seattle matchup may be higher-scoring than expected so that would further limit options.
Stay tuned during the day for potential goaltending pivots.
NHL DFS Centers
Anze Kopitar - DK $7.0K || FD $8.2K
Opponent - Washington Capitals
The idea is to keep things simple and stack Los Angeles against yet another unrested team. This is a Kings team that benefits immensely from being rested so far during the first month or so of the regular season. Kopitar is a slightly cheaper alternative to Mikko Rantanen who now is listed as a center on DraftKings. Kopitar has been more consistent and does have eight goals in his first 15 games along with eight more assists.
Nazem Kadri - DK $5.1K || FD $5.9K
Opponent - Vancouver Canucks
Nazem Kadri is a relatively safe play considering he has ten points in his last six games. His ice time has gradually inched up to the top-six level while seeing more and more power-play time. There is this luxury where Kadri has 16 shots on goal and 18 scoring chances in his previous six games. That includes three instances where Kadri has seen 19+ minutes of ice time. With the injuries, the center keeps seeing more and more expanded opportunities. Did anyone mention how awful Vancouver's penalty kill is? It is now worse than Arizona's.
Others To Consider (CASH/GPP): Newhook (DK $2.8K || FD $3.8K), Gourde (DK $4.2K || FD $4.0K)
NHL DFS Wings
Patrick Kane - DK $7.8K || FD $8.8K
Opponent - Seattle Kraken
There are just a few different ways to look at the structure on Wednesday evening but this top pick involves some risk. This is because Seattle features the least amount of shots and chances per 60 allowed on this slate and in the Western Conference. That seems to create a problem. However, the Kraken have now allowed 55 goals (28th in the NHL). That makes one wonder and matters little who is in net for Seattle. It is safe to say that Philipp Grubauer has not worked out well in Seattle. If he starts, Kane goes right to the top of the list and may so regardless anyway.
Alex Iafallo - DK $5.4K || FD $5.8K
Opponent - Washington Capitals
This is one of the more advantageous plays on this short slate. Iafallo averages four shots a game and nearly four scoring chances a night during the last eight games. He is also on the ice for over 18 minutes a game this season. Now, the results are definitely noticeable. It helps playing with Anze Kopitar but four goals and four assists in nine contests are noticeable. His salary is even more so. Iafallo is shooting at 12.5% which is relatively sustainable as long as Anze Kopitar can continue at close to his incredible pace. Washington is also unrested which does not hurt either.
Others To Consider (CASH/GPP): Eberle (DK $5.2K || FD $5.8K, Wilson (DK $5.3K || FD $5.7K), Burakovsky (DK $4.7K || FD $5.0K), Tanev (DK $2.7K || FD $4.4K).
NHL DFS Defensemen
Samuel Girard - DK $3.5K || FD $4.7K
Opponent - Vancouver Canucks
The Colorado Avalanche defenseman is a reasonable floor play possibility on Wednesday night. Consider that Girard has seven points in his last four games and 2+ blocks in three of his past four contests. He even had five shots on goal in that four-point outburst on Sunday versus San Jose. This does involve some risk because of the streaky nature of Colorado's offense right now. Without Nathan MacKinnon and J.T. Compher, the defense is buoying the offense. There are several options from Colorado against a Vancouver defense that has again yielded 19 goals in its last three outings.
John Carlson - DK $6.7K || FD $6.4K
Opponent - Los Angeles Kings
The quest to make life somewhat easier leads us to John Carlson who is starting to play like John Carlson. Washington's top offensive defenseman is now playing like what most expected. He has nine points in his last nine games with 27 shots and 17 blocked shots. That is right around that elite level of five shots and blocked shots per game combined. That is encouraging to sat the least. This short slate is not an easy one. At least, there is a good amount of value when one wants to spend up or way up.
Others To Consider (CASH/GPP): Fehervary (DK $2.6K || FD $3.7K), Jones (DK $6.9K || FD $7.1K), Johnson (DK $3.2K || FD $3.9K)
NHL DFS Top Power Plays and Stacks
- COL1
- CHI2
- COL2
- LAK1
Chris’s Line Stack of the Day
COL: Kadri-Burakovsky-Girard/Makar
Obvious Stack
CHI: Kane-DeBrincat-Jones
Sneaky Stack
LAK: Iafallo-Kopitar-Clague/Roy
Please keep in mind that there will be many shifts in lines with most teams especially early. COVID and injuries have tended to shift things all-around in morning skates. Be mindful.
NHL Player News and Updates
More DFS Lineup Picks and Analysis
