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Chris Wassel's top DraftKings and FanDuel NHL DFS value plays and research for November 26th, including DFS analysis for goalies, power plays, and stacks.
The NHL season approaches the end of week number seven! 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 Friday, November 26th, 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 at [email protected] or via Twitter @ChrisWasselDFS or in our premium slack chat. Good luck, RotoBallers!
NHL DFS Analysis and Picks for 11/26
We feature a six game main slate, headlined by Toronto, Colorado, Pittsburgh, New York Islanders, and yes Montreal versus Buffalo. 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. Oh, and yes the New York Islanders are playing on Friday despite some objections.
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 Merzlikins - DK $7.8K || FD $7.8K
Opponent - Vancouver Canucks
The question is do you love an almost free square? Absolutely. Elvis Merzlikins comes in at a reasonable price given the matchup against a Vancouver team that is deficient on special teams. Also, the Vancouver Canucks help goalies in DFS. Opposition goaltenders garner the most points per game overall. Merzlikins is 7-1 overall at home with allowing just 16 goals on 266 shots. That is a robust 33.25 shots per game allowed too. Some forget that the Columbus goaltender is even on most slates but Friday's split main slate should thrust him into the spotlight a little more. He is definitely going to be worth a look even with some more premier options out there.
Ilya Sorokin - DK $7.3K || FD $8.1K
Opponent - Pittsburgh Penguins
The New York Islanders "1A" goaltender is projected to start on Friday night with an attractive salary on DraftKings given the urgency out on Long Island. New York has lost seven straight games and needs a win in the worst way. This shapes up to be a bit of a goaltender's duel between Sorokin and Tristan Jarry. That is the matchup being projected at least. The likable part with Sorokin is that he stopped 37 of 40 shots in his only home start, If New York keeps allowing around 35 shots per 60, the saves bonus on DraftKings comes into play. Pittsburgh has been winning games but struggling offensively despite generating shots and chances. This should be interesting on Friday night given what happened in last season's playoff.
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
Boone Jenner - DK $6.2K || FD $5.0K -- W on FD
Opponent - Vancouver Canucks
DraftKings and FanDuel finally have another still have one of those positional disagreements as Boone Jenner is listed as a center on DraftKings and winger on FanDuel. Variety is the spice of life as they say. His lower salary benefits many on FanDuel but his potential to hit the shot bonus helps on DraftKings. Also, Vancouver's inability to stop the bleeding on special teams is very much alive and well. The Canucks also will allow more than 33 shots per 60 on the road which means Columbus should get some prime opportunities as Vancouver tries to sort out their issues -- which are many. If Jenner seems too risky, Roope Hintz may be one to look at. Hintz is $5.4K on DraftKings and could wind up in a wild one versus Colorado on Friday night.
Nick Suzuki - DK $5.2K || FD $6.7K
Opponent - Buffalo Sabres
Centers tend to do pretty well in this spot lately. Someone forgot to tell Suzuki that he is playing Buffalo tonight. The Montreal center has one assist in his last four games and no shots on goal. This is despite playing top-line minutes. Safe to say, the Canadiens are in a total state of mess right now. However, Buffalo is not much better and some will argue worse in some ways. At some juncture, Suzuki has to figure this out. Watch who is starting in net for Buffalo as well. That will be important. Both teams are defensively deficient. Tage Thompson is a good bit cheaper and will be worth a look as well for a contrarian pick. Keep that in mind Friday.
Others To Consider (CASH/GPP): Matthews (DK $9.3K || FD $9.4K), Crosby (DK $7.5K || FD $7.4K). Hertl (DK $4.5K || FD $5.9K -- Couture only $5,2K on FD), Thompson(DK $4.7K || FD $4,7K). The key is to watch pricing discrepancies now. There are going to be some interesting late looks like Roope Hintz, Nazem Kadri again (that point streak, and even Nick Bonino as a value flier from the Sharks.
NHL DFS Wings
Jason Robertson- DK $4.8K || FD $5.7K
Opponent - Colorado Avalanche
There are so many ideas here and the nice part is that Robinson has ten points in his last ten games on four goals while shooting almost three times on goal per game. Also, his salary has inched down a bit since Wednesday's big slate and that does not hurt either. Both teams are definitely on the upswing here offensively and that is the name of the game. Robertson and Hintz have brought life to Dallas and will not overcook one's budget. Also, they are 100% healthy. There are no chronic game-time decisions which became a staple last season. Again, this could be a fun game on Friday night.
Timo Meier - DK $6.0K || FD $7.4K
Opponent - Toronto Maple Leafs
This is one that could be a real boost again to DFS lineups. Now, this is because people still do not realize Meier averages more than 17 points per game on DraftKings. That is a full 3.3 points greater than Gabriel Landeskog on Friday night. The center fires nearly five shots per game at home which is again almost like Alex Ovechkin. Yes, the salary is a bit higher on FanDuel but that is again because Meier has been that good. Also, it is because he is more of a known quantity in FanDuel circles. Three seasons ago, Meier nearly topped 70 points in a season. Meier has the ability to keep this going the entire season and even tonight against a speedy but defensive team like Toronto.
Jake Guentzel - DK $6.4K || FD $7.8K
Opponent - New York Islanders
There are lots of possibilities and even Jake Guentzel will be going up against an undermanned New York Islanders team on Friday night. Pittsburgh will be looking of revenge after the way they lost in last season's playoff series. Again and again, Guentzel is not as dependent as it appears when it comes to Sidney Crosby. Crosby has just two points in seven games. Meanwhile, the Pittsburgh left-winger has six goals and 11 points in his previous ten games. Oddly enough, Guentzel has nine road points in seven games for the Penguins but none on the power play. That may change tonight and the rationale is to ride the wave even if Pittsburgh does not win.
Others To Consider (CASH/GPP): Bjorkstrand (DK $7.4K || FD $6.8K, Nichushkin (DK $3.8K || FD $4.0K), Eberle (DK $5.5K || FD $5.8K), Skinner (DK $4.6K || FD $4.5K), Gallagher (DK $4.0K || FD $5.0K). Again, the key is just to keep perusing for values particularly with the later games. Most may key in on Montreal and Buffalo and perhaps attempt a game stack of sorts. Also, again watch out for last minute line shifts as Montreal, Vancouver, and even the Islanders could be teams that make some late changes.
NHL DFS Defensemen
Zach Werenski - DK $7.4K || FD $6.2K
Opponent - Vancouver Canucks
While Black Friday upon us, the later main slate features a great matchup for Columbus against a Vancouver team which is reeling a ton. Vancouver's special teams are awful and that is well documented. The nice part about it is this. Werenski has eight points in his last ten games and is averaging four shots a contest. Add in the 2.1 blocks per game in that span and the Columbus blueliner carries an excellent floor at a great time. His FanDuel price is a good deal better looking but shot and block bonuses are DraftKings could be in play again. Vladislav Gavrikov could be a value alternative choice from Columbus and is a mere $3,100 on DraftKings.
Rasmus Dahlin - DK $4.1K || FD $4.6K
Opponent - Montreal Canadiens
This is a risky proposition at best. Dahlin comes off a bagel in his last game on Wednesday as Buffalo looked just awful. The thing is Montreal may be arguably worse in some ways. However, the blueliner does have eight points in his last ten like Werenski. The only difference is a lower floor. Dahlin barely blocks a shot a game at times and most spans does not do so. Again, Montreal is in the bottom third as far as a penalty kill and allow a ton of DFS points even to defensemen. It is a nice way to say 31st. Now, this could be one of those higher-scoring games as defense is fleeting. Take the risk.
Others To Consider (CASH/GPP): Letang (DK $6.2K || FD $6.0K), Makar (DK $7.2K || FD $7.1K), Heiskanen (DK $5.7K || FD $6.2K), Hedman (DK $8.2K || FD $6.9K), Ferraro (DK $4.9K || FD $4,4K). Brent Burns has dropped to just $5,600 on FanDuel. Again watch out for pricing and yes COVID because more news will come out before lock (typically around 5:00 pm ET or so).
TOP Power Play Lines/Stacks for Saturday
- COL 2 (Kadri and Nichushkin plus Burakovsky)
- DAL 1 (Hintz and Robertson)
- TBL 1 (when the goals are bound to happen)
- TOR 1 (Get me the Nylander)
- MTL 1
- CLB 1 (sneaky cheat code like)
Chris’s Line Stacks of the Day
PIT: Crosby-Guentzel-Rust (Cross the streams with Letang)
MTL: Suzuki-Gallagher-Petry/Chiarot
To The Moon Game Stack
Buffalo and Montreal
Less Obvious Stack
SJS: Meier-Hertl-Ferraro
Please keep in mind that there will be many shifts in lines with most teams especially early. Between COVID, some late injuries, and all sorts of load and travel management, it will be another chaotic Saturday evening. That is what makes it fun.
Oh and don't worry, we will have plenty more on Slack, social media, and yes MORE! Good luck out there.
NHL Player News and Updates
More DFS Lineup Picks and Analysis
