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The NHL season has hit week number four! 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 starting on Wednesday, November 3rd, 2020 at 8:30 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!
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We feature a four-game slate, featuring the Edmonton Oilers, Chicago Blackhawks, Carolina Hurricanes, and the St. Louis Blues.
There is some news worth mentioning. The Colorado Avalanche has placed Cale Makar on injured reserve which is a significant blow defensively given Devon Toews is still out as well. That will lend some credence to risking alternate stacks and options on Wednesday.
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 Merzilikins - DK $7.3K || FD $7.3K
Opponent - Colorado Avalanche
The question is who to choose goaltending-wise on Wednesday night. Most anyone is scared to death at seeing a goaltender on the road against Colorado. However, with injuries to several Colorado players, Merzilikins may be worth taking a flier on this Wednesday night. The Columbus goaltender has faced 35 shots a game over the past three contests which means a potential save bonus possibility. It is risky but again with a lower salary, saving dollars is a priority.
Mike Smith - DK $7.8K || FD $8.2K
Opponent - Nashville Predators
The Edmonton goaltender faces the Nashville Predators at home on Wednesday night. Now, the good news is that Smith has returned from his leg injury. The bad news is Smith is approaching 40 years old. Given his injury history, there is always a concern. However, the Oilers' goalie is facing an unrested Predators team that struggles to score goals. Smith faces more than 38 shots per 60 which is troubling but good for daily fantasy bottom lines. His DraftKings salary and even FanDuel are lower than one would expect.
Stay tuned during the day for potential goaltending pivots.
NHL DFS Centers
Leon Draisaitl - DK $8.2K || FD $9.3K
Opponent - Nashville Predators
The idea is to keep things simple and stack Edmonton against yet another unrested team. This is an Oilers team that benefits immensely from being rested so far during the first month of the regular season. Draisaitl is a slightly cheaper alternative to Connor McDavid who now tops $10,000 on FanDuel. The center is slightly more inconsistent but does have seven goals in his last six games and 17 points like McDavid.
Jonathan Toews - DK $3.7K || FD $5.0K
Opponent - Carolina Hurricanes
Jonathan Toews is an extreme risk play considering he has no goals but six assists in his last five games. His ice time has gradually inched up to the top-six level while seeing more and more power-play time. There is that nagging problem of one shot in each of the last four contests. He did have an assist in the last game versus Carolina on the road. How far off is Toews from being the 20-30 goal scorer he was and what he is? That is the big question. At some juncture, we are going to find out from a fantasy standpoint.
Others To Consider (CASH/GPP): Kopitar (DK $7.6K || FD $8.2K), Jenner (DK $5.4K || FD $3.9K) -- Wing on FD
NHL DFS Wings
Patrick Kane - DK $6.5K || FD $8.3K
Opponent - Carolina Hurricanes
There are just a few different ways to look at the structure on Wednesday evening but again low prices and DraftKings among wings are interesting. When a player averages nearly 20 DraftKings points a game at that price, this becomes pure enticement. One might as well take the bait anyway. Kane has five points on the man advantage while averaging five shots a contest. The one thing Chicago excels at is the power-play and flow of play. It is the latter we are intrigued by on Wednesday night.
Alex Iafallo - DK $4.4K || FD $4.8K
Opponent - St. Louis Blues
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 five games. He is also on the ice for nearly 17 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 13.3% which is relatively sustainable as long as Anze Kopitar can continue at close to his incredible pace.
Others To Consider (CASH/GPP): Kyrou (DK $5.3K || FD $5.1K, Compher (DK $4.7K || FD $5.0K) - C on FD, Hyman (DK $5.9K || FD $6.9K), Hagel (DK $2.7K || FD $3.6K).
NHL DFS Defensemen
Marco Scandella - DK $3.5K || FD $4.0K
Opponent - Los Angeles Kings
The St. Louis Blues' defenseman is a reasonable floor play possibility on Wednesday night. Consider the fact that he has four assists on the season with 13 shots and 17 blocked shots. He had three shots and five blocked shots in his last game. IF Scandella continues to play defensively against top lines then he can pile up the peripheral stats. With a smaller slate, spending up on salary is inevitable. Thankfully, there are ways to save. Scandella headlines a few of those options on Wednesday night.
Tony DeAngelo - DK $5.3K || FD $5.3K
Opponent - Chicago Blackhawks
The quest to keep things simple leads us to Tony DeAngelo who is heavily sheltered into an effective offensive role from the blueline. He plays almost 16.5 minutes per night but has nine points on the season with two goals. At even strength, he could be very valuable against a Blackhawks team that could give up three or four goals potentially. DeAngelo will usually not block more than a shot per night but could nab an assist. After all, he has seven of those and five on the man advantage. Just because Chicago's penalty kill is fifth at 88.6% does not mean they are due for a little regression. It has already begun.
Others To Consider (CASH/GPP): Bouchard (DK $4.8K || FD $4.2K), Jones (DK $6.0K || FD $6.6K), Johnson (DK $3.0K || FD $3.6K)
NHL DFS Top Power Plays and Stacks
- EDM1
- CHI2
- CAR1
- STL1
Chris’s Line Stack of the Day
CAR: Aho-Svechnikov-DeAngelo
Obvious Stack
EDM: McDavid-Draisaitl-Bouchard (If Power Play units hold)
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
