Today's NHL DFS Lineup Picks for DraftKings, FanDuel (10/18/22): Daily Fantasy Hockey

Brandon Wampler's top DraftKings and FanDuel NHL DFS value plays and research for October 18th, 2022 including DFS analysis for goalies, power plays and stacks.

Welcome, RotoBallers! If you do not know me, my name is Brandon and I write both The First-Serve and The Kick-Off for Tennis and Soccer respectively. If you have not checked those out, make sure you do! It is the return of the NHL season which means it's time to sharpen our MLB 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 Tuesday, 18th, 2022 at 7:00 PM EST. 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 @df_solutions or in our premium slack chat. Good luck, RotoBallers!

NHL DFS Analysis and Picks for 10/18/22

Tonight we get a modest slate on a Tuesday for a chance! There are a few teams who are playing on a back-to-back: Boston, Anaheim, Vancouver and Los Angeles and the opening top-3 highest implied team totals are: Edmonton Oilers, Calgary Flames and New Jersey Devils at 4 goals each. I will do my best in guiding you through this eight-game slate on DraftKings and FanDuel starting at 7:00 p.m. EST.

DISCLOSURE: Make sure to monitor the news feed and play at your own risk

Vegas Odds for the Day

NHL DFS Goalies

Andrei Vasilevskiy- DK $8.5K || FD $8.6K

Opponent - Philadelphia Flyers

Andrei The Giant has not entirely been himself to start the season, conceding 5 goals in 2 appearances, however, he is still averaging over a 0.900 save percentage. He does at least get the chance to have a great game against the lifeless Flyers who own a putrid 4 goals through 2 games. What makes matters even worse for the visitors is that they have the sixth-lowest expected goals for – 3.17 – and they are the third-worst in scoring chances for – 29 –. This bodes rather well for Vasilevskiy and he should see quite the ownership too, making him a great ‘CASH’ build play.    

Others To Consider (Cash/GPP): Sorokin (DK $8.2K || FD $8.5K), Markstrom (DK $8K || FD $8.3K)

Centers

 Elias Pettersson-DK $6.4K || FD $7.4K

Opponent - Columbus Blue Jackets

At the time of writing, Pettersson has 1 goal, 2 assists and 2 shots against the Washington Capitals. Pettersson is a new skater this season after turning form late last season once Bruce Boudreau took over. The center has 1 goal and 8 shots through 2 games – excluding tonight’s performance –. Not only is the Capitals’ defense terrible, but the Blue Jackets defense is even worse, conceding 12 total goals through 3 games so far this season. They also rank dead last in expected goals against – 8.4 – and scoring chances against – 96 –. To put the cherry on top, Daniil Tarasov may start for Columbus tomorrow and he has conceded 9 goals through 2 appearances. Pettersson is a no-brainer.

Steven Stamkos- DK $7.5K || FD $9.1K ** Plays Wing on FanDuel **

Opponent - Philadelphia Flyers

It is almost impossible to pass up on ‘Stammer’ right now after he has posted 4 goals, 1 assist, 15 shots and 3 blocked shots through 3 appearances so far this season. The veteran center was moved off the top-line after the first game of the season and he has not missed a beat since. Not only is he playing in his natural position, but he is also the primary scorer on the second line and he is being fed the puck. The Flyers do not possess a bad defense, but it is also not grand. If Stamkos can at least keep his shooting average – 5 shots per game –, he will be able to hit value.

Others To Consider (CASH/GPP): Bergeron (DK $7.1K || FD $7K), Sillinger (DK $2.7K || FD $4.4K)

NHL DFS Wings

Wings

Nino Niederreiter- DK $3.5K || FD $5.1K

Opponent - Los Angeles Kings

Nino has been a much-welcomed addition to the top-six of the Predators this season. The winger has 1 goal and 7 shots through 2 appearances to start the season. Last year with Carolina, he posted 24 goals, 20 assists and 144 shots in 75 games. That is quality production given he played the majority of the season on the third line. Now he is a highlighted winger playing next to Ryan Johansen who possesses a pass-first mentality. A few shots are not out of the question for Niederreiter and the Kings also own the fourth-worst defense in the league making this a perfect matchup.   

David Pastrnak- DK $8.4K || FD $9.5K

Opponent - Ottawa Senators

You can pick your poison between Pastrnak and Nikita Kucherov of the Lightning, either will be sufficient. However, we will highlight Pastrnak in a good matchup, despite playing back-to-back. The winger has recently moved back to the top line with Patrice Bergeron after having a few defensive woes playing next to David Krejci. Since then, he has posted 2 goals, 3 assists and 14 shots in 2 games – including tonight’s 5-3 win over Florida –. Those are big numbers and now he gets a halfway decent matchup, albeit on the road and on a back-to-back against the Senators. As long as Pastrnak remains with Bergeron, he will always be worth a shout due to the sheer shot volume he produces.

Others To Consider (CASH/GPP): Kuzmenko (DK $5.3K || FD $5.2K), Holtz (DK $2.5K || FD $5K)

NHL DFS Defensemen

Mike Reilly- DK $2.7K || FD $4K

Opponent - Ottawa Senators

Thanks to the news breaking after this slate was up, we get Reilly at a massive discount tonight! Teammate Brandon Carlo was placed on the IR last night and in response, Reilly was elevated in the lineup, seeing top-pairing minutes, as well as quarterbacking the second power-play unit. In his first game with the added responsibilities and minutes, Reilly took 2 shots and blocked three shots in a 5-3 win over the Panthers. This bodes well coming into a slightly softer matchup with the Senators.    

Noah Dobson- DK $5.7K || FD $6.5K

Opponent - San Jose Sharks

Another player who is playing lights out to start the season is Noah Dobson. The defenseman already has 2 goals, 8 shots and 1 blocked shot through 2 appearances. Add in the fact that he will play host to the San Jose Sharks and this is a recipe for success. The Sharks currently possess the league’s fifth-worst defense, conceding 14 goals through 4 appearances. They are also the ninth-worst in expected goals against – 11.04 – and eighth-worst in scoring chances against – 119 –. Dobson is coming off a career year and a breakout year where he posted 13 goals, 38 assists and 190 shots through 80 appearances last season – 3rd most points and 2nd most assists on the Islanders – and there are no signs of him slowing down this year.

Others To Consider (CASH/GPP): Hedman (DK $7.1K || FD $7.2K), Durzi (DK $3.6K || FD $4.8K)

NHL DFS Top Power Plays and Stacks

• VAN1
• BOS1
• NYI1
• TB1

Brandon's Stack of the Day

• VAN: Miller-Pettersson-Kuzmenko

Chalk Stack

• BOS: Bergeron-Pastrnak-Lindholm

Sneaky Stack

• NJ: Holtz-Haula-Mercer