RADIO
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 Thursday, 22nd, 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!
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NHL DFS Analysis and Picks for 12/22/22
Things are starting to normalize again and the NHL Roster Freeze is now in effect. Teams will not be able to make any moves until after the holiday freeze is over which could make things rather difficult for some. Tonight we will continue to sport the bigger slates with an 8-game slate as we approach the short Christmas break. There will be a few teams playing on a back-to-back: Columbus and St Louis. The currently live top-3 highest implied team totals are: Los Angeles with 4.1, Calgary with 3.8 and Seattle with 3.7 goals. 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
NHL DFS Goalies
Filip Gustavsson- DK $8.5K || FD $8.6K
Opponent - San Jose Sharks
Gustavsson is on fire recently and he may very well be making the final push to take over the number one netminder duties for the Wild. He has won 6 straight games while conceding 2 or more goals just twice. There is a reason that the Penguins used such a high pick on him during his draft year – 55th overall in 2016 –. The Penguins didn’t have the patience to wait for him to pan out though and now his time has come with the Wild who are desperate for a consistent starter. The Sharks on the flip side as I mentioned on Tuesday are without Hertl as he serves his 2-game suspension – he will be back after tonight –. They just got done losing 7-3 to the Flames a few nights ago and a similar story may be in the fold, even with the Wild playing on the second-half of a back-to-back.
Others To Consider (Cash/GPP): Shesterkin (DK $8.1K || FD $8.5K), Lindgren (DK $7.8K || FD $8.1K)
Centers
Elias Lindholm-DK $6.1K || FD $7K
Opponent - Los Angeles Kings
I think it is safe to say that Lindholm is finding his footing this season. The center has 2 goals, 7 assists and 11 shots over his last five games. It also may be of direct coincidence, but he has seen a surge in production ever since Dillon Dube was moved to his line. Calgary is in desperate need of success at a consistent level and Lindholm is carrying that torch for the entire team at the moment. Right now the Kings’ expected starter is Pheonix Copley which doesn’t instill a ton of confidence that Lindholm can have a ceiling night, but monitor the goaltender situation closely because if Quick gets named the starter, Lindholm is bound to have a big game.
Evgeni Malkin- DK $6.4K || FD $7.8K
Opponent - Carolina Hurricanes
You know Malkin is having a great year when he is missing key linemates and still producing. That is exactly what is happening this year. Jason Zucker just returned 2 nights ago in the close 3-2 win over the Rangers where Malkin scored on the power-play. During the time that Zucker was out, Malkin managed 1 goal, 2 assists and 1 shot – a big decline in his peripheral stats –, however, Malkin had 3 shots in the game Zucker returned. The point of the narrative is that Zucker increases Malkin’s production and we should see an increase in all statistical categories now that the second-line is healthy again. Keep in mind that the Penguins lost to the Hurricanes 3-2 at Carolina over the weekend.
Others To Consider (CASH/GPP): Beniers (DK $5.3K || FD $6.2K), Chytil (DK $4.7K || FD $4.9K)
NHL DFS Wings
Alex Ovechkin- DK $8.2K || FD $9.5K
Opponent - Ottawa Senators
Ovechkin continues to produce and Ovechkin continues to barely see a salary rise. Captain oh Captain, Ovechkin is having a great season as he pushes towards being an all-time great with the most goals scored by a player – Gretzky currently has it with 894 –. Records aside, Ovechkin has 4 goals, 3 assists and 18 shots over his last five games and he is going against the Senators who are in the bottom 10 in Goals Against Per 60 over both the season and their last 10 games. With the lack of options and consistency with it, Ovechkin is one of the best options we have tonight at the winger position.
Kaapo Kakko- DK $2.9K || FD $4.8K
Opponent - New York Islanders
We may be seeing the beginning of the future for the Rangers. The ‘kids’ line is starting to produce and in bunches. Over Kakko’s last five games, he has 3 goals, 2 assists and 8 shots. The point production is finally starting to fruition, however, his shot volume is less than desirable at this point. The one plus to Kakko’s play as of recent is his major confidence boost. He is finally using his bigger frame to shield the puck and win grinding board play when needed. That was one of the major qualities the Rangers saw when they drafted him, along with his shot. As long as Kakko can continue to produce he is well worth the ‘punt’, especially going against one of the worst defensive lines in the league – Islanders’ second-line concedes 16.04 Relative Fenwick Against Per 60.
Others To Consider (CASH/GPP): Kaprizov (DK $8.8K || FD $10K), Dube (DK $3.5K || FD $5.3K)
Defense
Dmitry Orlov- DK $4.3K || FD $5.8K
Opponent - Ottawa Senators
I am quite unsure exactly what Orlov did while he was recovering, but he looks tremendous and he is playing tremendously and as long as he continues to do that and his salary barely rises, he will continue to make the article. The defenseman has 2 goals, 2 assists, 16 shots and 11 blocked shots in the five games since his return to the ice. Orlov is not exactly a point guy, but his peripheral production is off the charts. Playing in what is anticipated to be a fast-paced game tonight with the Senators who love to shoot, this is the perfect spot.
Justin Schultz- DK $3.4K || FD $5.4K
Opponent - Vancouver Canucks
Schultz isn’t the most ideal option on a day like today but we will take it. Luckily he has won over the coach’s confidence after teammate Vince Dunn faltered on the power-play, garnering Schultz an opportunity to man the first unit. Over his last five games, he has 1 assist, 6 shots and 9 blocked shots. Hopefully, in a matchup against a defenseless Canucks team, he can at least maintain value.
Others To Consider (CASH/GPP): Andersson (DK $5.5K || FD $6.3K), Ferraro (DK $2.7K || FD $4.1K)
NHL DFS Top Power Plays and Stacks
- MIN1
- WAS1
- SEA1
Brandon's Stack of the Day
- NYR: Lafreniere-Kakko-Trouba
Chalk Stack
- MIN: Kaprizov-Steel-Zuccarello
Sneaky Stack
- WAS: Milano-Mantha-Orlov
