Sunday’s are usually a mixed bag when it comes to the NHL DFS slates. Today we have a split slate with three games at 3 p.m. EST and a four-game slate at normal lock time, 7 p.m. For the purpose of this article, I will be covering the main slate and giving you top picks at each position, including Max Pacioretty and Leon Draisaitl, as well as some of my favorite line stacks.
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NHL DFS Picks: Centers
Leon Draisaitl (EDM at LA ) – DraftKings, $8,400; FanDuel, $
Draisaitl has shown that he doesn’t need Connor McDavid to create his own shot. He is a great play maker with some serious sniping abilities. The pivot has tallied 18 points over the last 10 games, while averaging over three shots per game. With McDavid down, the Oilers top line has played strong hockey, averaging 37 shots, 11 high-danger chances and 2.81 expected goals per 60. The Kings have been sellers this year and with the incoming youth comes inefficiencies. I am still thinking that the Anze Kopitar line will match up with Draisaitl most of the night, but it is not a matchup I would purposely avoid like previous years. Finally, the Kings also have the league’s fifth-worst penalty kill with a 76% kill rate, while Edmonton’s top line fully correlates on the power play as well.
Mikael Backlund (CGY vs. DET ) – DraftKings, $4,900; FanDuel, $
Backlund and the Flames second line might be one of my favorite plays on the slate. It is possible that they are popular, so finding some contrarian options to go along with them would be a good idea. Backlund is more known for his two-way ability than his scoring, but he’s tallied 11 points over the last 10 games. He’s also averaged over three shots per game in that time. You can be assured that the Red Wings will keep the Dylan Larkin line away from the Flames second line, which leaves the Detroit depth lines matching up with the Backlund line in a plus matchup all around. Detroit’s full second line has a small sample, but it’s been pretty awful. They have an expected goals against of 3.56 per 60 and they are allowing 20 high-danger chances. That will surely regress a little, but the Flames second line will have a ton of chances tonight.
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NHL DFS Picks: Wingers
Max Pacioretty (VGK at ANH) – DraftKings, $8,100; FanDuel, $
Pacioretty has been on another level with his peripherals. Over the last 10 games, he’s averaged the shot bonus in just over 17 minutes of ice time. Vegas’ second line has been frustrating at times because their numbers are laughably good. In an 80-minute sample, the trio has a 68 CF% while creating 47 shots, 24 high-danger chances and a ridiculous 4.26 expected goals per 60. Pacioretty and company should see the Ryan Getzlaf line most of the night and they have been leaky. The full line is a small sample at 70 minutes, but in that time, they are allowing 33 shots, 15 high-danger chances and three expected goals per 60. Vegas’ second line is too good to not play in this spot.
Adrian Kempe (LA vs. EDM) – DraftKings, $3,800; FanDuel, $
Looking for value on this slate is pretty rough. Not only are the matchups mostly lopsided, the contrarian options all have low team totals because of it. The Kings second line could be a good place to look for contrarian value. Kempe has points in four of the last six games, while averaging about three shots per night. Since the Oilers lost McDavid, they’ve stacked their top line, which leaves some weakness in the depth lines. Kempe will also see time in the top power play unit, even though the Oilers have a very good penalty kill. His ice time with the recent peripherals and power play opportunity make Kempe a decent value flyer.
NHL DFS Picks: Defensemen
Shea Theodore (VGK at ANH) – DraftKings, $3,800; FanDuel, $
Theodore has been playing over 22 minutes a night and his shot volume is up a good margin. With a good floor and top power play exposure, Theodore makes for a great addition to a power play stack. The Ducks are also in the bottom 12 for shots against per game.
One could also look to Noah Hanifin ($4,300) with top power play exposure and a great matchup against the worst team in the league in Detroit.
NHL DFS Picks: Stacks
Calgary 2:Â Andrew Mangiapane – Mikael Backlund – Matthew Tkachuk
The Flames second line has a 53 CF% while creating over 30 shots, 15 high-danger chances and over three expected goals per 60. The Red Wings depth lines are going to be hard-pressed to hold this line down. Detroit’s depth has a 45 CF% while allowing 35 shots against per 60 and high-danger chances in the double digits. Like I mentioned earlier, the Flames second line could be popular so you need to find some contrarian options with them.
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