DraftKings and FanDuel NHL DFS Picks: It’s Saturday and that means some big NHL DFS contests on DraftKings, FanDuel, Yahoo, and FantasyDraft. This eight-game slate is a nice one, but it is full of traps. Let’s get into some top NHL DFS picks for Saturday, Feb. 29, 2020, including Leon Draisaitl and Auston Matthews along with a few new wrinkles. Yes, we take a few more risks in this edition.
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NHL Strategy for 2/29/20
NHL Schedule for Saturday, Feb. 29
| AWAY – the opening line | O/U | HOME | TIME – EST |
| Vancouver | 6.5 | Toronto -185 | 7:00 p.m. |
| Colorado | 5.5 | Nashville -140 | 7:00 p.m. |
| Detroit | 6 | Ottawa -165 | 7:00 p.m. |
| Carolina | 6 | Montreal -125 | 7:00 p.m. |
| Dallas | 5 | St. Louis -145 | 8:00 p.m. |
| Buffalo | 5.5 | Arizona -180 | 8:00 p.m. |
| Winnipeg | 6 | Edmonton -125 | 10:00 p.m. |
| Pittsburgh -160 | 6 | San Jose | 10:30 p.m. |
Centers
Auston Matthews — TOR vs VAN — ($8,100 DraftKings, $8,900 FanDuel)
Matthews may be almost chalky on this medium NHL DFS slate. The matchup is against a Vancouver team is an excellent one. Vancouver’s defense can be best described as chaotic much like Toronto’s team defense. It is funny how the two teams are kind of mirror images of each other at times. There are a few differences but one is Matthews’ ability to produce at home. In 32 games there, he has 30 goals and 17 assists with 150 shots on goal. Again, that is firing chances and shots like an Alex Ovechkin. It is hard not to roster him while pairing him with cheaper side pieces to stack.
Pivoting to Elias Pettersson is not a bad choice given Toronto’s 75% penalty kill over the last month. Yes, this could be a game where a Vancouver contrarian stack of say Pettersson, Quinn Hughes/Alex Edler and maybe another winger like J.T. Miller works. Check the lines to make sure first as always as there could be a shift or two. Also, look to Leon Draisaitl for DraftKings only (winger on FanDuel).
Chris Tierney — OTT vs DET — ($3,800 DraftKings, $4,300 FanDuel)
For now, Tierney is getting a ton of ice time and has four assists in his last three games. Do not expect a ton of shots from the center but he does set up wingers like Brady Tkachuk and Anthony Duclair well enough. Someone may want to look at that type of power-play stack on Saturday against Detroit (72% road penalty kill). Some may look at Dylan Larkin on a night like this too but it will be a risk. How much losing can one player take? It has worn on him. Look elsewhere to a Logan Couture even.
Wingers
Tyler Toffoli — VAN vs TOR — ($6,300 DraftKings, $5,800 FanDuel)
Toffoli generates incredible shot volume lately. He averages over four shots a game of late and had six just a few games ago. Overall, the Vancouver winger is on fire with eight goals and 11 points in his last ten games with 42 shots on net. That includes 25 scoring chances and a bunch of high-danger chances as well. Toffoli looks like the player that we thought was a perennial 30-goal scorer in the making. All it took was an “Escape from Los Angeles”. Imagine that. Even though his DFS prices have come up, his production still provides value. Consider how many goals per game Toronto has given up and this could be a fun game.
Keep an eye on this game. Like others tonight, it has a high potential for six goals or more, which makes for some stacking with Toronto and Vancouver on multiple fronts. These two teams should be able to trade goals given the fact that their defenses give up chances all over the ice. Brady Tkachuk is a possibility along with William Nylander.
Timo Meier — SAN vs PIT — ($5,000 DraftKings, $6,100 FanDuel)
Meier has had one uneasy season full of upheaval and injuries all around him. However, he has started to put it back together with eight points and four goals in his last nine games. He fired 34 shots in that span as well with 20 scoring chances. The numbers are starting to come up at the right time. His DraftKings price is extremely reasonable and San Jose is facing a fatigued Pittsburgh team that is slumping badly (the third game in four nights). Meier’s speed has been most noticeable during this stretch which does make one wonder. Was he hurt as well?
A Final Note (INJURY ALERT)
Look at Kailer Yamamoto and Anthony Duclair. Both are day-to-day and may just play tonight depending on how they progress during the day. With the huge volume of injuries in the league, any players coming back are welcome at this stage when it comes to daily fantasy hockey. Also, remember that Leon Draisaitl is only a winger on FanDuel. Still, play him anyway.
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Defensemen
Quinn Hughes — VAN vs TOR — ($5,400 DraftKings, $5,300 FanDuel)
This is a pure power play. Hughes has unbelievable quickness and play-making ability. Hughes should have chances galore against a Toronto team that cannot help but allow them. The Maple Leafs have yielded 35 goals in their last ten home games. That includes a penalty kill near 75% there. Think of it this way, there are tons of options too. However, Hughes has 12 assists in his last ten games and can put some shots on net against a Toronto team that is fourth-worst in the league since the All-Star Break when it comes to unblocked shot attempts from the point. Worst comes to worst, one can pivot down to Alex Edler for some FanDuel savings and even DraftKings for the block bonus.
Also, consider Ben Chiarot as a possible value pick from Montreal and even Samuel Girard from Colorado. Girard has a higher potential to block shots tonight as Colorado plays on the back end of a back-to-back. They expect to lean on Girard a bit more than usual along with Ryan Graves and Cale Makar.
NHL DFS Stacks
OTT1 — Chris Tierney – Brady Tkachuk – TBD (maybe Bobby Ryan)
There is nothing to expect but quality chances with this group against a Detroit team that allows the most DFS points to forwards in the entire NHL. Now, the reason why we have the third slot as to be determined is that Ottawa is waiting to see if Anthony Duclair can go on Saturday. He has missed two straight games with the ankle injury and a timetable has not been established. Bobby Ryan could be that second winger on the line and could be again worth a flier against Detroit. Consider again how bad Detroit is not just at even strength but on their penalty kill (league-worst on the road).
TOR1 or VAN1Â
Both are very good choices with excellent matchups. This could almost lead to some game stack possibilities too. Toronto has a few albeit less expensive pieces to stack with a Matthews and even Nylander. Look to one of the cheaper Toronto defensemen for blocked shots. As for Vancouver, as we mentioned before, Edler and Hughes are moderately priced enough to pair a Pettersson and Toffoli together without a snag. Again, with the Jack Eichel injury, it is hard to roster Buffalo’s top line not knowing how he will perform but it could be a risky contrarian shot on Saturday in Arizona.
Something not to forget…Nashville gets a fatigued Colorado team at home. If Pekka Rinne can go (flu), then he may be worth a start given his lower venue price on DraftKings. It is just an extra note we provide here. Good luck everyone!Â
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