Fridays are usually travel days in the NHL, which means smaller NHL DFS slates. Tonight there is a six-game slate and some heavy chalk favorites. The Hurricanes, Coyotes and Ducks are all playing on back-to-backs, which means they will not participate in morning skate. Make sure to keep an eye on the news and tune into the NHL Strategy Show to get up-to-the-minute news. This Power Play article will use Awesemo’s Premium NHL Tools to help dole out the NHL DFS advice to help with building lineups on DraftKings and FanDuel tonight. The Awesemo NHL projections and ownership projections are two of the best tools to utilize when constructing stacks and making the optimal NHL DFS picks. Let us go position by position and pinpoint some of the top plays and stacks for Friday, Oct. 29.
NHL DFS Picks, Tops Stacks & Lineup Optimizer Plays
Center
Mika Zibanejad (NYR vs. CBJ): DraftKings – $6,900 | FanDuel – $7,800
Zibanejad has started the year out a little slowly, only lighting the lamp once this year. He is a sniper that can fill the net up in a hurry, and tonight is a good spot for him to get there. His ice time has increased to a full workload, and he is averaging over three shots on goal per game. Columbus has been known as a team that does not give up a ton of chances, but this year they have not lived up to that. Through six games the Jackets rank 26th in Corsi, 29th in shots against per 60 and 28th in scoring chances against. The Rangers will get plenty of chances to light the lamp tonight.
Sam Bennett (FLA at DET): DraftKings – $5,700 | FanDuel – $6,600
Swerving off the more popular Aleksander Barkov line, Bennett has been one of the most consistent producers for the Panthers this year. He is averaging a point per game to go along with 3.5 shots on goal. Florida will look to keep their undefeated record alive against the Red Wings, who are giving up 3.29 goals against on average. Vegas has the Panthers pegged as one of the biggest favorites on the night, and it makes sense. Florida has the best team Corsi in the league, and they are scoring at the second-highest clip in the league. Bennett will likely stay away from the Dylan Larkin line most of the night, which is the only real matchup issue that they will see tonight. Keep an eye on news, though, as Joel Quenneville resigned last night, and it is possible that lines can be shaken up with an interim coach.
Wingers
Alex Ovechkin (WSH vs. ARI): DraftKings – $8,500 | $9,400
Ovechkin and the Capitals will be the clear chalk of the night. Ovechkin has 13 points in seven games, and he is averaging just under the shot-on-goal bonus. The Coyotes are playing the second of a back-to-back after getting ousted by the Lightning 5-1 last night. Phoenix has been a complete turnstile and one of only two teams yet to win a game. They have been OK at limiting shots, but they are giving up just under five goals a game. Arizona’s penalty kill has been atrocious as well, with a 44.4% kill rate. Letting Ovechkin set up in his office at the top of the circle is a bad idea tonight because he will make them pay.
Andrei Svechnikov (CAR vs. CHI): DraftKings – $7,500 | FanDuel – $8,800
Svechnikov has recorded at least 1 point in every game this season, and he has multiple points in half of them. He is a lethal sniper that gets plenty of looks playing with Sebastian Aho and Teuvo Teravainen. Carolina’s top line is one of the best possession lines in the game. The Blackhawks have the league’s second-worst Corsi, are giving up the second-most shots per 60 and are in the bottom five in scoring and high-danger chances. A good possession team like the Hurricanes facing a weaker defensive team is a recipe for success.
Jason Robertson (DAL vs. OTT): DraftKings – $4,800 | FanDuel – $5,600
Robertson had an extremely successful rookie season last year, taking the runner=up spot for the Calder behind Kirill Kaprizov. He tallied 45 points in 51 games, and he will get even more opportunity this year as a top-line winger. He missed the first six games of the year and took the ice for the first time against the Golden Knights on Wednesday. He is playing on the top line with Roope Hintz and Joe Pavelski, which has been a solid offensive unit, and they fully correlate on the top power play. Playing at home with the last change should give the Stars top line the positive depth matchups against the Senators. Ottawa is an extremely young team in the middle of a rebuild, and they have had growing pains. The Senators penalty kill has struggled as well.
Defensemen
Alex Pietrangelo (VGK vs. ANA): DraftKings – $6,500 | DraftKings – $6,200
Pietrangelo has had an awful start to the year, as have the Golden Knights in general. One thing is for certain, though: Pietrangelo logs a ton of ice time, and he plays in every situation. With the Ducks coming to town tonight, he is in a great spot to break his pointless streak. Anaheim is on a back-to-back after losing in overtime to the Sabres. The Ducks are in the middle of a rebuild, and they have struggled for the better part of a year. Both teams’ expected goals against are in the bottom five, and Anaheim can give up a ton of chances. Look for Pietrangelo to get on the scoresheet for the first time this year.
Miro Heiskanen (DAL vs. OTT): DraftKings – $6,200 | FanDuel – $6,400
Heiskanen has been heavily involved in the Stars’ production to start the year off. He is logging over 25 minutes of ice time, tallied 7 points in seven games and is averaging 4.5 shots/blocks per game. Heiskanen does not get the coveted top power-play duties, but he will play on the second power play. Ottawa has been giving up a ton of chances, and their penalty kill has been in the bottom eight to start the year off. Look for Heiskanen to chip in early and often.
Top NHL DFS Stacks
WSH1 – Ovechkin – Kuznetsov – Wilson
Top 2 Stack Percentage: 10.9% | Ownership Share: 1.3% | Leverage: 9.6%
The Capitals get great leverage tonight according to Awesemo’s projected top lines. The reasoning is because of their large salary. It is going to be hard to fit in other solid stacks alongside the Capitals top line or even a power-play stack. But paying up to be contrarian can work if the line goes off for three or four goals. Washington is in a great spot tonight against the Coyotes. Arizona has been a defensive turnstile, allowing 4.8 goals against on average. Phoenix also sports the league’s worst penalty kill, and if Ovechkin and company get on the man advantage, they will make them pay.
CAR1 – Svechnikov – Aho – Teravainen
Top 2 Stack Percentage: 7.1% | Ownership Share: 0.2% | Leverage: 6.9%
In the early running of the top stacks, Carolina’s top line also has great leverage. The Hurricanes top line carries a 55% Corsi-for, 2.94 expected goals per 60, 36 shots per 60 and over 14 high-danger chances. The Blackhawks are going to have a lot of trouble containing the Hurricanes top line, as they have had trouble containing anyone this season. Chicago ranks 31st in Corsi, 24th in shots against per 60 and 22nd in scoring chances allowed. Look for the Hurricanes to be all over the Blackhawks early and often.
*Additional Data from Natural Stat Trick
Thanks for reading to the end of this article! If you appreciate this free content and want to see more of it every day, you can help us out by sharing this article on social media!
[NHLPAGE]
