NHL DFS is back! The NHL returned last night after a long layoff due to the COVID-19 pandemic. It was great to watch live hockey again, and seeing Dominik Kubalik have a five point night was pretty amazing. The teams still have to shake the rust off and get their game speed back to 100%. But, I think we got a great showing last night, setting the table for the playoffs. The schedule for these play-in games is a little spread out due to the NHL using only two arenas in Canada, so the lock will vary on your specific site. FanDuel split the slate up, while DraftKings is still using the full day as the main attraction.
When you’re making lineups, it extremely important to pay attention to the news. Starting goalies will be less surprising as the playoffs continue, but for now you need to pay attention to as much news as possible. I’ve created a beat writer list on twitter that has most of, if not all the teams beat writers that will release team news HERE. Another way to stay in tune is by joining our premium Slack Chat, with an Awesemo + account.
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Schedule for Sunday, August 2nd, 2020Â
| AWAY | O/U | HOME | TIME (EST) |
| Arizona | 5.5 | Nashville | 2:00 PM |
| Philadelphia | 5.5 | Boston | 3:00 PM |
| St. Louis | 5.5 | Colorado | 6:30 PM |
| Columbus | 6 | Toronto | 8:00 PM |
| Minnesota | 5.5 | Vancouver | 10:30 PM |
NHL DFS Picks: Forwards
Auston Matthews (TOR vs CLS): DraftKings – $8,100; FanDuel – $8,600
The Maple Leafs figure to be the chalk of the night with the highest Vegas total, and most of the other games look to be defensive battles. Toronto has one of the most lethal top six in the league. Getting Ilya Mikheyev back after a long layoff due to taking a skate blade to the wrist will only help them become stronger. Matthews went into the Covid-19 layoff playing phenomenal hockey, averaging almost five shots per game. The Blue Jackets went into the layoff playing good hockey as well, and they were doing a good job of limiting scoring chances. I think the Leafs have too much firepower and the Jackets going into the playoffs with a couple of goalies that don’t have playoff experience, doesn’t help.
JT Miller (VAN @ MIN): DraftKings – $6,100; FanDuel – $7,000
J.T Miller is the driving force for the Canucks second line. Hes a very crafty pivot that can get pucks on net regularly, and he is a great distributor. The Canucks second line has a ton of firepower with Elias Pettersson playing pivot between Miller and Tyler Toffoli. Before the break, the trio had a 57 CF% while creating 39 shots for per 60, and 14 high danger chances. Minnesota was a pretty solid shut down team scoring chances wise but they were brutal on the road. The Wild’s goal tending struggled due to the Wild’s defensive inconsistencies. I doint think we can really lean on home road splits in this playoff format, but we can use the match-ups with last change etc.
Cam Atkinson (CLS @ TOR): DraftKings – $4,900; FanDuel – $6,800
Atkinson’s price at $4,900 on DraftKings seems too low for me here. Yeah the Leafs have a ton of fire power, but they can also give up goals in bunches as well. Atkinson will flank the right wing on the second line, alongside Nick Foligno and Alexander Wennberg. Atkinson is a volume shooter and playing alongside Wennberg, he should plenty of chances as Wennberg is a pass first facilitator. I don’t see a hard match in this game, but the Leafs will most likely match up the John Tavares line against the Jackets second line for the majority of the night. Either way they match up, The Leafs top six both allow about double digit scoring chances. This game would be the game that has the most offensive upside tonight in my opinion.
NHL DFS Picks: Defense
Roman Josi (NSH vs ARI): DraftKings – $7,000; FanDuel – $7,200
There isnt a single night that Roman Josi isn’t in play. FanDuel split the NHL DFS slates up and put the Preds game on an early only and the all day slate. The Swiss blue-liner is a massive contributor on the Blue line for the Predators. Josi has logged over 25 minutes a game the entire year and he went into the Covid-19 layoff averaging SIX shots & blocks per game. Josi is the quarterback of the top power play unit, and the offense runs through him. Hes one of the most consistent producers on the blue line. The only drawback for me tonight is that the Coyotes have been a very disciplined team and they don’t give up a ton of goals.
Alexander Edler (VAN vs MIN): DraftKings – $5,100; FanDuel – $4,300
Edler missed some time in the early season with injury, and when he came back he was designated to the second power play unit. Quinn Hughes remains the top power play quarterback, but Edler consistently has more fantasy production. Going into the layoff, Edler was averaging over 22 minutes of ice time, while accruing five shots & blocks per game. He definitely has NHL DFS fantasy relevance tonight as “Defense vs the Wild” is a real thing. Minnesota gives up the second most fantasy points per game to defensemen in the league.
Cale Makar (COL vs STL): DraftKings – $5,200; FanDuel – $5,700
The Calder finalist will play in his first playoff series and he comes in fully healthy. Makar fans had a scare with his health right before the teams flew out into the bubble, but he said he is 100%. Makar is a very gifted offensive defenseman, he managed to light the lamp 12 times this year, while chipping in 50 points in 57 games. Hes 14th in the league in goals but seventh in points. That’s a very good rookie year especially when you miss 12 games more than anyone above him in the points department. Taking on the defending champions tonight is going to be a strong test as they are a very grindy defensive team, but getting exposure to the likes of Nathan MacKinnon, Mikko Rantanen, and Gabriel Landeskog on the power play is a great way to get exposure.
NHL DFS Picks: Stacks
Toronto 1 ($19,700): William Nylander – Auston Matthews – Zach Hyman
Vancouver 2 ($18,200): J.T. Miller – Elias Petterson – Tyler Toffoli
Columbus 2 ($12,100): Nick Foligno – Alxender Wennberg – Cam Atkinson
Arizona 1 ($14,400): Conor Garland – Christian Dvorak – Taylor Hall
Nashville 3 ($10,600): Rocco Grimaldi – Nick Bonino – Craig Smith
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