NHL Daily Fantasy Helper: Wednesday 5/19/21
NHL DFS is similar to MLB in terms of how you build lineups, view stacking, and value players.
Two main points to always focus on in NHL DFS are what lines the players are on and making sure the goalies you are rostering are confirmed as the starters. Two of the best resources for that are LeftWingLock.com or DailyFaceOff.com. That is where you can find updated forward and power-play lines for each team, along with which goalies are confirmed as the starters.
Let's jump in to take a look at today's slate and some players to consider for your lineups.
Goalie to Target
Tuukka Rask ($7,700): For the second slate in a row, I'm not sure why Rask is under $8,000. There are four goalies who are more expensive than Rask, despite the fact he is a -176 home favorite, which is the third-largest on the slate. There is a clear discrepancy between the value the betting market has on him and the Boston Bruins, compared to his salary in DFS. This season, the Bruins allowed a 48.64 Corsi Against (Total Shot Attempts Allowed), which was the second-fewest in the league. They are truly one of the best defensive units in the league and if there is a chance to get their goalie at a cheaper salary, you take it.
High-Salaried Skaters
Mikko Rantanen ($8,500): Despite not scoring a goal in Game 1, Rantanen still ended with 27.7 FanDuel points from his two assists and six shots on goal. If you are going to tell me a player has roughly 30 FanDuel point potential without scoring a goal, I'd roster that player every night. That's what we get from Rantanen since he averaged 3.5 shots on goal per game this season while seeing time on the first forward line and the first power-play unit.
If that is going to be his floor of points, the upside is multi-goal potential, which wouldn't be a surprise with the Colorado Avalanche holding a 3.50 implied goal total -- the highest on the slate. Look to roster Rantanen in as many spots as you can afford him tonight.
David Pastrnak ($7,600): Similar to Rantanen, Pastrnak has shown a very high floor of points due to his shots on goal volume and his ability to add in some assists. Over the first two games of this series against the Washington Capitals, Pastrnak has 10 shots on goal and 2 assists. A player can't have that volume of shots without finding the back of the net at some point, meaning he is due for a bit of positive regression. Not to mention, he seems slightly cheaper than he should be, so take any bit of savings you can find.
Value Skater
Martin Necas ($4,700): The Carolina Hurricanes have the second-highest (3.13) implied goal total on the slate and should be a popular option tonight. Paying up for their top options is always a great idea but the value options they offer, such as Necas, should also be firmly in play. Necas is on the second forward line and the second power-play unit, bringing plenty of offensive upside. His shot volume can be inconsistent but the 5-2 final score of what we saw in Game 1 is a good indication of the pace we should see in this series.
