RADIO
We have a three-game main slate tonight for both DraftKings and FanDuel. Also, there are several teams in action who are in the playoff hunt, so no rest for them as the season comes to an end. You should be looking at teams in higher over-under games. Colorado and Chicago feel like a high-scoring, high-event game based on both teams not being rested. It is also the back end of a home and home weekend series.
Every team except Columbus is playing with no rest. Columbus has its own problems. Alas, this is a sludge type of night where it becomes more of a guessing game trying to figure out which teams are less fatigued. Remember, when picking around for plays, an over/under of 6.5 dictates offense, but an over/under of 5.5 tilts towards the goalies.
In this article, I will be providing you with my daily fantasy hockey lineup picks for DraftKings and FanDuel on 3/24/19. The lineup picks will range from some of the elite players to mid-priced options and value plays. If you have any questions or comments, feel free to hit me up on Twitter @ChrisWasselDFS. Let's get to it, shall we?
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DFS Forwards to Consider
Nathan MacKinnon - C, COL vs CHI (FD - $8,600, DK - $7,600)
MacKinnon's price went down ahead of the game against Chicago. He is facing a team that the center plays well against but has had some awful luck (one goal on 26 shots in four meetings). The thought process is that the Colorado forward is bound to break out in Chicago tonight. This is the only game with an over/under of 6.5. Overall, MacKinnon has a whopping 52 shots on net in his last ten games played. That includes averaging over four scoring chances per game. He has slightly better splits away from home when it comes to goals and power-play goals. J.T. Compher makes for a nice mini-stack considering he is seeing as much ice time as MacKinnon lately.
Brock Boeser - W, VAN vs CBJ (FD - $7,400, DK - $6,500)
There is some risk because Columbus is normally stingy when it comes to allowing chances and shots. However, Columbus is bathing in its own turmoil which includes Sergei Bobrovsky's nagging injury. Boeser has points in four straight games and his shot total is creeping back up to nearly three a game. He even has power-play goals in consecutive games. Columbus does not take a lot of penalties typically but over the last month, they rank near the bottom third. Maybe that is because the losses are starting to mount. Either way, Boeser is a slightly cheaper way to differentiate your lineups. Patrick Kane and Alex DeBrincat are options at home against the Colorado Avalanche on Sunday night.
DFS Defenders to Consider
Erik Gustafson - D, CHI vs COL (FD - $5,800, DK - $5,800)
Pickings are a bit slimmer on this three-game slate. However, Gustafson is playing nearly 25 minutes a night over the past three games with goals in each contest. Add in the fact that the Chicago blueliner has 16 shots on goal during that span and his value could not be higher. When Gustafson is on the ice, everything ramps up -- both scoring chances for and against. Even at even strength, Gustafson now tops the Chicago defense in points per 60 and that does not even include his impact on the power play. Basically, when Gustafson is on the ice expect some higher-event hockey.
Brett Pesce - D, CAR vs MTL (FD - $3,700, DK - $4,200)
Pesce finally is providing some production with two goals and six assists in his last nine games. He provides a modest floor with a little over 2.5 shots and blocks combined per game. This is a value play on Sunday night to save some money elsewhere on those high-priced stacks. The risk with the Carolina defenseman is he sees next to zero power-play time. However, on the penalty kill and even strength, he is an anchor out there. That helps one's floor on a Sunday night. He has a bit more scoring punch than players like Ian Cole or even Erik Johnson at this point.
DFS Goalies to Consider
Thatcher Demko - G, VAN vs CBJ (FD - $7,300, DK - $7,700)
Demko projects to be the starter after Jakob Markstrom started last night for Vancouver against the Calgary Flames. The backup Vancouver goaltender looked great in Chicago stopping 29 of 31 shots in a win. Also, he has three consecutive quality appearances. Gradually, the young goalie is getting acclimated to the NHL pace and thriving. Columbus is struggling mightily to score goals (four goals on their last 78 shots and seven posts hit) and a good bit of that is from bad luck. That is why there is a danger here. However, the expectation is a higher-shot count. That helps Demko and if he keeps the game close, the bonus points for a win come into play and make him an even higher value.
