Welcome back to hockey season, RotoBallers! For those first-time readers, my name is Brandon and I write both “The First-Serve” and “The Kick-Off” for Tennis and Soccer, respectively. If you have not checked those out then make sure you do! It is the return of the NHL which means it's time to sharpen our MLB skills and partake in NHL DFS! As always, I'll give you the best tools to succeed and the info you need to build the best lineups possible for your GPP and cash game NHL contests on both DraftKings and FanDuel.
Today I'll be bringing you my NHL lineup picks, analysis, and advice for NHL DFS contests on DraftKings and FanDuel for Monday, October 19th, 2020 at 7:00 PM. Be sure to also check out our awesome NHL tools including our Lineup Optimizer, Research Station, Projections, and DFS Cheat Sheets!
If you have any questions on today's slate, bankroll management, GPP strategy, Cash game strategy, or anything else don’t hesitate to email me at [email protected] or via Twitter @df_solutions or in our premium slack chat. Good luck, RotoBallers!
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NHL DFS Analysis and Picks for 10/19
Good Evening and welcome back! We have a big 11-game slate tonight with many teams playing on the back-half of a back-to-back. We also have a few teams that are in prime spots to either get right or continue their dominant form.
There is some news worth mentioning with Nathan MacKinnon and Gabriel Landeskog still out for the Avalanche. Nikita Kucherov is once again out indefinitely for Tampa Bay and Blake Wheeler will be out for Winnipeg.
NHL DFS Goalies
Mike Smith- DK $8.5K || FD $8.2K
Opponent - Anaheim Ducks
Smith is starting the season with elite numbers. Sporting a 0.953 save percentage and two wins so far, there is no reason to question his play. This is a take and run moment here and we need to take advantage of Smith’s play while we have it. Anaheim will be playing on the end of a back-to-back and as I write this, they are already losing 1-0 to Calgary. Smash spot here.
Others To Consider (Cash/GPP): Talbot(DK $8.4K || FD $8.5K), Demko(DK $8K || FD $7.3K), Jarry(DK $8.1K || FD $8.1K), Vanecek(DK $8K || FD $7.9K), Bernier(DK $7.9K || FD $7.8K), Petersen(DK $7.1K || FD $6.6K)
NHL DFS Centers
Anze Kopitar-DK $7.5K || FD $7.9K
Opponent - Nashville Predators
Kopitar is back. Oh wait, do I have to write more? Kopitar looked great in the limited time in the preseason and he has continued that form into the regular season. The center has four goals and three assists in his first two games and he has been loving life with Arvidsson at his side. Kopitar himself is also averaging 5.0 shots per game right now. Nashville does not have the best defense and Johansen does not match up against Kopitar by any means.
Kirby Dach- DK $3.3K || FD $5.1K
Opponent - New York Islanders
The Blackhawks continue their C1 audition carousel with Dach the newest contestant. The young center is entering his second season with the Blackhawks and he is making a case to take over C1. Through three matches he has two goals and he is averaging 3.0 shots per game. He is also centered between the two best wingers on the team, DeBrincat and Kane.
Others To Consider (CASH/GPP): McDavid(DK $9.2K || FD $9.2K), Barzal(DK $7.1K || FD $6.5K), Pettersson(DK $7K || FD $7.2K), Larkin(DK $6.7K || FD $5.8K), Kuznetsov(DK $5.1K || FD $6.7K), Miller(DK $5.4K || FD $6.9K), Jenner(DK $3.5K || FD $3.6K)
NHL DFS Wings
Corey Perry- DK $2.6K || FD $3.9K
Opponent - Florida Panthers
Perry has been great in the preseason and now with Kucherov out (once again), Perry is going to get the shot to play on Tampa Bay’s first line. At the minimum price and averaging just over 1.5 shots per game, it will not take much for him to hit value and more.
Jesse Puljujarvi- DK $5.7K || FD $4.9K
Opponent - Anaheim Ducks
The Finn has blown up to start the season with two goals and two assists along with seven shots. After last season, Puljujarvi was not happy with his performance and he bulked up some and got faster during the offseason so he could come back better. That is exactly what has happened and when his teammates are north of $8K, this is a severe discount and a great one-off if you aren’t stacking.
Others To Consider (CASH/GPP): Draisaitl(DK $ 8.3K || FD $8.8K), Ovechkin(DK $ 8K || FD $8.9K), Lee(DK $7.3K || FD $5.3K), Laine(DK $5.8K || FD $5.3K), Garland(DK $5.2K || FD $5.4K), Palmieri(DK $4.1K || FD $4.4K), Heinen(DK $3.4K || FD $4.6K)
NHL DFS Defensemen
Dougie Hamilton- DK $7K || FD $6.6K
Opponent - Seattle Kraken
It was a tough choice between Dougie and Seth Jones, however, Dougie wins out due to his ceiling potential in this game. Seattle just got rolled in Philadelphia 6-1 and now they travel again on the end of a back-to-back to New Jersey. Hamilton in his only game thus far has one goal, three shots, and two blocked shots. Not only does he have the floor, but he also has the ceiling.
Moritz Seider- DK $2.9K || FD $4K
Opponent - Columbus Blue Jackets
There is not a single reason that Seider should be priced under $3K on any given slate moving forward and this will most likely be the last time. The rookie has done everything he was drafted for. Through two games he has three assists, one shot and one shot blocked. His peripheral stats still need to jump up to par, but he is constantly getting good looks on the net.
Others To Consider (CASH/GPP): Werenski(DK $6.3K || FD $4.9K), Jones(DK $6K || FD $6.3K), Carlson(DK $5.8K || FD $6.7K), Lindell(DK $4.8K || FD $3.6K), Karlsson(DK $4.2K || FD $4.6K), Marino(DK $3.3K || FD $3.5K), Dobson(DK $2.9K || FD $4.2K)
NHL DFS Top Power Plays and Stacks
- EDM1
- WAS1
- SJ2
- NJ1
- LA1
- NYI1
Brandon’s Stack of the Day
EDM: Draisaitl-McDavid-Puljujarvi
Chalk Stack: NYI: Lee-Barzal-Palmieri
Sneaky Stack: NJ: Zacha-Hischier-Hamilton
NHL Player News and Updates
More DFS Lineup Picks and Analysis