RADIO
The NHL season approaches the end of week number three! Some hockey trends have established themselves but many are still to come. 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 Saturday, October 30th, 2021 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 stevens8204@gmail.com or via Twitter @ChrisWasselDFS or in our premium slack chat. Good luck, RotoBallers!
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NHL DFS Analysis and Picks for 10/30
We feature an eight-game slate, headlined by St. Louis, Pittsburgh, Philadelphia, Edmonton, Toronto, and yes Minnesota versus Colorado. The lock is at 7:00 which means obviously the afternoon games get their own separate DFS slate.
There is some news worth mentioning. Pittsburgh says Sidney Crosby and Jeff Carter will be game-time decisions versus New Jersey. Goaltending confirmations may be interesting this evening. Watch out for injuries and sadly much illness (not all COVID-related).
The goal will be to keep things as simple as possible. Our focus will be as much on interactions on social media and in chatrooms. This is because news and numbers have become that fluid now. Everything changes at a breakneck pace.
NHL DFS Goalies
Tristan Jarry - DK $8.0K || FD $7.7K
Opponent - New Jersey Devils
The question is does Sidney Crosby or Jeff Carter. Does none, one, or both suit up? That may be the biggest impact of this game. Jarry has performed well in the early going. He has a 3-1-1 mark with a 1.78 goals-against average and a .933 save percentage. Also, Jarry is stopping the shots he is supposed to. Considering how much of a problem that was in the playoffs and the understand for concern was there. Jarry is facing a New Jersey team that has looked almost toothless since the Jack Hughes shoulder injury. Jarry's salary is rather cheap under the circumstances.
Linus Ullmark - DK $7.8K || FD $7.5K
Opponent - Florida Panthers
The Boston Bruins face the Florida Panthers as the rested team on Saturday night in Boston. That is great news for Ullmark owners as he is projected to get the start. Ullmark has a solid 2.37 goals-against average and a .920 save percentage in the early going for the Bruins. Ullmark did allow three goals in a mid-week loss to the Panthers but has looked the better of the two Boston goalies in October. This is a high-risk value play because well look at that FanDuel salary for a Boston home contest. That does not happen very often.
Carter Hart - DK $7.2K || FD $7.2K
Opponent - Calgary Flames
The risk of playing a goaltender against a Calgary team that looked great on their road trip is scary. However, the first game back can sometimes be quite the adjustment. At this salary, Carter Hart has to be looked at as a flier in the very least. Carter Hart was very good on Wednesday against Edmonton allowing just three goals on 37 shots. Consider that the Oilers could have easily scored five or six goals in that game. Hart was that good for the Flyers and will have to continue to be laser-focused against.a Calgary team with Elias Lindholm and Matthew Tkachuk among several other dangerous forwards. Again, value and a possible save bonus on DraftKings are enticing.
NHL DFS Centers
Pierre Luc-Dubois - DK $5.0K || FD $5.2K
Opponent - San Jose Sharks
The idea is crazy but think about this. Pierre Luc-Dubois is averaging almost the same amount of points as Nathan MacKinnon. How the heck is that possible? The numbers do not lie. Maybe all that work in his parents' lumber yard worked. Whatever the case may be, Dubois has found his confidence again. He has six goals in seven games but fired five shots on net against Los Angeles. Facing a San Jose team that will give up its fair share of shots means one thing. Shoot the damn puck, Pierre! It is that simple for the center. Watch for the status of Jeff Carter and Sidney Crosby. Play Connor McDavid and Leon Draisaitl somewhere as well.
Dylan Larkin - DK $6.5K || FD $6.6K
Opponent - Toronto Maple Leafs
DraftKings and FanDuel finally have themselves a matchup here as Detroit and Toronto renew acquaintances. Yes, the wish would be that these teams play each other more, Larkin fired seven shots on net with six scoring chances in his last game against Florida. He has five points in his last four games and many would argue should have more. it is nice that the center is not quite as snakebitten as he was to start last year. Toronto is a chaotic mess that needs to get offense from anywhere at this point. They will sacrifice defense to generate offense a lot more than usual.
Dawson Mercer - DK $4.0K || FD $4.1K
Opponent - Pittsburgh Penguins
Centers tend to do pretty well in this spot lately. Someone in DFS figured out Dawson Mercer is pretty good. How much more scary would Mercer be if Alexander Holtz was in the NHL too? Anyway, Mercer had a goal and assist against Calgary on Thursday and was the only player Darryl Sutter said could instill fear every single shift. Mercer can be horrendous to play against. He is feisty as hell and will not give up. That sometimes gets him in trouble. However, his is the type of discipline that is teachable. Look for Mercer to take his shots more and more knowing he has a middle-six spot for at least the next 5-6 weeks.
Others To Consider (CASH/GPP): Matthews (DK $8.4K || FD $8.5K), MacKinnon (DK $8.6K || FD $9.0K). Copp (DK $6.1K || FD $5.7K -- listed as Wing on FD), Mercer (DK $2.7K || FD $3.0K).
NHL DFS Wings
Timo Meier - DK $7.1K || FD $6.6K
Opponent - Winnipeg Jets
There are so many ideas here and Timo Meier playing ticked and up against a Winnipeg team that gives up a ton of chances just feels like a wise move. Winnipeg allows the second-most DFS points to wingers for good reason. They do not have the speed to match up with a lot of opponents. Not having Mark Scheifele hurts as well and their depth on defense is a little flat-footed. Meier has four goals and nine points in seven games. More importantly, he has 31 shots on goal and more than 30 scoring chances already. Winnipeg and San Jose have an early start too. That could be an all-or-nothing game. Risk and reward is fun.
David Perron - DK $6.4K || FD $7.7K
Opponent - Chicago Blackhawks
This is one that could be a real helper to DFS lineups. Hopefully, most have caught on to the St, Louis winger's hot start again. The idea is to ride it as far as it goes. Perron finds ways to score that most forwards do not. His power-play presence cannot be underestimated because most defenses still do. He had four goals in two games against Los Angeles with 13 shots and 11 scoring chances. Chicago just gave up six goals in 40 minutes last night against Carolina. Does anyone expect Chicago not to give up at least three goals? Exactly! Either way, take the risk especially on DraftKings where Perron's price is lower and the shot bonus is in play. Pair with Vladimir Tarasenko in some places to get max Blues exposure.
Blake Coleman - DK $4.5K || FD $4.7K
Opponent - Philadelphia Flyers
There are lots of possibilities and even Claude Giroux as a counter here. However, Blake Coleman apparently loves playing against the tri-state area teams (See Rangers, Devils, etc.). That being said, the winger is finding more and more value as the one who shoots the puck more once again. He now has 24 shots in his last five games on 36 attempts! Also, Coleman has two goals and three assists in his previous three contests. The points were bound to come with the shots on this streak. The winger is playing over 16 minutes a night and can more than handle the load. Keep playing him at this price. Plus Philadelphia's defense is full of holes. Call him a cheaper version of Andrew Mangiapane but with more peripheral possibilities.
Lucas Raymond - DK $4.5K || FD $4.7K
Opponent - Toronto Maple Leafs
This is one of the riskiest plays on the slate Saturday night. The Toronto Maple Leafs can shut teams down but have had a tendency of giving up goals against the flow of play. Lucas Raymond excels in this role and that is partly why a speedy winger like him has to be utilized somewhere in lineups. Cost relief is cost relief but more importantly, there is that shot release. Raymond changes angles like Joe Sakic and quickly. This eight-game slate is one to take some bigger shots than usual. Toronto is in some real trouble, honestly.
Others To Consider (CASH/GPP): Connor (DK $7.4K || FD $8.6K, Hyman (DK $5.7K || FD $6.8K), Barbashev (DK $3.7K || FD $4.2K), Zucker (DK $4.2K || FD $4.3K), Giroux (DK $6.4K || FD $6.2K)
NHL DFS Defensemen
Evan Bouchard - DK $4.7K || FD $4.0K
Opponent - Vancouver Canucks
While the injuries and inconsistency are the order of the day, the biggest constant this season on defense has been change? That's right. Evan Bouchard was mostly an afterthought until the Edmonton Oilers' preseason started. His ability to generate huge shots and stabilize a shaky defense cannot be underestimated. Yes, Edmonton still gives up a slew of chances but not as many. Bouchard may not have the points but if he keeps playing 23-24 minutes a night and sees expanded power-play time, they will come with those two centers that lead the way in Edmonton.
Cale Makar - DK $6.5K || FD $6.8K
Opponent - Minnesota Wild
A week ago, Cale Makar had one point and people were asking what's going on. Cue the fast forward button and now he has six and looks like Cale Makar. Well, imagine that. Yes, Mikko Rantanen is out tonight but Makar can carry an offense with his ability to Ozolinsh (Wait, what?). For those that do not know, Sandis Ozolinsh was one of the better roving defensemen back in days gone by. Makar is a souped-up version of him basically geared for today's game. Minnesota has a hit-or-miss way with Colorado when it comes to DFS. This could be a higher-scoring game than most expect. These two teams do not like each other and expect fireworks early!
Neal Pionk - DK $5.2K || FD $5.0K
Opponent - San Jose Sharks
Give me all the risks on Saturday evening. The warm winds blow into the Northern Californian valleys as Neal Pionk has five helpers in his last three games. This is ultimate high-risk because the defenseman does not block a ton of shots and misses quite a few on the offensive end. However, when he connects, he connects. San Jose was projected to start Adin Hill at press time and that may be a recipe for disaster for them. Pionk has a penchant for peripherals and chances are decent enough that he at least adds an assist too.
Others To Consider (CASH/GPP): Seider (DK $3.6K || FD $4.0K), Rielly (DK $5.9K || FD $3.5K), Severson (DK $4.5K || FD $4.1K), Burns (DK $6.6K || FD $5.2K), Ekman-Larsson (DK $5.1K || FD $4,4K).
TOP Power Play Lines/Stacks for Saturday
- WPG 1
- STL 1
- EDM 1 (use Bouchard to save some salary)
- TOR 2
- CGY or PHI 1
- PIT 1 (This goes up if Crosby plays)
Chris’s Line Stack of the Day
MIN: Kaprizov-Eklund Ek-Dumba (Colorado gives up tons of DFS points to defensemen)
Obvious Stack
EDM: McDavid-Hyman-Nurse (mix things up a little if not going Double Center).
STL: Perron-Schenn-Kostin (use Parayko if needed)
Sneaky Stack
NJD: Mercer-Bratt-Johnsson (Can use Severson here)
Please keep in mind that there will be many shifts in lines with most teams especially early.
