After running a pretty successful streak of wins, the tides have turned rather sharply as of late. However, with as close of a slate this is, I will do my best to guide us all to the valley of green. we have a six-game slate starting at 6 p.m. EST and there are no true standouts when looking at each matchup individually.
We also have a few teams running on the second-half of a back-to-back tonight: Tampa Bay, Columbus, Chicago, New York Islanders and Toronto. Columbus who sports the league's eight-worst goals against (3.19) will host San Jose and Vegas will try to use their league's sixth-best goals for (3.33) when they host stingy Calgary.
Today I'll be bringing you my NHL lineup picks, analysis, and advice for NHL DFS contests on DraftKings and FanDuel for Sunday, December 5th, 2021 at 6:00 PM. Be sure to also check out our awesome NHL tools including our Lineup Optimizer, Research Station, Projections, and DFS Cheat Sheets!
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NHL DFS Analysis and Picks for 12/05
Good Evening and welcome back! Turns out that 4-game slates are not the friendliest, or at least as of late. Last night was another blood bath and if you did not partake in the Kraken’s overtake of Buffalo...well ya lost. Arizona winning and shutting out Winnipeg as well? What?! Tonight we welcome back the typical 8-game slate with Boston as the clear-cut favorites and Minnesota not too far behind. There is a slew of injuries as well that will affect the slate and how lineups are made, so be wary..
Players Out
Players Expected Back
NHL DFS Goalies
Carter Hart- DK $7.8K || FD $7.1K
Opponent - Tampa Bay Lightning
Hart is by no means the goalie of the slate right now, but he could certainly become it. The Flyer netminder has lost four straight matches – one in overtime – over his last four appearances with a mediocre 3.97 goals against and a 0.877 save percentage in that time frame. He does, fortunately, host the Lightning though who are still injury-riddled and coming off their first of a back-to-back series. If there was ever a chance for him to rebound, it will be against his old backup Brian Elliott.
Others To Consider (Cash/GPP): SorokinDK $8.1K || FD $8.2K), Lehner(DK $7.5K || FD $7.6K), Merzlikins(DK $7.7K || FD $7.7K), Hellebuyck(DK $7.5K || FD $7.2K)
NHL DFS Centers
Morgan Frost-DK $2.9K || FD $3.4K
Opponent - Tampa Bay Lightning
Frost continues to be extremely too cheap. The second-line pivot now has four games under his belt this season and he continues to skate alongside the Flyer's top scorer – Cam Atkinson – and he holds down the second power-play unit. Brian Elliott is by no means a stud in the net and the Lightning will be playing their second game in as many days. For bottom-of-the-barrel pricing, this is a steal.
Logan Couture- DK $4.8K || FD $5.2K
Opponent - Columbus Blue Jackets
Couture is another pivot who remains too cheap. The top-line center for the Sharks remains one of their only consistent offensive threats and he happens to skate next to their best goal scorer, Timo Meier. In Couture's last five appearances he has a 0-4-4 line with nine shots. In what will be a fast-paced meeting with the Jackets, this is a perfect spot for him to notch another point or two.
Others To Consider (CASH/GPP): Draisaitl(DK $9.3K || FD $10.3K), Matthews(DK $9K || FD $9.3K), Scheifele(DK $6.8K || FD $6.5K), Hertl(DK $4.3K || FD $5.6K), Roy(DK $3.3K || FD $3.7K)
NHL DFS Wings
Wings
Max Pacioretty- DK $7.7K || FD $8.5K
Opponent - Calgary Flames
Patches is back and in a big way. The winger now has nine points through six appearances and he is averaging at least four shots per game. Calgary does provide a stingy defense and play style, but Pacioretty and Stone’s combination is deadly and it should prove so once more.
Cam Atkinson- DK $4.1K || FD $5.3K
Opponent - Tampa Bay Lightning
Atkinson has been goalless for quite some time now, but yet he continues to fire away. It is only a matter of time now until he can start putting pucks in the back of the net again and no better spot than against his old club. With 13 shots in his last five appearances and just above $4K on DraftKings, this is a perfect get-right moment.
Others To Consider (CASH/GPP): Meier(DK $7.1K || FD $8.9K), Nylander(DK $6.7K || FD $8.3K), Lee(DK $6.3K || FD $4.8K), Wheeler(DK $5.4K || FD $5.1K), Voracek(DK $3.5K || FD $4.4K), Barre-Boulet(DK $2.8K || FD $3.5K)
NHL DFS Defensemen
Defense
Neal Pionk- DK $6K || FD $4.5K
Opponent - Toronto Maple Leafs
This could not be any better of a spot for Pionk. The defenseman is now back on the top power-play unit and he is going against one of the most shot-happy teams in the league. Not only will he provide a well-balanced floor between his shots and his shots blocked, but he offers heavy upside as well.
Adam Boqvist- DK $3.2K || FD $4.1K
Opponent - San Jose Sharks
Once prized as a top blue-line prospect for the Blackhawks, Boqvist has yet to pan out. However, he is starting to show some signs of life once more with a 3-2-5 line with nine shots and four blocked shots over his last five appearances. He is also sharing the quarterbacking duties with teammate Zach Werenski on the top power-play. With the number of high-priced plays on the slate, it does not hurt to punt with upside.
Others To Consider (CASH/GPP): Doughty(DK $6.3K || FD $6.3K), Bouchard(DK $4.9K || FD $5.4K), Karlsson(DK $4.8K || FD $5.1K), Dobson(DK $3.7K || FD $4.1K), Yandle(DK $2.8K || FD $4K), Aho(DK $2.7K || FD $3.6K)
NHL DFS Top Power Plays and Stacks
- CBJ1
- VGS1
- WPG1
Brandon’s Stack of the Day
CBJ: Jenner-Bjorkstrand-Werenski
Chalk Stack:
VGS: Pacioretty-Stephenson-Stone
Sneaky Stack:
PHI: Atkinson-Frost-Yandle
NHL Player News and Updates
More DFS Lineup Picks and Analysis