Welcome, RotoBallers! If you do not know me, 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, make sure you do! It is the return of the NHL season 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 Sunday, March 20th, 2022 at 5:00 PM EST and 6:00 PM EST.. 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 3/20/22
The trade deadline is only a day away and trades are coming fast and furious now. This is making things a little more tricky as players can be scratched last minute. However, this is also opening up some unforeseen value as well. I will do my best in guiding you through this average five-game slate on DraftKings and the smaller four-game slate on FanDuel tonight starting at 5:00 p.m. EST and 6:00 p.m. EST respectively.
There are a few teams playing on the second-half of a back-to-back on both platforms: Dallas, New York Rangers, Arizona, Chicago and Vancouver. The Coyotes and their league’s sixth-worst 3.51 GA will travel to the Sharks, while the Hurricanes and their league’s ninth-best 3.27 GF will look to finally break ground when they host the Rangers.
DISCLOSURE: Things may not be the same at puck drop due to COVID-19 and injuries. Make sure to monitor the news feed and play at your own risk.
NHL DFS Goalies
Connor Hellebuyck- DK $7.8K || FD $7.4K
Opponent - Chicago Blackhawks
Neither the Blackhawks nor the Jets are playing tremendous hockey right now and the Blackhawks are coming off a 3-1 loss to rivals Minnesota Wild. However, the Hawks are in the process of tearing some of the team apart leading up to the trade deadline leaving little chemistry and it showed yesterday. This is a perfect spot for Hellebuyck and the Jets to gain critical points.
Others To Consider (Cash/GPP): Raanta(DK $8.1K || FD $8.4K), Halak(DK $8.3K || FD $7.8K, Reimer(DK $8.4K || FD $7.6K)
NHL DFS Centers
Dylan Strome-DK $5.1K || FD $5.4K
Opponent - Winnipeg Jets
Now we visit the other side of the puck with Stromer. The top-line pivot has been on point since his promotion back to the top-line of the Blackhawks. In his last five appearances, he has a 4-3-7 line with 10.0 shots and 4.0 blocked shots. Although the Blackhawks are improving offensively, it is very reliant on Strome's line.
Logan Couture- DK $5.4K || FD $6.4K
Opponent - Arizona Coyotes
Couture has been a different player since his reunion with teammate and winger Timo Meier and in his last five games, he has a 1-3-4 line and 19.0 shots. Arizona just got trounced on by the Penguins yesterday in a 4-1 loss and they could see a similar result here if the Sharks can start the meeting aggressively. Couture is also benefitting from teammate Erik Karlsson being back too.
Others To Consider (CASH/GPP): Miller(DK $7.4K || FD $K), Hintz(DK $6.6K || FD $K), Dubois(DK $5.8K || FD $6.6K), Trocheck(DK $5K || FD $5.9K), Pettersson(DK $4.7K || FD $6.3K)
NHL DFS Wings
Frank Vatrano- DK $2.5K || FD $3.9K
Opponent - Carolina Hurricanes
Vatrano did not disappoint in his Rangers debut against the Lightning yesterday and today’s matchup will be much friendlier. The Hurricanes have been playing uninspiring hockey lately and this could be the perfect time for the Rangers to take crucial points in the very tight Eastern Conference. In Vatrano’s first game with the Rangers, he had zero points, but he did have five shots. The now ex-Panther could prove to be vital in the Rangers push for playoffs, especially playing in the support role across from teammate Artemi Panarin.
Nikolaj Ehlers- DK $5.9K || FD $7.4K
Opponent - Chicago Blackhawks
The Jets winger has thrived since his season debut, albeit starting on the third-line. Now he is producing in bunches on the second-line and he has a solid 3-2-5 line with 17.0 shots and 3.0 blocked shots over his last five games. The Blackhawks are looking to possibly trade Fleury, which could give Lankinin the reigns again. This would provide the perfect opportunity for Ehlers.
Others To Consider (CASH/GPP): Connor(DK $7.4K || FD $9.6K), Meier(DK $7.2K || FD $8.7K), Teravainen(DK $6.9K || FD $7.1K), Tuch(DK $5.5K || FD $6.9K), Mantha(DK $3.4K || FD $K), Dahlen(DK $2.7K || FD $4K)
NHL DFS Defensemen
Erik Karlsson- DK $2.5K || FD $5.7K
Opponent - Arizona Coyotes
Karlsson has not been stellar since his return from injury, however, he has at least been stringing together a respectable floor. The defenseman since his return in five games has 1.0 goals, 11.0 shots and 3.0 blocked shots. Luckily for Karlsson, he should see a moderate floor against the Coyotes who give up the most shots in the league and have one of the worst defenses in the league.
Jaccob Slavin- DK $3.4K || FD $5.1K
Opponent - New York Rangers
The power-play quarterback for the Hurricanes has been one of the only consistent players over the past month or so. The Canes are struggling to find any sort of offense, however, Alex Georgiev is expected to start in net here and he is by no means a world-renown goalie. As long as teammate Anthony DeAngelo is still out, Slavin will continue to be the top defenseman in the Canes lineup and he will remain on the main power-play. He is also in the middle of the salary range which could provide some much-needed savings. In Slavin’s last five games, he has a 0-2-2 line with 14.0 shots and 11.0 blocked shots.
Others To Consider (CASH/GPP): Fox(DK $6.9K || FD $6.8K), Hughes(DK $5.7K || FD $5.8K), Klingberg(DK $5K || FD $K), Schmidt(DK $3.1K || FD $5.3K)
NHL DFS Top Power Plays and Stacks
- SJ1
- CAR1
- WPG1
Brandon’s Stacks of the Day
- CAR: Aho-Trocheck-Teravainen
Chalk Stack
- WPG: Connor-Dubois-Ehlers
Sneaky Stack
- SJ: Balcers-Hertl-Meier