Washington Capitals left wing Alex Ovechkin (8), from Russia, pauses on the ice in the first period of an NHL hockey game against the Dallas Stars, Thursday, Nov. 19, 2015, in Washington. (AP Photo/Alex Brandon)
Hello, hockey fans and welcome to an awesome seven-game NHL slate today. We have some great picks in store for you as we have a variety of teams with good offenses as well as some bad defenses. Let's not waste any more time and dive right in shall we?
Hockey is back and with it come our NHL projections which help inform these picks every night. When you purchase a DFSR NHL subscription to our base hockey projections you also get access to our brand new NFL DFS suite of tools including full projections, optimal NFL lineups and our Player Lab, which includes filters to help you create NFL lineups for FanDuel and DraftKings for any format. It’s a set of tools well beyond anything we’ve ever had, and something we feel will help our users *ahem* tackle the NFL season.
If you want to see the numbers behind our projections, create linueps with a single click, or research as deeply as your heart desires, click the button below to test out yourself.
Opponent - CHI
Proj Pts FD - 13.47 DK - 3.37
I want to start by saying that I am a novice writer, but I analyze every single thing that I can, just hoping that it all becomes relevant someday. I wake up at night and in the morning with hockey on my brain. I know this guy is facing the Chicago Blackhawks today and I know the fact that they are still a pretty darned good offensive team. I was actually scared to mention Washington's netminder when I first glanced at today's games. But then I realized how absolutely amazing Holtby has been lately. He has won his last four games while allowing only three goals with two shutouts. Pretty good eh? Matchup-proof hands down. Start him in all formats today folks.
Opponent - BUF
Proj Pts FD - 13.56 DK - 3.39
This is quite the drop-off in talent here. I do believe that Holtby won't be too popular today because of the fact that he's facing Chicago, but if for some reason you don't like him, then we can make a case for Ward especially over at Fanduel where he's much cheaper. Carolina has actually shown signs that they aren't quite the pushover this season as in years past. They own the league's #1 penalty kill this season, as well as the 12th ranked defense. Ward has allowed three goals in each of his last two games, but his team has been finding some offense lately and they won both of them. This game is about Carolina's opponent as Buffalo is ranked 25th on offense. It will also be their third game in four nights and they just lost to Tampa Bay last night. If for some reason you are scared of using Holtby tonight, then Ward isn't a bad play.
Also Consider: Chad Johnson or Brian Elliot
Opponent - NYI
Proj Pts FD - 14.37 DK - 4.28
This should not be breaking news to anyone. The Islanders are not a good defensive team and here we have a guy who is currently playing on Florida's top line and their #1 PP unit. Our system absolutely loves him today and with good reason. The Islanders are ranked a lowly 24th on defense and they just simply aren't a very good hockey team this season. Trochek has averaged a massive 23 minutes of ice time in his last two games and has a goal and two assists with four shots on goal in the process. Ice time equals opportunity my friends and Trocheck makes a great play in all formats this evening.
Stack With: Jaromir Jagr
Opponent - CHI
Proj Pts FD - 11.36 DK - 3.78
It is tough recommending a player who is facing the Chicago Blackhawks, but when that player centers the great Alexander Ovechkin, we must take notice. Chicago's defense is sixth-best in the league, but their penalty kill is awful as it is ranked second worst. So what we need to do is find a guy who isn't very expensive that plays on the top line and #1 PP unit for the Capitals. Here is our man and he's been on fire lately as he's on a four-game point streak. In those four games, the star Swede has two goals and six assists. Enough said. Use Backstrom in all formats today.
Stack with: Alex Ovechkin, T.J. Oshie
Opponent - CBJ
Proj Pts FD - 8.77 DK - 2.72
Okay, so here we have a nice little value play that our system thinks isn't bad considering how cheap he is on both sites. The young Russian is currently centering the top line in which fellow countryman Nikita Kucherov plays on. He got an assist last night to give him a goal and an assist in his last two games while firing seven shots on goal. Columbus has been letting in a few goals lately, so at this price, I think he is a good way to get exposure to Kucherov this evening. I will be using him in all formats and you should as well.
Stack with: Nikita Kucherov, Ondrej Palat
Opponent - ARI
Proj Pts FD - 15 DK - 4.77
My boy Wheels. Welcome back to my article for the second time in a row my friend. Arizona is a bad hockey team and they are ranked second worst in the league on defense. I was going to recommend a couple other of the Jets' good players, but they don't shoot the puck enough. Enter Wheeler who has a goal and two assists in his last three games, while firing nine shots on goal during that time period. We need to get exposure to the Jets today simply because the Coyotes are bad and it starts with Wheeler. Our system loves him today and he makes a great play in all formats.
Stack with: Brian Little, Drew Stafford
Opponent - BUF
Proj Pts FD - 12.74 DK - 3.93
Hello Skins and welcome to my article. This guy is a very streaky player and he isn't for the faint of heart from a DFS perspective. But if you want to take down a tournament or two today then this could be your guy. Like I said earlier, Buffalo is playing their third game in four nights, so they will be very tired. Skinner had a goal, an assist, and five shots on goal in his last game. He's not a safe play for cash games but stack him with his line-mates this evening in your GPP lineups.
Stack with: Victor Rask, Derek Ryan
Opponent - NJ
Proj Pts FD - 10.77 DK - 3.12
Wow has this guy been on fire lately considering how cheap he is on both sites, so he will continue to be in my article until he falls off the face of the Earth, which hopefully doesn't happen in real life. Frolik has four goals and 13 shots on goal in his last four games. He and his linemates have been playing very well lately and the Devils are ranked 22nd on defense. He sees time on the #2 PP unit in Calgary, as well as the team's top penalty kill unit. At this price, I think he is a decent play in all formats today.
Stack with: Matthew Tkachuk, Michael Backlund
Opponent - ARI
Proj Pts FD - 12.33 DK - 4.1
Wow does Buffy see a lot of ice time on a game by game basis. He's averaged 27 minutes in his last four games. He has fired 15 shots on goal in his last four games, and although he only has a goal during that time period, he can go off at any time. Well, tonight against the Coyotes 29th ranked defense could be that time. Buffy is not a great cash game play but he should be in your GPP lineups if you want to take down a large tourney today.
Opponent - BUF
Proj Pts FD - 9.32 DK - 2.75
Ice time equals opportunity as I frequently say. With that ice time, Slavin has contributed 87 blocked shots and 58 shots on goal, while adding a goal and 15 assists. This guy does a bit of everything for the Hurricanes, and at this price, he makes a nice safe play for your cash game lineups.
Also Consider: Zach Werenski
Hockey is back and with it come our NHL projections which help inform these picks every night. When you purchase a DFSR NHL subscription to our base hockey projections you also get accessto our brand new NFL DFS suite of tools including full projections, optimal NFL lineups and our Player Lab, which includes filters to help you create NFL lineups for FanDuel and DraftKings for any format. It’s a set of tools well beyond anything we’ve ever had, and something we feel will help our users *ahem* tackle the NFL season.
If you want to see the numbers behind our projections, create linueps with a single click, or research as deeply as your heart desires, click the button below to test out yourself.
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