Daily Fantasy Hockey Picks for FanDuel and DraftKings 3/5/17

Welcome back for a nice seven-game slate on Sunday. There are five teams (BUF, CBJ, NJ, VAN, COL) who are playing back to back, a third game in four days and a fourth game of the week. Let's jump into the picks.

 

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.

GOALIES

Matthew Murray FD - $9200 DK - $8300
Opponent - BUF
Proj Pts FD - 14.96 DK - 3.74

Today we have a goalie who stands out above the rest and Vegas has the Penguins listed as -275 favorites today. Wow! The Sabres are ranked 21st on offense and Pittsburgh should dominate them as soon as the puck drops today. Murray has won three of his last four starts and gave up only two goals against Tampa Bay last time out. The young star in the making is 10-4-2 in his last 16 games with a .927 save % and a 2.30 GAA. Murray is a great play today in all formats.

 

 

Jonathan Bernier FD - $8200 DK - $8300
Opponent - VAN
Proj Pts FD - 11.94 DK - 2.98

Here we have another goalie that is in a favorable matchup against an inferior opponent. Bernier hasn't been the greatest goalie since Gibson landed on the IR and he took the starting job, but he's been decent enough. I would even recommend the Ducks farm team goalie today against the Canucks and their 29th ranked offense. They are an awful hockey team and even worse away from home. Bernier has won two of his last three starts and was victorious against Toronto last time out as he only gave up two goals.

 

 

Also Consider: Jake Allen

 

CENTERS

Sidney Crosby FD - $8900 DK - $8300
Opponent - BUF
Proj Pts FD - 16.98 DK - 4.81

Evgeni Malkin FD - $8700 DK - $7700
Opponent - BUF
Proj Pts FD - 16.61 DK - 4.68

It was very tough to choose between these two superstars today, so why not write about both of them? That sounds like a great idea as the Penguins play the Sabres on home ice today. Sid the kid was pointless for two games and then got two assists last game vs Tampa Bay. He didn't record any shots on goal, but he still averages 3.25 shots on goal per game this season. Crosby has 34 goals, 35 assists, and 20 power-play points this season and he's going to be a tough fade today in all formats against the Sabres.

Malkin has fairly similar stats to Crosby and they play on separate lines, but they play together on the Penguins' deadly #1 PP unit. The Russian star scored two goals and added and assist last game. He has seven shots on goal in his last two games and averages exactly three shots on goal per game this season. Malkin scored a goal last game to go along with two assists and has seven shots on goal in his last two games. He also has 20 power-play points this season. The Penguins have the highest projected goal total today with 3.60 goals so we need exposure to them and Malkin is a great play in all formats.

PP Stack with: Patrick Hornqvist, Phil Kessel

 

 

Jordan Staal FD - $5100 DK - $5400
Opponent - ARI
Proj Pts FD - 9.06 DK - 2.79

It is always tough choosing a player from the Hurricanes because they spread their ice time around so much, but one guy that averages a lot of ice time per game is Jordan Staal. He plays on the #1 PP unit and kills a lot of penalties also. We need exposure to any team who is playing against Arizona and Staal scored a goal last game while firing five shots on goal. He's not the safest play but makes a great low owned GPP play against the Coyotes and their #29 ranked defense.

Stack with: Sebastian Aho (PP,) Elias Lindholm (PP)

 

 

 

WINGERS

Radim Vrbata FD - $6200 DK - $5500
Opponent - CAR
Proj Pts FD - 12.22 DK - 3.64

There is a ton of value at the wing position today. So much that we I'm thinking that we may be able to fit both Malkin and Crosby into our lineups. That's awesome and it is because of  guys like Vrbata that allow us to do that. Everyone including him thought that he would be traded but that wasn't so and he has been one of the best players in the league in the second half. He is way too cheap and he got an assist with four shots on goal last game and has points in 11 of his last 12 games. Carolina is ranked 19th on defense so look for Vrbata to find the score-sheet today. He is my favorite play at winger in all formats.

Stack with: Max Domi

 

 

 

Matthew Tkachuk FD - $5400 DK - $4600
Opponent - NYI
Proj Pts FD - 11.15 DK - 3.3

The son of Keith has found his way into my article again and he has earned the right. He hustles up and down the ice asgood as anyone in the league and today him and the Flames play the Islanders and their 25th ranked defense. This young man scored a goal game and has seven shots in his last two games. He plays on the Flames' #2 line which has been their best line and their #2 PP unit. Tkachuk is a nice salary cap filler in all formats today.

Stack with: Michael Frolik, Michael Backlund

 

 

 

Brandon Saad FD - $5800 DK - $5300
Opponent - NJ
Proj Pts FD - 10.4 DK - 3.06

Do you notice a theme today? We are picking on weak teams and the Devils fit the bill as they are ranked 20th on defense. The Blue Jackets have a potent offense and Saad plays on the top line and #2 PP unit. He has two goals and eight shots in his last two games and he averages 17 minutes of ice time per game. He is also priced too cheap right now, so take advantage and play him in all formats.

Stack with: Alexander Wennberg, Nick Foligno

 

 

 

 

DEFENSEMEN

Mark Streit FD - $3900 DK - $3800
Opponent - BUF
Proj Pts FD - 8.59 DK - 2.67

Today we have two awesome cheap value plays for you so we can fit more stars into our lineups. Streit scored a goal and added and assist, four shot and two blocks in his first game with the Penguins and played just under 20 minutes of ice time. Look for him to do about the same today against the lowly Sabres. Start him with confidence.

 

 

Jaccob Slavin FD - $3800 DK - $3900
Opponent - ARI
Proj Pts FD - 8.05 DK - 2.44

Here is another cheap guy and he has played 26 minutes in each of his last two games. He has three assists in his last three games. We need exposure to Carolina today and Slavin is a great cheap defensive play in all formats.

 

 

Also Consider:  Alex Goligoski

 

 

 

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.