Daily Fantasy Hockey Picks for FanDuel and DraftKings 3/23/18

Welcome back hockey fans. We have a smaller five-game slate tonight with just one team(VAN) playing on a back to back and a ton of options available for fantasy purposes. Let's jump in and take a look at a few of them at each position.

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 NBA DFS suite of tools including full projections, optimal NBA lineups and our Player Lab, which includes filters to help you create NBA 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 lineups with a single click, or research as deeply as your heart desires, click the button below to test out yourself.

GOALIE

Connor Hellebuyck FD - $8500 DK - $8100
Opponent - ANA
Proj Pts FD - 19.49 DK - 4.87

With two huge favorites tonight(PIT -225 & STL -310), I am going off the board a little bit and rolling with Connor Hellebuyck. The Jets are -145 home favorites tonight as the Ducks come to town and while they are coming off a 4-0 road win in Calgary, have lost three of their last four road games and sit with a 16-21 record away from Anaheim. Combine that with the fact the Jets have the best home record in the Western Conference(27-7-2) and Hellebuyck has been a big part of that with 25 wins, a .922 save %, and four shutouts and we have a great opportunity tonight with some possible lower ownership.

Also Consider: Matt Murray(PIT), Jake Allen(STL)

 

CENTERS

Brayden Schenn FD - $6500 DK - $6500
Opponent - VAN
Proj Pts FD - 12.03 DK - 3.51

It's a smaller slate but the center position is loaded with options and while Crosby, Malkin, and Eichel are in play at the top, I prefer to dive down and take the savings with Brayden Schenn. With Tarasenko out the last couple games, Schenn has stepped up with points in three straight and four of his last five games and tallied 20 shots on goal. It would be a boost if Tarasenko is back tonight but either way, the Blues get a terrific matchup vs. the Canucks who went into Thursday night's game losers of 10 of their last 11 games while giving up 39 goals and rank 28th in defense.

Stack with: Jaden Schwartz, Vladimir Tarasenko(if back from injury, if not then Alex Steen)

Derick Brassard FD - $5200 DK - $5100
Opponent - NJ
Proj Pts FD - 10.66 DK - 3.07

For value, I will once again turn to Derick Brassard who is starting to find his way offensively with the Penguins. He comes into tonight riding a four-game point streak and while the floor is fairly low as he doesn't shoot the puck a ton, he gets a tremendous amount of opportunity skating with Phil Kessel on the third line and also skates on the second powerplay unit on league's top-ranked powerplay. While we need to take the risk in cash games, I think Brassard makes an excellent salary relief GPP play.

Stack with: Phil Kessell, Conor Sheary

 

Also Consider: Ryan O'Reilly(BUF)

 

WINGERS

Patric Hornqvist FD - $6400 DK - $7100
Opponent - NJ
Proj Pts FD - 13.93 DK - 4.09

The price for Hornqvist has been going up steadily but for good reason, as he is providing tremendous secondary value for the Penguins who appear to be already in postseason form. Over his last 10 games, he has tallied eight points and most importantly the floor has been sky high as he has 50 shots in those games. He is averaging over 18 minutes of ice-time on the second line with Evgeni Malkin and also joins Malkin, Crosby, and Kessel on the top powerplay unit that ranks #1 overall in the league. All things considered, Hornqvist is a tremendous play in all formats.

Stack with: Evgeni Malkin, Carl Hagelin

Nikolaj Ehlers FD - $6200 DK - $6300
Opponent - ANA
Proj Pts FD - 12.15 DK - 3.52

With Patrik Laine out for tonight with a bruised foot, other players will have to step up their game. One of those players is Nikolaj Ehlers who has skated with Laine most of the season on the second line and has been very productive with 55 points and he has also provided a very high floor at a mid-range price tag. Over his last 10 games, he has 34 shots and for the season he has tallied 212(2.9 per game) and could see a nice uptick in ice-time this evening. He is safe in all formats, especially with the Jets playing on home ice.

Stack with: Bryan Little, Paul Stastny

Ryan Donato FD - $4200 DK - $5600
Opponent - DAL
Proj Pts FD - 9.58 DK - 2.72

The price has taken a huge jump, especially on DraftKings, but comes in the lower mid-range and makes a nice value tonight with the huge opportunity he is receiving. He is skating on the second line and has shown terrific chemistry with David Krejci and is also getting a nice run of powerplay time. In his first two games, he already has two goals and two assists and should be considered in all formats once again if Rick Nash and Patrice Bergeron are still out of the lineup.

Stack with: David Krejci, Danton Heinen

 

DEFENSEMEN

Dustin Byfuglien FD - $5900 DK - $5400
Opponent - ANA
Proj Pts FD - 11.74 DK - 3.55

Byfuglien provides value across the board and with a price in the sub $6K range, it makes him a target in not only cash games but GPP's alike. The goal scoring has dropped off this season but he still comes in with 39 points and has also been much more productive on home ice this season with 25 of those coming in Winnipeg. Over his last 10 games has 35 shots and 19 blocks for an average of 3.8 DraftKings/13.2 FanDuel points per game. Get him in your lineups tonight.

Kevan Miller FD - $3700 DK - $3100
Opponent - DAL
Proj Pts FD - 8 DK - 2.28

I always try and find a punt play at defense to help fit in some of the top plays at the forward position and that is even more important on these small slates. Tonight that player is Kevan Miller of the Bruins who is getting some added opportunity lately with injuries to Zdeno Chara and Charlie McAvoy. He doesn't provide much if any upside but has eight blocks over his last three games and 29 over his last 10 games to give us just enough of floor to justify the salary relief. I will have exposure to Miller in all formats tonight.

Also Consider: Rasmus Ristolainen(BUF)

 

Hockey is back and with it comes 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.