It’s Friday and we have a three-game NHL slate to indulge in as far as DFS goes. While there are just the three games there are still plenty of good DFS plays and matchups. Start the weekend in the green!
NOTE: All pricing references pertain to DraftKings
Key Skaters
W Patrick Kane (CHI)
In the case of Patrick Kane we know that he’s one of the more feared skaters in the game still. On Friday with there being a short slate I’m looking at the best player on the slate and that player is indeed Kane facing the Devils in a plus-matchup. For all the struggles the Blackhawks are expected to have defensively, they should be solid offensively with players like Kane posing a threat to put pucks into the net. Kane is always among the league’s leaders among wingers as far as ice time goes and that trend continued in the Blackhawks’ first game as he saw 19 minutes of ice time.
W Claude Giroux (PHI)
The Vancouver Canucks are an exciting team to watch but with that excitement comes a lot of breakdowns defensively. The Canucks allowed the most scoring chances per 60 minutes at 5v5 last season leading to the most expected goals against per 60 minutes. I don’t see this lack of defense changing dramatically this season overall. Giroux and the Flyers will find themselves with good scoring chances in a fast-paced game and he’s priced nicely at $6,000
Favorite Line Stacks
Philadelphia Flyers
Sean Couturier, Claude Giroux, Travis Konecny, James van Riemsdyk
I spoke on the Canucks’ struggles defensively and due in part to those issues, I like the Flyers’ top line plus James van Riemsdyk tonight. Couturier, Giroux, and Konecny correlate on the top even-strength line and top power-play unit. On that top pp unit is van Riemsdyk – a value option and power-forward up front who generates a lot of high-danger scoring chances.
Chicago Blackhawks
Tyler Johnson, Patrick Kane, Alex Debrincat, Seth Jones
All four skaters here correlate on the top power-play unit with Johnson, Kane, and Debrincat all skating together on the top even-strength line. Kane and Debrincat are the main scoring threats for Chicago with Kane, the future hall of famer coming off a 66 point season while Debrincat had 32 goals in 52 games a season ago. Johnson is a solid value option and Jones is a new acquisition from Columbus. Jones will log a ton of minutes in Chicago as he has his entire career and will run the point on the powerplay.
Top Positional Skaters
*Not mentioned in “key skaters'” section. Last skater at each position is my favorite value
Center
- Jonathan Toews (CHI)
- Nico Hischier (NJD)
- Scott Laughton (PHI)
Wing
- Kevin Fiala (MIN)
- Cam Atkinson (PHI)
- Dominik Kubalik (CHI)
- Dylan Strome (CHI)
Defense
- Dougie Hamilton (NJ)
- Ivan Provorov (PHI)
- Seth Jones (CHI)
- Cam Fowler (ANA)
Goalies
- John Gibson (ANA)
- Carter Hart (PHI)
GOOD LUCK!!