Fantasy Hockey Cheat Sheet: Top DFS DraftKings NHL Picks, Values, Lineup Strategy for Feb. 15
Tuesday includes a nine-game NHL slate, which begins at 7 p.m. ET on DraftKings. In this article you will find DFS tips for DraftKings queues, plus a few DraftKings Sportsbook bets to target.
Define your DraftKings fantasy hockey rosters here: Save $60,000 in the NHL [$20K to 1st]
Nashville Moneyline Predators -140
The Predators face a Capitals team that continues to struggle. Washington has lost three of its last four games and two of those losses have come to luminaries such as the Columbus Blue Jackets and Ottawa Senators. The Predators themselves have lost two in a row, but are 5-2 in their last seven games and have allowed the eighth-fewest scoring chances this season. The advantage in net today is heavy in favor of Nashville, with Juuse Saros having a .931 save percentage in 21 starts at home this season. Take the Predators straight today.
Calgary Flames over 3.5 goals -130
The Flames offense is once again overwhelming every night. Calgary has scored four or more goals in five consecutive games and has averaged 4.8 goals in that span. The Flames have just added former Canadian Tyler Toffoli to strengthen their second line and face one of the worst defensive teams in hockey today with the Blue Jackets. Columbus has allowed the fourth-highest scoring chance and has the 10th-worst penalty kill. The odds of more than 3.5 goals seem low, but the game and the boost they’re getting from a recent trade means the turnover should continue for one more night.
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Top stack
Calgary Flames vs Columbus Blue Jackets
Elias Lindholm ($6,500) – Johnny Gaudreau ($7,500) – Matthew Tkachuk ($6,000)
I mentioned the Flames’ roster above and while the talk in the NHL may be about the big trade they made to bolster their depth, the DFS game tonight continues to pile on their front row. Calgary’s top unit remains the most productive line in hockey with 42 goals this season, and while there are other top units on the roster in Dallas and Nashville, the value and the game against Calgary is unmatched today. today.
Matthew Tkachuk looks the most underrated of the bunch, as he’s well over a point per game this season and has averaged 13.8 DraftKings points over his last 10 games. Tkachuk still holds a 1a role to Johnny Gaudreau, who has been in tears for over a month now. Gaudreau is also averaging just under 3.6 shots per game in his last 10 starts and the line as a whole has amassed 12 points in the last three games.
It’s not a contrarian pick at all, as many people will be drawn to the game against Columbus today, but Calgary’s best players are better correlated than almost anyone in DFS. Missing a blast from them today will likely leave you far behind.
Superstar to target
Nikita Kucherov, Tampa Bay Lightning to New Jersey Devils ($8,500)
Kucherov went a big goose egg in his last game, picking up fantastic zero points on DraftKings in 22 minutes played. It’s actually an impressive feat, but not one I’d be looking for Kucherov to achieve again anytime soon. He’s averaged 4.3 shots per game and 16.8 DraftKings points per game over his last 10 starts, even with that 0.0 performance added.
Today’s game couldn’t be better for a rebound either as the Devils rank fourth last in goals-against average and allowed eighth-best scoring chances in the league. Kucherov has been good at posting monster games after poor performances this season, and with such a limp performance, paying for the elite winger seems like a good move today.
Attack value
Brayden Schenn, St. Louis Blues at Ottawa Senators ($3,900)
Brayden Schenn has had a nice tear lately. The winger has 13 points in his last 10 games and has also been an excellent power-play player, including four with the man advantage. Schenn’s price today makes him almost clear space given the usage and production we’ve seen from him lately, and the game with Ottawa is strong as well. Ottawa allows the sixth most shots and ranks 10th in goals against per game. Schenn is an easy value target and a good way to get exposed to an elite St. Louis offense.
Valeri Nichushkin, Colorado Avalanche vs. Dallas Stars ($4,300)
I’d expect more fireworks from Colorado’s offense today, as they’re at home and against a Stars team they scored four goals against in their last outing. Nichushkin continues to surprise to fantastical ends as he is locked in a top-six role alongside an elite center in Nazem Kadri ($8,000) and has also averaged 3.5 shots on goal and 11.7 DraftKings points over his last 10 games. Nichuskin and Kadri could be a great contrarian stack today, but even using the Russian winger on his own is good as he’s one of the best cheap values under $5,000 up front.
Goalkeepers
Ville Husso, St. Louis Blues vs. Ottawa Senators ($8,100)
The Blues are listed on this list as -205 favorites on the road, which only puts them as the fifth biggest favorite on this list. With all those big goalies to pay, it’s possible that Husso will slip through the cracks and come to inferior ownership. That would be a great scenario for your big rosters, as Husso has been fantastic lately for the Blues, posting a .950 save percentage in his last 10 starts, a streak that includes a 7-1 record.
A hot goaltender is one thing, but he also has a great game against Ottawa, which attempts more than 30 shots per game but also averaged less than 2.8 goals per game for the season. Husso isn’t as expensive as other top favorites and brings better form than virtually any goalkeeper on the slate. He’s an elite target for Tuesday’s full roster and a good way to stack more Blues today.
Value on Defense
Justin Faulk, St. Louis Blues at Ottawa Senators ($4,100)
There are plenty of high-profile games to discuss on this list, but the Blues taking on the Senators are the ones we should be hyper-focused on for value purposes. We’ve already mentioned Brayden Schenn above as a great cheap option you can use to expose yourself to the Blues’ top five power play units and we can even double our exposure by also adding Justin Faulk, a player who has seen his power play increase in the Blues’ last game.
Faulk is playing in the top five, averaging more than 0.5 points per game this season and has a positive game against a team that gives up a lot of shots on net. The veteran has proven he still has plenty of upside in the tank lately, as he’s landed four games with 10.0 DKFP or higher in his last six starts. Another decent outing today wouldn’t be shocking against a weak opponent.
Power play defenders
Noah Dobson, New York Islanders at Buffalo Sabers ($5,500)
The Islanders have a generous game against the Buffalo Sabers today, which should see us beat many of their special teams players. Despite his team’s struggles for most of the season, Noah Dobson has quietly transformed into one of the best values in defense over the past two months. He enters this game averaging 5.7 blocked shots + shots on goal per game over his last 10 starts and remains the primary power-play quarterback for the Islanders’ PP1.
The Isles’ power-play advantage isn’t great (they’re 12th last in power-play efficiency), but today’s game and Dobson’s own production in blocked shots and shots on goal should we have very high on it at this price. Buffalo ranks only 23rd in shorthanded efficiency and Dobson has found seven of his 19 points this season with the man advantage. He’s a great next-level value in defense to build around.
Define your DraftKings fantasy hockey rosters here: Save $60,000 in the NHL [$20K to 1st]
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