Thursday includes an eight-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 $65,000 in the NHL [$20K to 1st]
Blue Jackets Over 2.5 GOALS +125
The Blue Jackets come into this game as Florida has scored 31 times in its last seven games, good for almost 4.5 goals per game. Their offense is buzzing right now and they’re up against a Panthers team that helped Columbus score four goals just two weeks ago. The Panthers may have scored eight goals themselves in this game, but they’ve also allowed three or more goals in six of their last 10 outings. The more-money bet to continue trailing a hot Blue Jackets offense seems more than worth it. Get the better of Columbus’ team total 2.5.
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Top stack
Columbus Blue Jackets vs. Florida Panthers
Boone Jenner ($6,300) – Patrik Laine ($6,200) – Jakub Voracek ($3,500)
Just like yesterday when we wrote the Montreal top line to this spot (and they scored us three goals), targeting the Blue Jackets today gives you good flexibility in your positions. I documented the Blue Jackets’ offensive heating above and much of their production comes from that top line. Patrik Laine and Boone Jenner have combined for 13 points between them in their last three games. What’s more impressive is that only one of those 13 points came on the power play.
Laine himself has been an absolute threat at 5-on-5 lately and is coming off a game where he won the OT winner against the Maple Leafs. Laine could eventually settle down in the goalscoring department, but he also averages 3.3 shots per game in his last 10 starts and remains slightly undervalued given his improved efficiency. Jenner will continue to benefit from playing as the top scorer, as will playmaker Jakub Voracek, who has as many as 33 assists on the year.
Voracek might not give us much of an edge in the goalscoring department, but the 3.3k price tag is too cheap to ignore for a player who averages 0.7 assists per game and has seen his overall ice time and his offensive zone opportunities increase lately. Stack the Columbus top unit for more savings today that will have you paying for cleats elsewhere.
Superstar to target
David Pastrnak, Boston Bruins vs. Seattle Kraken ($8,400)
The Bruins-Kraken matchup is shaping up to be a mismatch of epic proportions. Seattle has lost five in a row and has been essentially snuffed out in each of its last two games by average opponents. Today they host the Bruins who are coming off a big win over Colorado and have one of the best forwards in hockey right now, David Pastrnak. Pastrnak has scored seven goals in his last 10 games and three in his last two.
For fantasy purposes, he averages 4.3 shots on net and benefits from a Bruins power play that has been hot lately. Boston is now seventh in overall power-play efficiency and faces a Seattle team that has the sixth-worst power play. Boston can get Brad Marchand ($7,700) back today too, but today’s decision is to keep aiming for the Bruins stud winger against this weak opponent and hopefully get another fantastic big day out of the Swede.
Attack Value
Sam Bennett, Florida Panthers vs. Columbus Blue Jackets ($5,200)
The Panthers have a whopping 4.9 implied team total, possibly the biggest we’ve seen all season. As such, all of their best six and even their best nine players are in play for day-to-day fantasy hockey purposes, and the best value of this group seems to be Sam Bennett. Bennett has scored just one goal in his last five games, but the quiet spell shouldn’t deter you from fielding a player who is averaging over 0.5 goals per game this year. It’s worth noting Bennett’s home splits. The center have averaged 16.5 DKFPs at home compared to just 7.2 on the road. He averaged 4.1 shots on goal and scored 17 goals in 22 home games. Grab a piece of the Panthers on the cheap with Bennett today.
Tyler Toffoli, Calgary Flames vs. Vancouver Canucks ($3,700)
The Calgary Flames are another offense we should be proud to take on freely. Calgary is now tied for seventh with Tampa in goals per game and faces a Canucks team that has allowed an average of 4.1 goals in its last five starts. Tyler Toffoli has integrated perfectly into Calgary’s offense (two goals in four games) and he benefited from an increase in ice time in his last outing. He gets power-play time with the first unit and faces the league’s worst penalty kill in Vancouver. The sub 4k salary does not reflect his true advantage and makes him a great value today.
Goalkeeper
Igor Shesterkin, New York Rangers vs. Washington Capitals ($7,900)
There’s almost nowhere to hide on this net slate. We have a ton of bad matchups and suspicious options to choose from. The only safe haven – to which we have been able to turn all season – remains in New York, where Vézina candidate Igor Shesterkin stands out as an excellent target under $8,000. Rangers are small favorites at -125 on the DraftKings Sportsbook, but Shesterkin has dominated at home averaging 20.6 DKFP in 17 home starts this year. He had a 13-2-2 record and a .941 save percentage.
The Capitals’ offense has certainly picked up the slack lately, but that should only help keep Shesterkin’s ownership in the big fields. It’s hard not to see a lower score and a tight game developing, and Rangers (mainly Shesterkin) have been brilliant in winning those home games this year. Support it once again at a great price today.
Value on Defense
Noah Hanifin, Calgary Flames vs. Vancouver Canucks ($3,700)
If we’re looking to drop below $4,000 on defense today, then we should be looking squarely at teams like Calgary, Pittsburgh and Florida. Each is a heavy favorite and top 10 offenses. Of the group, Calgary’s Noah Hanifin appears to be the best bang for the buck, as he’s still entrenched in a top-four role and provides solid power-play exposure. It’s rare to find power-play specialists on a team as good as Calgary, especially at this price, and Hanifin also averaged a decent 3.4 shots on net + shots blocked in his last 10 games.
The advantage with Hanifin for day-to-day fantasy hockey purposes is heightened by his matchup, as the Canucks still possess the worst penalty kill in the league. It’s important to look for creative ways to get to grips with the big offenses on this list, and Hanifin is an easy way to get more Calgary into our lineups.
Power play defenders
Aaron Ekblad, Florida Panthers vs. Columbus Blue Jackets ($6,800)
As mentioned above, the Panthers are at home with an implied team total of 4.9, so it would be remiss of me to mention just one of their players. Aaron Ekblad gives us good exposure to the Panthers’ best power-play unit, which is well-positioned to score a few goals against the Blue Jackets and their 78.6 percent penalty-killing rate on the road.
Ekblad has picked things up over the past month, and he’s coming in with 13 points and averaging 15.2 DKFP per game in his last 10 games. Like Sam Bennett, he has also been much more productive at home, averaging 15.7 DKFP at home compared to 10.3 DKFP in road games. Add Ekblad to your Panther stacks today and feel good spending.
Define your DraftKings fantasy hockey rosters here: Save $65,000 in the NHL [$20K to 1st]
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