NHL Daily Fantasy Helper: Sunday 10/22/23

NHL DFS is similar to MLB in terms of how you build lineups, how you view stacking, and how to value players.

Two main points to always focus on in NHL DFS are what lines the players are on and making sure the goalies you are rostering are confirmed as the starters.

Two of the best resources for that are LeftWingLock.com and DailyFaceOff.com. That is where you can find updated forward and power-play lines for each team, along with which goalies are confirmed as the starters.

Let's jump in and take a look at today's slate, find a goalie, some stacks, and some value plays for your NHL DFS lineups on FanDuel.

Goalie to Target

Jacob Markstrom, Calgary Flames ($7,700)

For maximum upside on a two-game slate, you're looking to stack one game, find a goalie, and use remaining pieces from the other team the goalie isn't playing to fill out your lineup.

I like using the Anaheim Ducks at salary on this slate where Linus Ullmark ($8,500) should be the most popular goaltender by a mile. Instead, I prefer to target the Detroit Red Wings with former Vezina Trophy runner-up Jacob Markstrom ($7,700).

Markstrom's 2022-23 campaign was a bit disappoiting, posting just 1.50 goals saved above expectation (GSAx). That was just 51st of 103 qualifiers. To begin this year, he's posted 5.20 GSAx already -- the third-best mark in the league.

Detroit hasn't been an offensive juggernaut in several seasons, and it hasn't changed this year. They've posted the 12th-fewest expected goals per 60 (2.94) in the league.

At a lower salary and fading the chalk, Markstrom still makes plenty of sense on this slate.

Stacks

Boston Bruins

There's really no secret as to who the best process play on the slate is; the Boston Bruins have a 3.85-goal implied team total against arguably the worst team in the league.

The Ducks are ceding the sixth-most expected goals per 60 minutes this season (3.58), and John Gibson hasn't made things much better. He's posted a fine -- but not special -- 0.32 GSAx to this point. Off their record-setting season, the B's haven't really slowed down, posting the 11th-most expected goals per 60 (3.26) to this point.

One reason why you'd look beyond Ullmark's high salary is to -- somehow -- find a way to get to David Pastrnak ($9,500) in your lineups. Pastrnak is -125 to score, per the NHL odds on FanDuel Sportsbook, so he's the best scoring proposition on the slate by quite a bit.

He's at even strength and on the power play with both Brad Marchand ($7,400) and Pavel Zacha ($5,200). Zacha's salary is handy to fit the others, and these three are joined by Charlie McAvoy ($6,100) with a man advantage.

They're the top stack on the slate that might not be as popular as you'd think if prioritizing Ullmark becomes a common strategy.

Anaheim Ducks

However, as I mentioned, the Ducks are a great stack at their salaries on this slate.

Boston's defense is flatly overrated based on last year's league-best efforts in most categories. To begin 2023-24, Boston is allowing the 15th-most expected goals per 60 (3.23). This isn't a frightening matchup, but Anaheim is salaried like they'll be lucky to avoid a bagel tonight.

Troy Terry ($6,100), Leo Carlsson ($5,600), and Trevor Zegras ($5,100) form Anaheim's top even-strength and power-play units, and the youthful trio are mid-range options at best. A familiar face on the blue line, Cam Fowler ($4,700) is another super-saver that works toward Pastrnak.

I think they'll largely go ignored, but this game has a 6.5-goal total, and Boston isn't an overwhelming favorite. They're actually the key priority of the slate to me.

Value Skaters

Jonathan Huberdeau, W, Calgary Flames ($5,600)

If we can get a former 30-goal scorer in a tremendous role for $5,600, that's a great bargain with just four teams available.

Jonathan Huberdeau ($5,600) and the Calgary Flames would obviously be my third-best stack on the slate, and it's still a pretty desirable one. The Red Wings are starting James Reimer on a back-to-back, and Reimer's last campaign with the San Jose Sharks was dreadful; he amassed -6.84 GSAx behind one of the worst defenses in hockey.

Huberdeau has a healthy TOI average (18:11) to begin the season, and he's projected for a healthy 12.1 FanDuel points by numberFire today.

Shayne Gostisbehere, D, Detroit Red Wings ($4,300)

If you end up going with Ullmark, the Red Wings would be a third team to consider, and they've got another value defenseman to consider beyond Fowler.

Shayne Gostisbehere ($4,300) has been seen as an offensive-minded blue-liner dating back to previous stops with the Arizona Coyotes and Philadelphia Flyers, and Detroit has catered to that role this season. He's on their top power-play unit when it comes time to score.

He's responded with six points in five games, and he's projected for 0.56 points today by numberFire's model. His TOI average (18:24) is a bit lower than you'd hope for to accumulate defensive stats, but a point would handily pay off this tiny salary.

I would punt to him if stacking Red Wings -- or looking for one-offs in a build without Markstrom.

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The above author is a FanDuel employee and is not eligible to compete in public daily fantasy contests or place sports betting wagers on FanDuel. The advice provided by the author does not necessarily represent the views of FanDuel. Taking the author's advice will not guarantee a successful outcome. You should use your own judgment when participating in daily fantasy contests or placing sports wagers.