NHL Daily Fantasy Helper: Thursday 10/19/23

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

Linus Ullmark, Boston Bruins ($8,600)

The goalie to target on today's packed 12-game slate is the reigning Vezina Trophy winner, Linus Ullmark.

Ullmark will have had over a week off since his first start of the season, where he finished with 21 saves -- good for a .952 save percentage -- while allowing 1 goal in the victory over the Chicago Blackhawks. Much like last year, the netminder was calm, cool, and collected with the Boston Bruins' defense ahead of him, so there's no reason to believe that last year was a fluke of being part of the best regular season team in NHL history.

Replicating his numbers from last year will be nearly impossible (40-6-1, 1.89 GAA, .938 save percentage), but even with the great defense in front of him -- which has returned in full -- he still was able to record 38.21 goals saved above expected (GSAx), finishing third last season.

Against the San Jose Sharks, he should be able to keep up the good times with San Jose being one of the NHL's weaker clubs. The Sharks were 8th last season with 2.8 goals per 60 minutes -- and that was with Erik Karlsson on the team. With Karlsson gone, they're down to 1.62 goals per 60 minutes in three games. They also rank last in the league with a 44.76 Corsi For (Total Shot Attempts Created) per 60 minutes, giving Ullmark an easier ride to a good night.

numberFire has the Bruins' goaltender projected for 23.3 FanDuel points.

Stacks

Colorado Avalanche

The Colorado Avalanche are looking good as a stack tonight.

Colorado has stormed out the gates this season, kicking off 3-0-0 and already looking like one of the best teams in hockey. It shouldn't be much of a surprise that they're the team you want to stack against the Blackhawks.

Backup goalie Arvid Soderblom is expected to be between the pipes against the Avs tonight. He's had a strong start in two games thus far (.956 save percentage, 1.51 GAA), but the way the Blackhawks have played, it's eventually going to go wrong with how many shots he's forced to face per game.

Chicago allows 77.66 Corsi Against (Total Shot Attempts Allowed) in five-on-five situations per 60 minutes, which is the fourth highest this season. Meanwhile, the Avalanche are sitting at the top with a 75.78 Corsi For in five-on-five situations per 60 minutes, which makes this the perfect matchup for Colorado to succeed.

The Avs have the best implied total of the day, sitting at 4.14.

When selecting who you want to stack, looking at their elite top line is the best place to start. Nathan MacKinnon ($10,500), Mikko Rantanen ($9,700), and Valeri Nichushkin ($6,500) all project well. Both MacKinnon and Rantanen also get looks on the top power-play unit, giving them even more value as the high-salaried plays of the day.

On the defensive end, it doesn't get better than Cale Makar ($7,900). The talented defenseman already has two goals and two assists in three games.

Boston Bruins

After having five days off between games as they head out to the West Coast, the Bruins should be ready to rock against the Sharks.

San Jose is a good matchup on paper for netminder Linus Ullmark, and the same goes for the Bruins' offense. San Jose's early season 79.35 Corsi Against in five-on-five situations per 60 minutes isn't going to be changing much. And that defense will be going against the Bruins' 76.49 Corsi For in five-on-five situations per 60 minutes -- the best in the league through their first two games.

Boston will also be facing the Sharks' backup, Kaapo Kahkonen. Kahkonen was not a strong performer last year (.883 save percentage, 3.85 GAA), and he hasn't started off well, allowing 4 goals on 32 shots. The Black and Gold should have no problem making things happen tonight.

Despite winning their first two tilts, the Bruins have shaken up the lines for Game 3. If we're picking a line to go with, it'll be their new top line that features David Pastrnak ($10,000), Jake DeBrusk ($6,000), and Pavel Zacha ($5,100).

Pastrnak and Zacha have prominent spots on the top power play, too, giving them the most value.

Charlie McAvoy ($6,100) is a quality play on the defensive end. He already has an average of 24:32 TOI with two helpers in the first two games. With his insane usage on the top power play, penalty kill, and even strength, it's hard to fade him in a matchup like this.

Value Skaters

Jake DeBrusk, W, Boston Bruins ($6,000)

The aforementioned Jake DeBrusk has some great value tonight as he hunts for the first goal of his season.

Not only does he get top-line minutes alongside David Pastrnak and Pavel Zacha, but he also plays on the second power-play unit. It doesn't always work, but he also plays major minutes on the penalty kill for Boston, giving him more opportunities to make things happen.

Through his first two games, DeBrusk has six shots and is averaging 16:58 TOI. With how the Sharks are defensively this season, which is a league-high 85.3 Corsi Against per 60 minutes, DeBrusk's ability and speed should give him a great opportunity to put up his first points of the year tonight.

DeBrusk is projected for 16.6 FanDuel points, per numberFire's model.

Jamie Benn, W, Dallas Stars ($5,700)

Jamie Benn does a lot of the right things for the Dallas Stars, and that makes him a good value tonight in a plus matchup.

The Stars are entering tonight with an ideal implied total at 3.93 against the Anaheim Ducks, tied for the second best on the 12-game night.

Benn scored a goal on opening night and has totaled five shots over two games. While he plays on the third line, he is paired off with up-and-coming star Wyatt Johnston and Evgeni Dadonov, making them one of the strongest in the league. What helps his value more than anything else is his spot on the first power play.

Benn scored 13 power-play goals a season ago in order to get to 33, so it shouldn't be much of a surprise if he's able to record one tonight.

numberFire sees the value in the Stars' captain for tonight. He's projected for 16.9 FanDuel points.

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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.