NHL Daily Fantasy Helper: Wednesday 10/18/23

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

Tristan Jarry, Pittsburgh Penguins ($8,400)

With tonight being a small two-game slate, we're going to simply go with the best goalie of the four in Tristan Jarry as the one to target.

In his first two starts of the season, Jarry has already proven to be a difference-maker for the Pittsburgh Penguins. He has started the season 1-1-0, posting a .944 save percentage and 1.53 goals against average (GAA) along with a shutout.

Jarry has already put together 3.34 goals saved above expected (GSAx), delivering elite play for Pittsburgh in the young season.

A matchup with the Detroit Red Wings gives Jarry a great chance to keep it going. The Red Wings are averaging 35 shots per game through three games but have a mark of just 56.33 Corsi For (Total Shot Attempts Created) per 60 minutes, which ranks 24th in hockey.

Selecting a goalie on such a small slate is never easy, but Jarry has done everything right so far, so I am siding with him tonight. numberFire's model has him projected for 16.9 FanDuel points.

Top Stack

Pittsburgh Penguins

We're taking from the Penguins once again, as they're the team you want to be stacking tonight.

After dropping their opening game to the Chicago Blackhawks, the Penguins have put together two straight solid performances of 4 and 5 goals -- leading to back-to-back wins. The team has a 61.07 Corsi For per 60 minutes in five-on-five situations, rising up to an excellent 153.07 Corsi For per 60 minutes on the power play -- the second-best clip in the NHL. Despite the majority of their core players being in the latter half of their careers, there's still enough offensive firepower to go around.

The Pens will be opposing Ville Husso of the Red Wings. Husso is already down to -2.35 goals saved above average (GSAA) while sporting a poor .863 save percentage and 3.57 GAA. The small sample size of two games doesn't tell us everything, but he was sitting at a .896 save percentage and 3.11 GAA a year ago, so it's not shocking to see his numbers where they are.

With a 3.36 implied total on the night, Pittsburgh should be able to make some noise offensively.

In terms of who to stack in this lineup, the first line of Sidney Crosby ($8,300), Jake Guentzel ($6,700), and Bryan Rust ($5,900) makes a lot of sense. Specifically, you'll want to stack Crosby and Guentzel as the duo takes up spots on the top line and top power play. The same goes with Evgeni Malkin ($7,000) and Rickard Rakell ($6,100), both of whom play on the second line and top power play.

Defensively, Erik Karlsson ($6,600) is worth a look. He enters the night still looking to make a difference with his new team (one assist in three games). numberFire envisions a big night for him as he's the top projected skater at 17.3 FanDuel points.

Value Skaters

Claude Giroux, W, Ottawa Senators ($6,200)

Claude Giroux is still getting it done as a key veteran on what is a young Ottawa Senators roster.

The Senators have had a good start to the season on the offensive end, scoring three or more goals in each game -- including back-to-back five-goal performances in their last two. Giroux has played a part, registering three assists while playing consistent top-line minutes (19:42 per night). He's also managed to put 10 shots on goal, which means he's due for a goal after scoring a career-high 35 goals in 2022-23.

Matching up against the Washington Capitals should allow for plenty of scoring opportunities. So far this season, the Caps have a 71.29 Corsi Against (Total Shot Attempts Allowed) per 60 minutes in five-on-five situations -- fourth-highest in the NHL. An exciting offensive team like the Senators should create a lot of chances today.

Giroux plays on the first line with Brady Tkachuk and Tim Stutzle, giving him all the help he needs to find the back of the net. He also centers the second power-play unit, which only further helps his DFS outlook.

Giroux is projected for 14.0 FanDuel points, per numberFire.

John Carlson, D, Washington Capitals ($5,600)

If you're looking for a value at defense, look no further than John Carlson.

Carlson plays in all the major roles that you want from a defenseman in DFS. He, of course, is on the top line of defense, which is a role he's played for years now. He's already averaging 25:34 time on ice in his age 34 season, showing there are no signs of slowing down anytime soon. Carlson also works the blue line for the top power-play unit, which is aiming to get back to its elite status.

Through the first two games of the season, Carlson has one assist, but a matchup with Ottawa can help him out.

Ottawa has a 64.75 Corsi Against per 60 minutes in five-on-five situations, the ninth-highest mark. Carlson and the Capitals should be able to do damage in what is expected to be a high-scoring game.

Carlson has the fifth-highest projection of any player tonight. numberFire's model expects him to finish with 15.7 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.