NHL Daily Fantasy Picks and Helper: Monday 2/5/24

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.

NHL DFS Picks

Goalie to Target

Igor Shesterkin, New York Rangers ($7,900)

Igor Shesterkin comes off the break in a tough matchup against the Colorado Avalanche, but with it being just a two-game slate, he's the goalie to target.

Shesterkin hasn't had the type of season you'd expect him to have, but he's still considered one of the best in the league. On the season, he's recorded a 2.86 goals against average and .899 save percentage in 32 starts. The save percentage is not where you'd expect it to be for a guy with a career average of .920, but he's still got a great New York Rangers team in front of him to help out.

As noted, the matchup against the Avalanche isn't going to be easy, but it does present an opportunity for him to post some good numbers if he can keep the puck out of the net. The Avs are averaging 30.49 Shots For per 60 minutes in five-on-five situations while also scoring a league-high 3.8 Goals For per 60 minutes. It's not going to be an easy night, but coming off the break, there's at least potential for a bounceback from the Rangers' netminder.

numberFire's model projects Shesterkin to finish with a modest 15.3 FanDuel points.

Stack

Toronto Maple Leafs

The Toronto Maple Leafs essentially won NHL All-Star Weekend with Team Matthews winning the All-Star Game tournament, but they'll now turn their attention to getting the big wins they need.

Taking on the New York Islanders tonight, they're in the driver's seat. Per numberFire's heat map, the Maple Leafs come in with a strong 3.57 implied total, which leads the four teams competing on the slate.

As we've seen all season long, the Maple Leafs have a top-tier offense, boasting the sixth-ranked Corsi For per 60 minutes (63.89). With that being the case, Toronto ranks ninth in scoring with 3.38 Goals For per 60 minutes. There's no question they have been a force you want in your DFS lineups most nights, but they'll hold even more value tonight because of how different the Maple Leafs are from the other three teams on the slate.

The Islanders are a team that gives up tons of offense. They're 24th in Goals Against per 60 minutes (3.28) and 31st with a 69.12 Corsi Against per 60 minutes. Those numbers alone are so inviting for Toronto's success.

Stacking the lineup comes through that top-line duo of Auston Matthews ($9,600) and Mitchell Marner ($8,100). Add in the second line duo of William Nylander ($9,200) and John Tavares ($6,500) for a cheaper stack if you want to use salary elsewhere. All four players take part in their top power-play unit, giving them the maximum value for tonight.

Value Skaters

Artturi Lehkonen, W, Colorado Avalanche ($5,500)

For value skaters tonight, no one is a better choice than Artturi Lehkonen.

The winger takes a spot on the left side of the third line for the Colorado Avalanche while also playing on the second power-play unit. Lehkonen missed a big chunk of the season, but in the 14 games that he has played, he's got three goals, five assists, and eight points. That's great output for a skater in his role.

He's averaging 2.71 shots per game and 18:09 time on ice. These are top-line level stats but at a value because of the injuries he dealt with this season.

numberFire's model believes in his value, projecting Lehkonen for 12.4 FanDuel points.

Kyle Palmieri, W, New York Islanders ($5,100)

The New York Islanders may struggle a bit offensively, but Kyle Palmieri and company have a real opportunity tonight.

New York will be facing Toronto tonight, who will be starting Ilya Samsonov in net. The netminder has had a terrible season with a 3.36 goals against average and ugly .878 save percentage. Those are just brutal numbers that benefit our value pick of Palmieri.

The veteran plays on the right wing of the Islanders' second line, recording 13 goals, 15 assists, and 28 points for what is a strong overall season. He's also recorded three points in his last two games, putting him on a good streak to roll into tonight.

Palmieri is projected to finish with 11.5 FanDuel points tonight, per numberFire's model.

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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.