NHL Daily Fantasy Picks and Helper: Saturday 2/17/24

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.

Using our projections -- which are powered by numberFire -- as a guide, let's take a look at today's slate to find a goalie, some stacks, and value plays for your NHL DFS lineups on FanDuel.

NHL DFS Picks

Goalie to Target

Adin Hill, Vegas Golden Knights ($8,100)

Targeting the Carolina Hurricanes' attack with a goalie is never incredibly comfortable, but at least we've got the right man for the job.

You could argue Adin Hill ($8,100) of the Vegas Golden Knights has been the best goalie in hockey inside of his control. On the year, Hill is fifth in overall goals saved above expectation (19.56), and he's carried that into the eighth-most GSAx in the past 30 days (7.06). If not for an injury shortening his season, Vegas' netminder would be in the Vezina Trophy convo.

Carolina also isn't quite the scoring risk they may seem. In the past month, the Canes lead the NHL in Corsi per 60 minutes (69.9), but they rank just seventh in expected goals (xG) per 60 (3.29). That empty volume creates easy save chances for an opposing goalie.

Hill leads all goaltenders in FanDuel Research's new-and-super-cool NHL DFS projections with 21.8 expected FanDuel points, and Carolina's name value should keep his popularity in check for tournament purposes.

Stacks

New Jersey Devils

With Jack Hughes ($9,500) back in the fold, the sky seems like the limit offensively for the New Jersey Devils -- even in today's odd matchup.

The Philadelphia Flyers are another team that isn't the best matchup on paper; they've actually ceded the fourth-fewest xG per 60 (2.81) in the past month. However, Philadelphia's old demons with goaltending have arisen once more with Carter Hart on leave. Samuel Ersson holds just an .872 save percentage and has posted -2.36 GSAx in the past month of play.

Right now, Hughes plays across the second line and first power-play unit with Tyler Toffoli ($5,900) and his brother, Luke Hughes ($4,600), on defense. They're joined by first-liners Jesper Bratt ($8,000) and Nico Hischier ($6,600) with the man advantage.

The lower salaries across the board to target Ersson are why the Devils are my top stack today. They fit quite easily with Hill's premium salary.

Toronto Maple Leafs

However, punting to a lower goalie, you could get to the Toronto Maple Leafs inside one of the sport's best matchups.

Toronto will host the Anaheim Ducks on Saturday -- potentially in their weakest form. Starting goalie John Gibson left his last start with an upper-body injury, and that could leave a struggling Lukas Dostal in the crease. Dostal has posted -0.70 GSAx in the past month, and that's beyond an Anaheim D ceding the second-most xG per 60 minutes during Dostal's struggles (3.49).

Toronto's implied team total (3.95) is the highest on Saturday's main slate for a reason, and they've got their usual prolific power-play as potential options. First-liners Auston Matthews ($10,200) and Mitchell Marner ($8,600) are joined by William Nylander ($9,800) and John Tavares ($7,700) on the first power-play unit. With Morgan Rielly serving a suspension, Timothy Liljegren ($4,300) provides a nice bit of value manning the blue line for the quartet.

I wouldn't blame anyone taking this more popular path to find skaters; the Leafs are set up for a huge night.

Value Skaters

Juraj Slafkovsky, W, Montreal Canadiens ($4,900)

Two of the more forgiving matchups in the slate are held by poor offenses. They're probably better for one-offs like Juraj Slafkovsky ($4,900) from the Montreal Canadiens.

At home, Montreal is facing a Washington Capitals squad that's identity has totally shifted recently. Once led by a strong defense and Charlie Lindgren's excellent play, Washington has ceded 3.10 xG per 60 minutes in the past month (13th-most), and Lindgren (-5.99 GSAx) has fallen apart in this stretch.

Again, the issue is that Montreal's own offense has posted a measily 2.85 xG per 60 themselves in this same period, but Slafkovsky has still outperformed this salary on his own. In February, he's posted nine points over the span of five games, pounding a heavy TOI average (19:33) atop the Habs' lead even-strength and power-play combos.

The former top overall pick is starting to put things together, and that could definitely continue in this stellar matchup.

Fabian Zetterlund, W, San Jose Sharks ($4,500)

We'll see if the San Jose Sharks also show a pulse at home tonight.

San Jose hosts a Columbus Blue Jackets squad that's permitted the fourth-most xG per 60 minutes (3.41) in the past 30 days, and it's not like their goaltenders have excelled to help them. Elvis Merzlikins (0.26 GSAx) and Daniil Tarasov (0.15 GSAx) haven't been impactful -- for or against -- in this stretch.

The Sharks' lowly offense is nearly record-setting at this stage, sitting second from the bottom in xG per 60 (2.53) during the past month. They'll almost certainly be back in the cellar soon with Connor Bedard back for the Chicago Blackhawks. There's a risk to San Jose's top line -- Mikael Granlund ($6,000), Fabian Zetterlund ($4,500), and Anthony Duclair ($4,100) -- despite the heavy ice time.

Personally, Zetterlund is the most intriguing of the bunch. He's posted 13 shots on goal since his last marker, and he is San Jose's second-leading scorer at 14 goals. That's not bad for the salary -- or a 19:31 TOI in February.

FDR's projections peg Zetterlund (11.9 FanDuel points) as the fourth-best value per dollar of salary on Saturday. If you wanted to combine Hill with the Leafs as a stack, San Jose can certainly help make it happen.

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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.