NHL Daily Fantasy Picks and Helper: Thursday 11/9/23

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.

NHL DFS Picks

Goalie to Target

Karel Vejmelka, Coyotes ($7,100)

One reason the Arizona Coyotes did not get into the top five of the draft lottery last season was the play of Karel Vejmelka.

Vejmelka saved 6.98 goals above expected last season, which is huge on a team near the bottom of the standings. He hasn't been quite as good this year but does have a higher save percentage at .904.

The matchup between the Coyotes and St. Louis Blues is a pick 'em, so going for the goalie with the lower salary makes sense, especially when you consider that the Blues are third from bottom in both expected goals and actual goals per 60 minutes.

Finding the value goalie in a great game is often the best strategy, and Vejmelka is one of the best options for that tonight.

Stacks

Vancouver Canucks

The Vancouver Canucks are off to a dream start to the season. They have the third-best points percentage and have scored the most goals in the league.

They embarrassed a Canadian team on Monday and have the chance to do so again tonight against the Ottawa Senators. Ottawa has allowed the seventh-most goals per game and is on a back-to-back after an emotional win last night against the Toronto Maple Leafs. They'll turn to backup goaltender Anton Forsberg tonight, who has an abysmal .863 save percentage this season.

The first line is a great stack because of the affordable wings. You'll still get access to Elias Pettersson ($9,400), Vancouver's best fantasy asset who is second in the league in points with 21. He plays on this line and the top power play with Andrei Kuzmenko ($4,900), a 39-goal scorer from last season. Ilya Mikheyev ($5,200) has also been good with six points in eight games since returning from a knee injury.

The second line has two players who have been on fire in J.T. Miller ($8,800) and Brock Boeser ($7,300). They also play on the first power play together, which ranks as the fourth-best in the NHL. You can get a very low-salaried third piece in Phil Di Giuseppe ($3,600) to go with this stack.

If you stack either of Vancouver's top two lines, you'll get a lot of upside into your lineups tonight.

Edmonton Oilers

The Edmonton Oilers have to erupt at some point, right?

They've made a lot of changes to their lines to try to make that happen. Now they have Connor McDavid ($10,200) playing with Zach Hyman ($7,800) and Ryan McLeod ($3,400) on the first line. McDavid and Hyman were a part of the Oilers' historic power play last season, so they make for a nice pairing.

It's tough to fit in Leon Draisaitl ($9,800) with this stack, but it's worth doing so if you can make it work. Draisaitl's linemates won't play with him on the power play, so it makes more sense to try to get him in with McDavid and Hyman.

The reason we'll want to get back in on the Oilers after they've disappointed all season is because of their juicy matchup. They'll play the league's worst team, the San Jose Sharks, who allowed 10 goals in consecutive games last week and allow nearly four expected goals per game.

The duo of McDavid and Draisaitl is still probably the most dangerous in the league, and against a team that looks like it could be historically bad, I'm doing what I can to get some Oilers exposure tonight.

Value Skaters

Vincent Trocheck, C, Rangers ($4,500)

Vincent Trocheck has inherited the second line center role for the New York Rangers. He made the most of this on Tuesday, scoring twice.

The role he's in makes him a fantastic play once again. He's basically tied to the hip of Artemi Panarin, as they'll play together at even strength and on the league's second-best power play.

Panarin is third in the NHL in points, so Trocheck can easily ride his coattails to another big fantasy game. The Rangers are facing the Minnesota Wild, who have allowed the third-most goals per game this season.

Trocheck is certainly a bargain at this salary, as he showed on Tuesday.

Lucas Raymond, W, Red Wings ($4,600)

The Detroit Red Wings have slowed down from their red-hot start but should be in a good spot tonight.

Detroit is facing the Montreal Canadiens, who have allowed the second-most expected goals per 60 minutes. It hasn't always been bad for Montreal because of stellar goaltending, but that will likely change tonight. They are turning to Cayden Primeau in goal, who has allowed 13.24 goals above expected in just 16 games over the last three seasons.

It makes to target Red Wings here tonight, so we can look Lucas Raymond for this salary. Raymond has 10 points in 13 games and plays on the first line and first power play.

Detroit's implied team total is 3.56 goals, which is the fifth highest on this large slate. Getting a piece of them through a value wing like Raymond definitely is a good route to choose.

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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.