NHL Daily Fantasy Picks and Helper: Tuesday 12/12/23

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

Logan Thompson, Vegas Golden Knights ($8,000)

The 10-game slate has us picking from plenty of options, but none seem better than Logan Thompson for tonight's goalie to target.

Thompson has been one of the best netminders over the last two seasons, carrying his efforts that were cut short due to injury last year into this campaign.

He doesn't have the starting role but occupies half of more of a timeshare with Adin Hill between the pipes, which has allowed him to be consistent and strong. Through his first 15 games this season, Thompson has posted a 2.29 goals against average and .919 save percentage. Both marks are top 10 at the position.

Thompson also ranks 10th in the NHL in goals saved above expectation (GSAx), coming into tonight's tilt with 9.95.

DFS players should be able to play him with confidence today considering the Golden Knights will be hosting the Calgary Flames, who are playing the second game of a back-to-back.

What makes the Flames such a welcoming matchup is that they don't score much despite creating a high amount of opportunities on the offensive end. Calgary ranks 8th in Corsi For per 60 minutes (63.37) but is averaging just 2.92 Goals For per 60 minutes -- good for 22nd in the league.

Thompson enters the night projected for 19.9 FanDuel points, per numberFire's model. He's a quality option.

Stacks

Edmonton Oilers

The Edmonton Oilers are the hottest team in the NHL and should stay hot today.

Winners of seven straight games, the Oilers have shown that their early-season woes are behind them. The offensive juggernaut that they were a year ago remains intact as they're tops in the league in the two categories you want to see them thrive in -- especially when we're stacking their lineup.

Edmonton is fifth in the NHL at creating chances, coming into tonight with a 64.77 Corsi For per 60 minutes. They've turned those chances into goals as well, ranking seventh on the season with 3.45 Goals For per 60 minutes. Over their last 10 games, they're averaging a league-high 4.36 Goals For.

They'll enter the night with the best implied total of any team at 4.28, per numberFire's heat map, as the Oilers will take on the Chicago Blackhawks.

Chicago has been consistently one of the league's worst teams, so this shouldn't come as much of a shock. They rank 28th in Corsi Against (63.44) and allow the 5th-most Goals Against per 60 minutes (3.42). The Oilers should be able to excel on the ice all night.

Piecing together a stack will start with either Connor McDavid ($10,200) or Leon Draisaitl ($9,400). Both skaters play key roles, taking up the top two center spots for the Oilers, and they are both on the power play.

Your best bet would be to go with McDavid while following through with Zach Hyman ($9,500) and Ryan Nugent-Hopkins ($6,400) due to all three playing on the top line. Evander Kane ($7,800) has value if you're siding with Draisaitl.

Winnipeg Jets

Anytime a team is taking on the San Jose Sharks, we jump at that.

The Winnipeg Jets will be the lucky team tonight, and it's why we're stacking them. Winnipeg hasn't been an elite offense in terms of creating offensive opportunities (57.25 Corsi For per 60 minutes), but they've shown that they can pot goals, ranking 12th in the NHL with 3.24 Goals For per 60 minutes.

It makes for a potentially high-scoring night considering the Sharks -- despite playing better as of late -- rank last in the NHL with a 71.8 Corsi Against per 60 minutes and 3.99 Goals Against per 60 minutes.

If there's a need for more excitement offensively, the Sharks will be rolling out Mackenzie Blackwood in net. Blackwood has a 3-11-2 record with a 3.83 goals against average and .895 save percentage.

Stacking the Jets should start with Kyle Connor ($9,200) and Mark Scheifele ($7,700). They're paired on the top line as well as the first power-play unit.

Josh Morrissey ($7,200) is another great option on defense as he's totaled 5 goals, 19 assists, and 24 points in 26 games. He plays the major minutes you'd look for out of a defender.

Value Skaters

Jared McCann, W, Seattle Kraken ($5,700)

Looking for value skaters on a large slate can be difficult, but it's important to get the most out of them.

Jared McCann is a top choice for value skaters tonight. The winger takes the left side of the second line. He is also on the backend for the first power-play unit. After a slow start to the season, McCann has managed to score 13 goals in 29 games. It should lead him toward matching his 40-goal campaign from a year ago.

McCann is currently averaging the most time on ice of his career, coming in at 17:20. He's also recording 2.79 shots per game, giving him plenty of room to make a splash on the scoresheet.

numberFire's model projects McCann to finish with 14.9 FanDuel points.

Brandon Montour, D, Florida Panthers ($5,100)

Points haven't been coming yet for Brandon Montour, but they should be on the way soon enough.

After finishing with 73 points a year ago, Montour has just 2 assists over 11 games since making his season debut for the Florida Panthers. The reason to believe in him tonight is that his offensive chances are beginning to add up. He's averaging 2.36 shots per game but has recorded at least five shots in two of his last four games.

Add in that he's averaging a monstrous 23:38 time on ice thanks to his work on the top power play for the Panthers, and there's a lot to like. Things will turn around soon enough -- he's due.

numberFire projects Montour to end the night with 13.1 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.