Todd Cordell has you covered for tonight’s NHL DFS cash game lineups.
As always, I should note these plays are sorted by price (DK first) and not preference.
Feel free to hit me up on Twitter (@ToddCordell) if you have questions about any of the players you’re considering or don’t see mentioned.
Core Four
Connor McDavid (EDM)
Elias Pettersson (VAN) (assuming Hutchinson starts)
Mike Hoffman (STL)
Seth Jones (CBJ)
Bonus: Patrik Laine (CBJ)
Center
I don’t love the mid-range at C tonight.
Connor McDavid (EDM) – The league’s best player has recorded 2+ points in seven consecutive games, two of which came against the lowly Ottawa Senators (he put up 7P in 2GP vs them). He is ultra pricey but it is hard to get away from him.
Auston Matthews (TOR) – AM34 is averaging nearly six peripherals per game and has scored in eight of 10. The matchup is juicy against a Vancouver team that ranks dead last in expected goals against per 60.
John Tavares (TOR) – Doesn’t bring the same floor as Matthews but he is an elite chance generator and has the same enticing matchup.
Elias Pettersson (VAN) – I like getting EP40 at a discount, especially if he gets to shoot on Michael Hutchinson. We’ll wait on goaltending news.
Colin White (OTT) – Believe it or not, White is leading the NHL with 1.56 expected goals per 60 at 5v5. He is generating a lot of shots, most of which are coming from dangerous areas. I think he is a really nice salary saver against an Edmonton team that has defensive issues and plays at a high pace.
Jack Roslovic (CBJ) – Don’t love the shooting floor. Do love that he is playing alongside Patrik Laine on L1 and PP1 at a cheap price.
Wing
Ryan Nugent-Hopkins (EDM) – Continues to play 20+ minutes a night and brings exposure to all of Edmonton’s top players. Doesn’t get much better than a game against an Ottawa team that sits 29th in xGA/60.
Patrik Laine (CBJ) – Has three goals in three games as a member of the Blue Jackets and is the focal point of PP1. While Carolina is a good defensive team, they spend more time on the PK per game than all but Vancouver.
Brady Tkachuk (OTT) – This guy is a machine. He has four points in his last 10 and is still averaging more than 10DK points per game in that time because of his shooting floor.
Andrei Svechnikov (CAR) – Svechnikov generates quality and quantity when it comes to shots. Has hit 10DK+ points in eight of 10 games, with the two ‘stinkers’ being 6 and 8. He hasn’t shown a super-high ceiling thus far but he is consistently giving you a high floor.
Filip Forsberg (NSH) – Forsberg is doing everything for Nashville right now. He is firing the puck a ton and facilitating all of their offense. I don’t love playing against Tampa Bay but Forsberg is too cheap given his role/production. Will like him more if Vasilevskiy gets the night off.
Mike Hoffman (STL) – He is really starting to heat up for the Blues, having piled up five points over his last five and 15 shots over his last three. He is now skating on L1 at even-strength, too. Too cheap. (UPDATE: Back on L3)
Oliver Bjorkstrand (CBJ) – Is not shooting as much as in previous years, however, he is still producing 5v5 points at an elite rate.
Blake Coleman (TB) – Leads the Lightning in attempts per 60, chances per 60, and points per 60 at 5v5. Very cheap exposure to the league’s best team.
Tyler Motte (VAN) – Nothing sexy about this pick but he’s averaging three peripherals per game and generating chances at a pretty good rate.
Defense
Victor Hedman (TB) – Steady peripheral floor and quarterbacks PP1 against a Nashville team that is giving up a *ton* of chances on the PK.
Dougie Hamilton (CAR) – He started the season a little slow but is showing signs of his normal form, having piled up five points and 18 peripherals over the last four games.
Roman Josi (NSH) – I don’t know about you but I enjoy players who give me more than five peripherals per game. High floor, high ceiling.
Adam Fox (NYR) – He might be my favorite Ranger to get exposure to. He brings a lot peripherally, is playing a boatload of minutes, and QBs an above average PP unit.
Jakob Chychrun (ARI) – No regular defender is averaging more xG per 60 than Chychrun. He gets up in the play and shoots a lot from dangerous areas.
Ryan Ellis (NSH) – Doesn’t have the same ceiling as Josi but a similar floor at a much cheaper price.
Seth Jones (CBJ) – Is off to a really poor start relative to expectations but I like him in this spot. Carolina is an elite shot generating team, which offers Jones plenty of opportunity to get blocks (like yesterday when he hit the 3BS bonus). He also plays PP1 and it is much more potent with Laine there.
Michael Del Zotto (CBJ) – Has a fairly reliable floor and is seeing an uptick in minutes – including PP time – with Zach Werenski out of the lineup.
Evan Bouchard (EDM) – Not seeing a lot of minutes yet but he is an ultra-talented puck-mover who will not hesitate to shoot the puck. Has 7SOG in 30 minutes through two NHL games. Will like him more if Edmonton goes 6D tonight.
Dante Fabbro (NSH)/ K’Andre Miller (NYR) – Both are talented youngsters playing 18-20+ minutes per night. Don’t love the matchup for either, but the opportunity is enticing at such a low price.
Goalie
Andrei Vasilevskiy (TB) – Check for confirmation but, as usual, he is firmly in play if starting. He is playing at a high level (.931 SV%) and always has a high chance of winning.
Jordan Binnington (STL) – Home favorite on a stout defensive team. That’ll always be in play. With that said, I am a *little* hesitant about Binnington tonight because, while the Coyotes don’t have much shooting talent, they are generating a ton of chances from dangerous areas right now. They rank 2nd in expected goals per 60.
Igor Shesterkin (NYR) – I like Shesty quite a bit tonight. Home favorite vs a team that ranks 24th in expected goals per 60. Even if he loses, I think he is a good bet to put up a pretty solid score; I don’t see much blow-up potential here.
Mike Smith (EDM) – I don’t like Mike Smith. I think he is a subpar NHL goaltender. With that said, he will be firmly in play if starting because he is 6.5K (!!!!!) on DK as a massive home favorite against a team with two wins in 12 games.
As always, hit me up on Twitter if you have any questions about the slate.
Numbers via NaturalStatTrick.com
