Todd Cordell has you covered for tonight’s NHL DFS cash game lineups.
As always, I should note these plays are sorted by price 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)
- Tyson Barrie (EDM)
- Travis Hamonic (VAN)
- Jake Allen (MON)
Center
Connor McDavid (EDM) – McDavid has picked up nine points in three home games against Ottawa this season. That’s not exactly surprising given he’s the league’s most talented player and can get advantageous matchups against a horrendous defensive team with poor goaltending. The Senators are still giving up a lot defensively and they take a ton of penalties. Get him into your lineups.
Nathan MacKinnon (COL) – Nate the Great is averaging nearly 5 SOG per game on home soil and draws an Arizona team that is really struggling defensively right now. The Coyotes rank 28th in expected goals against/60 over the last 10.
Bo Horvat (VAN) – He’s in what should be a high-event matchup, and he’ll get extra ice time with Elias Pettersson out of the lineup. I prefer the Montreal side but you can definitely go here.
Gabe Vilardi (LA) – He’s really starting to carve out a nice role for himself in LA. He has logged at least 16 minutes of ice in six straight and has the same amount of 5v5 chances as Alex Iafallo and Anze Kopitar – two of the team’s top liners – in that time.
Adam Henrique (ANH) – Being placed on waivers must’ve served as a real wake-up call for Henrique because he has been very impressive since. He’s picked up six points in six games and ranks 2nd on the Ducks in SOG during that time. Too cheap.
Also consider: Joel Eriksson Ek, Brandon Sutter.
Wing
Max Pacioretty (VGK) – Patches is the best shot generator in the NHL right now. I mean, he’s picked up at least 5SOG in six straight and seven of eight. His shoot-first mentality makes him essentially matchup proof. Even without finding the scoresheet last game, he still reached double digit DK points for the ninth time in the last 10.
Leon Draisaitl (EDM) – If he’s going to play with McDavid again he’s a tough guy to fade. L1, PP1, elite player, elite matchup.
Kevin Fiala (MIN) – Vegas isn’t exactly the ideal matchup but Fiala is a high-end shot/chance generator and a lot of the offenses runs through him. He’s too cheap, especially at home when the Wild can use last change to get him out in advantageous situations.
Rickard Rakell (ANH) – This guy couldn’t get a bounce the first few weeks – despite generating chances at a very high clip – and his pricing is extremely broken as a result. He’s averaged more than 14 DK points per game over the last 10 (for perspective, 8.7K MacKinnon is averaging 14.7 on the year) and yet you can still play him for less than 5K. Continue to ride him until his price reflects his outputs.
Nils Hoglander (VAN) – The talented rookie is a very strong chance generator and he’s been particularly effective on home soil. His shooting floor is really strong for a player in his price range (he has multiple shots in nine of his last 10).
Joel Armia (MON) – If you want cheap Montreal exposure, Armia is your guy. He ranks 3rd on the Canadiens in chances over the last 10 and has a mouth-watering matchup. Vancouver plays fast and they bleed shots/chances.
Also consider: Brady Tkachuk, Tyler Toffoli, Gabriel Landeskog, Alex Tuch (more so if Mark Stone is out).
Defense
Tyson Barrie (EDM) – Only Roman Josi and Dougie Hamilton have attempted more shots this season. Barrie is a shooting machine, especially on home soil when Dave Tippett can protect Barrie and get the offensive blueliner in optimal situations.
Jakob Chychrun (ARI) – Chychrun is just one spot behind Barrie in attempts this season and he’s tied for 3rd in goals among defenseman. He is always up in the play and is one of Arizona’s key drivers offensively. I like him once again.
Sam Girard/Devon Toews (COL) – They are not super high fantasy points per minute players but, with Cale Makar and Bowen Byram out, they’re going to play a *ton*.
Alec Martinez (VGK) – He disappointed last time out but has been one of the best peripheral defenders in the NHL this season. He logged more than 24 minutes last time out and I expect a similar workload again. On a five-game slate you can use him against a low-event team like Minnesota but I’d much prefer him if Alex Pietrangelo is out again.
Matt Roy (LA) – Averaging 3.5 SOG + BS over the last 10 games and providing value even without really finding the scoresheet. Has more potential to donk a point vs ANA than most opponents.
Travis Hamonic (VAN) – Hamonic is a high-event player. Shoots at a high rate, blocks at a high rate, and is in a high-event matchup. Absolutely love him as a punt.
Jacob MacDonald (COL) – If you need a really deep punt, I have time for J-Mac. He is extremely trigger happy and will get you at least a few points even if he only plays 15-16 minutes.
Zach Whitecloud (VGK) – Solid rate stats and will see 20+ minutes if Pietrangelo is out. I’d prefer MacDonald or getting up to Hamonic if Pietrangelo plays.
Goalie
Philipp Grubauer (COL) – He really struggled last time out but his season numbers are still strong and Colorado’s chances of winning are much higher with Nathan MacKinnon returning to the lineup.
Jake Allen (MON) – He is one of the NHL’s leaders in Goals Saved Above Expected and Vancouver’s offense doesn’t exactly scare me sans Pettersson.
Cal Petersen (LA) – *ducks* I know, I know. He was an absolute disaster against Anaheim in the previous matchup. He has generally been very reliable over the last season and change, though, and I think LA has a good chance of bouncing back here.
Kaapo Kahkonen (MIN) – Minnesota is elite defensively and they have a very real shot at beating Vegas again, particularly if Mark Stone and/or Pietrangelo are out. He is too cheap.
As always, hit me up on Twitter if you have any questions about the slate.
Numbers via NaturalStatTrick.com
