This article focuses on 2/17 NHL Picks for both DraftKings Sportsbook and DraftKings Daily Fantasy. We analyze tournament tactics, statistics, pricing, and attempt to tackle this highly variable Daily Fantasy format so that we can gain an edge on the field at large. Full rankings for each position for both sites are available below.
NHL Slate and DFS Gameplan
Welcome back to the Hot Shot for a ten-game Thursday slate!
Full Game Odds/Totals and DraftKings Rankings can be found below as well as cash game considerations for each site.
Three Favorite Lines Per Dollar
Top Line – Buffalo One “Alex Tuch, Jeff Skinner, Tage Thompson”
In terms of affordability and production, it doesn’t get much better than the Sabres top line. They will be hosting the Senators in a game that is sure to feature some goals “six total as of the time of writing, but I’d take the over”. Alex Tuch is the stand out of the bunch and no matter what he does, his price seems to never increase by much. Mr. Tuch has been averaging over a point a game “19 over 16” with goals in four of his last six games. His shot totals in recent games have been five sog, five sog, seven sog, four sog, four sog, seven sog, and five sog before hitting a game where he didn’t have any shots on goal “but did have two assists”.
Jeff Skinner, who has a monster game on Sunday, is only $5,100 and Tage Thompson at $6,500 might be the most expensive of the bunch but has finished with double digits DraftKings points in eight of his last nine games. This is matchup proof stuff at the line’s current price let alone good value for an even money matchup hosting the Senators.
Secondary Line – New York Rangers One Two Man “Mika Zibanejad, Chris Kreider”
The star of Rangers’ first half of the season, Chris Kreider, clocks in at only $5,600 and makes for a perfect pairing with Mika Zibanejad at center. They host in the Red Wings in a six total game and with the home team -190 favorites, we can rightfully assume that the Rangers are expected to provide most of the goals here.
I’m surprised that the recent sample size on this line “or any Rangers line for that matter” isn’t better but it seems like that might be the byproduct of a tough recent schedule. That’s the sort of thing that can turn around in an instant with the Red Wings “an awful road team” coming to town. I left off Alexis Lafreniere as he’s a side piece at most and lacks power play correlation with the two mentioned skaters. However, he is super cheap at $2,900 and does have goals in two of his last three in case you need the savings.
2/17 NHL Game Odds and Totals
Main Slate of Games – Beginning 7 p.m. ET
Detroit Red Wings (+160) at New York Rangers (-190) – 6 Projected Goal Total
Washington Capitals (-175) at Philadelphia Flyers (+150) – 6 Projected Goal Total
Pittsburgh Penguins (+130) at Toronto Maple Leafs (-150) – 6.5 Projected Goal Total
Ottawa Senators (-105) at Buffalo Sabres (-115) – 6 Projected Goal Total
St. Louis Blues (-265) at Montreal Canadiens (+210) – 6 Projected Goal Total
Boston Bruins (+100) at New York Islanders (-115) – 5.5 Projected Goal Total
Seattle Kraken (+135) at Winnipeg Jets (-165) – 6 Projected Goal Total
Columbus Blue Jackets (+125) at Chicago Blackhawks (-145) – 6 Projected Goal Total
Anaheim Ducks (+185) at Edmonton Oilers (-230) – 6.5 Projected Goal Total
Vancouver Canucks (-115) at San Jose Sharks (-105) – 5.5 Projected Goal Total
2/17 NHL DraftKings Individual Rankings
Centers
- Mika Zibanejad – New York Rangers – $7,000
- Tage Thompson – Buffalo – $6,500
- Evgeny Kuznetsov – Washington – $6,200
- Boone Jenner – Columbus – $6,000
- Bo Horvat – Vancouver – $4,300
Wingers
- Alex Tuch – Buffalo – $5,800
- Chris Krieder – New York Rangers – $5,600
- Patrik Laine – Columbus – $5,400
- Vladimir Tarasenko – St. Louis – $6,400
- Evander Kane – Edmonton – $5,100
Defense
- Rasmus Dahlin – Buffalo – $4,800
- Erik Brannstrom – Ottawa – $2,700
- Connor Murphy – Chicago – $3,200
- Mike Matheson – Pittsburgh – $3,000
- Vince Dunn – Seattle – $3,800
Goalies
- Ville Husso – St. Louis – $8,600
- Linus Ullmark – Boston – $7,400
Cash Considerations
Patrik
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