NHL

Welcome to the NHL DFS Man Advantage for Monday night February 22nd and we have a big 8 game slate on tap!

After a strange weekend where we saw two outdoor games, one that had an 8 hour 5 on 3. Then the other game had 3 different start times leading to what I consider a failure on the NHL’s part with these Lake Tahoe games, we are back to 8 INDOOR game tonight. There is only one game currently showing a 6.5 O/U and that is Calgary @ Toronto, but there were two games that opened at 6.5 but have moved down. Both the Dallas @ Florida and Tampa Bay @ Carolina have moved from 6.5 to 5.5. What all that means is we are going to want to focus on that game first for our stacks, especially on the Toronto side.

NHL DFS: Goaltenders

Looking at the goalies on both sites for Monday and the first thing I notice is that FanDuel has no respect for Jordan Binnigton ($7,400). Binnigton is $1,100 more on DraftKings which makes him my number one play on FanDuel and a complete fade of the St. Louis goalie on DK. Switching to DraftKings now, both Chris Driedger ($7,700) and Andrei Vasilevskiy ($7,800) seem underpriced to me. I know both have tough matchups with Dallas for Florida, and Carolina for Tampa Bay. These were the two games I mentioned in the open that saw the lines move from 6.5 to 5.5, I am not sure why, but when a line moves in that direction Vegas is usually right. If Sergei Bobrovsky ($7,900) starts for Florida, then I would pass and focus on Vasilevskiy.

There is a goalie I am interested in and the price is right on both sites in my opinion. Kappo Kahkonen ($8,000/$7,700) is in a prime matchup in San Jose against a Sharks team that ranks 17th in goals for and has only scored more than 2 goals in a game four times in their last nine games.

Other options: Semyon Varlamov ($8,400/$8,100), John Gibson ($7,300/$6,700)

NHL DFS: Slate Overview

Like I mentioned in the open, Calgary and the Toronto Maple Leafs is the projected highest-scoring game on the slate. Auston Matthews ($9,000/$9,200) is the hottest thing going in the NHL and his price is reflecting that. Over his last five games, Matthews has 7 goals and 6 assists, with 4 goals and 2 assists coming on the power play. Calgary has one of the league’s worst penalty kills which makes this matchup even more appealing. Calgary ranks in the bottom third of the league in penalty kill %, allows the 7th most power-play goals, and has taken the 6th most penalties this season. Because of all of this, a Toronto Power Play stack is definitely my number one place to start when building lineups and Matthews has to be included in that.

On Calgary’s side of the ice, there isn’t much to like right now. Their top guys are not producing right now, but maybe this matchup with Toronto will break their slump. In their last 5 games, the Flames have been held to 1 goal in four of their last five. Elias Lindholm ($5,700/$6,100) averages the second-most minutes on ice for the Flames, which is rare for a forward. Because of that, I think that would be where I would start in a Flames stack. Calgary has shaken their lines up because of their anemic goal scoring of late, so Lindholm now centers line 2 with Johnny Gaudreau ($5,500/$7600) on his wing. Now, with how terrible his price is on FD, Gaudreau is only viable on DK. Either Andrew Mangiapane ($4,400/$4,700) or Matthew Tkachuk ($6,200/$5,400) are much better options to pair with Lindholm on FD as a power-play stack.

NHL DFS: Value Plays

With the high prices from Toronto, and the mid prices of Calgary we will need some value plays to make that fit. I mentioned in discord Sunday night that Anaheim called up Trevor Zegras ($2,500/$3,000) and he should be making his highly anticipated debut on Monday. Zegras dominated the World Juniors this year with 18 points in 7 games and then continued in the AHL this season with 9 points in just 8 games. In Sunday’s practice Zegras skated on the second line with Sam Steel ($3,200 both sites) and Jacob Silfverberg ($4,000/$5,100). It is anticipated he sees power play time as well.

Another value line I like on Monday night is Minnesota second line. Mats Zuccarello ($2,900/$3,900) has returned and in his first three games he has 1 goal and 2 assists. Zuccarello is playing with Karill Kaprizov ($4,400/$4,600) and Marcus Johansson ($2,800/$4,100). We will need to wait for an announcement about Johansson who did not play Saturday.

NHL DFS: Defensemen Rankings

Top Defensemen

1. Shea Theodore (VGK)
2. Victor Hedman (TB)
3. Morgan Rielly (TOR)
4. Drew Doughty (LA)
5. Brent Burns (SJ)
6. Dougie Hamilton (CAR)
7. Alex Pietrangelo (VGK)
8. Torey Krug (STL)
9. Aaron Ekblad (FLA)
10. John Klingberg (DAL)

Top Value Defensemen:

1. Rasmus Andersson (CGY)
2. Bowen Byram (COL)
3. Colin Miller (BUF)
4. Scott Mayfield (NYI)
5. Josh Mahura (ANH)
6. Gustav Forsling (FLA)
7. Mikey Anderson (LA)
8. Keith Yandle (FLA)
9. Jonas Brodin (MIN)
10. Brett Pesce (CAR)

Thanks for reading this article on the NHL DFS Man Advantage for Monday, February 15th, 2021. Make sure you head to the Win Daily Sports Discord for up to date info and help directly from our pros! Head over to Twitter and give the @WinDailySports account and me (@MVecchio81) a follow for all things Fantasy Sports and make sure to check out WinDailySports.com for more money-making content.

Welcome to the NHL DFS Man Advantage for Monday night February 15th and we have a 9 game slate on tap!

Tonight is a rare big Monday slate, but even though it’s a big slate there is one team that will carry huge ownership. Toronto hosts Ottawa in what could be an absolute blow out game. Matt Murray ($6,900/$6,600) is listed as day to day for the Senators and if he misses another game Ottawa could be forced to use Marcus Hogberg ($6,900/$6,600) who has been terrible. Other than the Maple Leafs, Edmonton (vs WPG), Calgary (@VAN), NY Islander (@BUF), Dallas (vs NSH), and Chicago (@DET) also have goal projections over 3 for tonight.

NHL DFS: Goaltenders

Semyon Varlamov ($8,200) and the Islander are on the road against the Sabres tonight who haven’t played a hockey game in what seems like years (actually it’s been 15 days) so they may be a little rusty. Varly is coming off a big win (28 saves, 2 GA) over Buffalo on Saturday and has won 3 of his previous 4 starts allowing just 8 goals in those 4 games including a shutout of the Rangers. Buffalo was allowing 32 saves per game in their previous 5 games before their COVID break.

Obviously whoever starts for Toronto is an option, assuming that Frederick Andersen ($8,500/8,400) is the one who gets the start he will be a good high priced play if you can fit him. I don’t personally like playing goalies priced this high, but for cash games or if you have the salary he is a good pick.

If Jacob Markstrom ($7,900/$8,100) starts tonight against Vancouver he is probably my favorite play on the slate. Markstrom made 43 saves in a 3-1 loss to this team Saturday night. Vancouver leads the NHL in shots on goal (565) by a large margin but has one of the worst shot % in the league which should bode well for Markstrom. If David Rittich ($7,700/$8,100) gets the start instead he is a decent option on DK at his price, but way too expensive for my liking on FD.

Well, if I am writing an article and Anaheim is on the slate then you know John Gibson ($7,600/$6,800) will get a mention. Gibson and the Ducks are in San Jose tonight against the leagues 31st ranked offense. Gibson is an absolute lock for me at this price on FD (I might actually play on FD tonight just so I can play him there) and still a great option for $7.6K on DK. Anaheim ranks 10th in the league in shots allowed which means Gibby should see plenty of rubber tonight.

Other Options: Lankinen/Subban ($7,800/$7,400), Vasilevskiy ($8,300/$8,600), Khudobin ($8,100/$7,900)

NHL DFS: Slate Overview

Toronto Maple Leafs

As I mentioned on the open, Toronto is the team to stack tonight and their top line of Auston Matthews/Mitch Marner/Joe Thornton will probably garner the highest ownership on the slate. This line is the number one stack on the slate for obvious reasons, and I definitely want exposure to the Leafs but I want to find a way to be different. Some people may not realize Thornton is back tonight which should lower his ownership, but I would rather not play him personally, so I will look to the Leafs Dmen and secondary scoring.

Zach Hyman ($5,800/$5,000) is now on the second line with John Tavares and William Nylander but is not on PP2 with them. Both Ilya Mikheyev($3,700/$3,600) and Jason Spezza ($3,700/$3,500) are. In conclusion, if you are playing cash load up on the Leafs top line, but if you are in large field GPP’s look to their secondary players to get exposure to the potential highest scoring team on the slate but at lower ownership.

Defensemen in play: Morgan Rielly (PP1), TJ Brodie (PP2), Justin Holl, Jake Muzzin

Anaheim Ducks

Anaheim is a team that rarely ever gets used in NHL DFS, but tonight you should consider using the Ducks. San Jose has the third-worst team save % in the NHL and is in the middle of the pack in allowing shots on goal. Anaheim has scored 14 goals in their last 5 games, which is a huge increase from the 8 they scored in the 5 before that.

The Ducks 2nd line is the one I am interested in tonight with Max Comtois/Isac Lundestrom/Rickard Rakell. They are a cheap line stack that has been producing for their price. In their last five games, this combo has scored 5 goals, 4 assists, and taken 32 shots on goal. If you are playing two guys from this line I would recommend Comtois and Rakell with one of the PP dmen. Kevin Shattenkirk ($4,200/$3,900) is on the top PP unit that Rakell is on and Comtois and Lundestrom are with Cam Fowler ($3,300/$4,600) on PP2. If you are playing on FD, I would use ShattDueces and ignore Fowler’s horrendously high price.

Other Ducks to Consider: Troy Terry (PP2), Ryan Getzlaf (PP1)

Other Top Line Stacks:

• Edmonton L1
• Chicago L1 – VERY Expensive on DK, will probably be overlooked
• Winnipeg L1
• Tampa Bay L1
• Columbus L1 – Patrik Laine is “cheap” on DK
• Carolina L2
• Dallas L1

Value Line Stacks:

• Detroit L2
• Florida L2
• Calgary L2
• Tampa Bay L2 – Formerly Tampa L3 we’ve been using
• Vancouver L1
• Ottawa L2
• Chicago L2
• NY Islanders L2

NHL DFS: Defensemen Rankings

Top Defensemen

1. Victor Hedman (TB)
2. Roman Josi (NSH)
3. Darnell Nurse (EDM)
4. Dougie Hamilton (CAR) – FD ONLY
5. Seth Jones (CLS)
6. Ryan Ellie (NSH)
7. Jake Muzzin (TB)
8. Tyson Barrie (EDM)
9. Neal Pionk (WPG)
10. Aaron Ekblad (FLA)

Top Value Defensemen

1. Scott Mayfield (NYI)
2. Jamie Oleksiak (DAL)
3. Brett Pesce (CAR)
4. Evan Bouchard (EDM) – PP2
5. Nicolas Beaudin (CHI) – PP1
6. David Savard (CLS)
7. MacKenzie Weegar (FLA) – Plays with Ekblad on D pair 1
8. Dante Fabbro (NSH) – PP2
9. Nikita Zadorov (CHI)
10. Dylan Demelo (WPG)

NHL DFS: Wrap Up

As I mentioned, Toronto is going to be where the ownership lands tonight but there are ways to get some Leafs in and be different. Both Edmonton and Chicago are also two teams that are good spots, Chicago over Edmonton in my opinion, as well as Tampa Bay. Anaheim has finally been scoring some goals of late and could be a small late-night hammer that could help you get a takedown if everything falls into place.

Thanks for reading this article on the NHL DFS Man Advantage for Monday, February 15th, 2021. Make sure you head to the Win Daily Sports Discord for up to date info and help directly from our pros! Head over to Twitter and give the @WinDailySports account and me (@MVecchio81) a follow for all things Fantasy Sports and make sure to check out WinDailySports.com for more money-making content.