Washington Capitals left wing Alex Ovechkin (8), from Russia, pauses on the ice in the first period of an NHL hockey game against the Dallas Stars, Thursday, Nov. 19, 2015, in Washington. (AP Photo/Alex Brandon)
Hello and Welcome to an awesome Sunday of NHL hockey as we have been blessed with 8 games today. There is one game at 4:00 et , and then the main slate starts at 5:00, but if you're playing the early slate then we have a couple of picks for you so have no fear my friends, we have you covered. If you're like me and prefer hockey over football, although it's very close, then you're in luck. Sit back and enjoy the ride. Let's get started as I'm very excited about today's picks.
Hockey is back and with it come our NHL projections which help inform these picks every night. When you purchase a DFSR NHL subscription to our base hockey projections you also get access to our brand new NFL DFS suite of tools including full projections, optimal NFL lineups and our Player Lab, which includes filters to help you create NFL lineups for FanDuel and DraftKings for any format. It’s a set of tools well beyond anything we’ve ever had, and something we feel will help our users *ahem* tackle the NFL season.
If you want to see the numbers behind our projections, create linueps with a single click, or research as deeply as your heart desires, click the button below to test out yourself.
Opponent - VAN
Proj Pts FD - 19.77 DK - 4.94
This is going to be short and sweet because this pick is that easy today. Vancouver is punchless on offense as they are ranked 2nd last in goals scored, and after losing 4-2 in Florida last night, they get to travel to D.C. to face the Washington Capitals and their 4th ranked Defense. This one could get ugly fast. Vegas has the Caps as -275 favourites as of this morning and Holtby has won his last 2 starts while stopping 62 of 67 shots. He has struggled at times this season, but this is just what the doctor ordered today, and he is a lock for the win, and it wouldn't surprise me if he shut the Canucks out at home. He will be popular today and Washington only allowed 28 shots per game, so his upside his limited, but he's easily the top cash game play. If his backup, Philipp Grubauer plays today then start him and enjoy the huge discount.
Opponent - DAL
Proj Pts FD - 19.72 DK - 4.93
While the Washington tender is my favourite cash game play today, I will present to you my favourite tourney play today. Since Crawford has been injured, The Monster has been up and down as he is 1-2-1. The good news is that in his last 2 games, he shut out the coyotes, and then stopped 36 of 37 shots in a tough OT loss to the Rangers. Dallas may seem scary because of stars like Jamie Benn, and Tyler Seguin, but their offense is ranked a below average 17th in the NHL, and they lost 4-2 last night to the Flyers. It also helps that the Stars are terrible defensively as they rank 2nd last in the entire league. Darling shouldn't be too popular today, and he makes for a terrific gpp play.
Also Consider: Henrik Lundvist
Opponent - COL
Proj Pts FD - 17.22 DK - 5.05
Wow this very rarely happens and when it does we need to get very excited. Matthews is projected to score the highest points per dollar today, as well as the most points overall I wonder why? Oh I know, pick me pick me. They play Colorado today. Ding Ding Ding. I win, okay so anyways, the Avalanche stink and they lost 10-1 to the Habs last night who aren't known as an offensive powerhouse. The Av's don't know what puck possession is, and they rank dead last in defense, and they are 25th in the league at killing penalties. That's great news for Matthews as he plays on one of the top 2 lines, as well as the #1 PP unit. He is listed as playing on the 3rd line, but that's just how it is listed. He is a top 6 forward and he plays 17 minutes per game. Matthews is way to cheap across the industry, and last night he scored his 12 goal of the season. He also has 8 assists and a whopping 94 shots on goal and 21 blocked shots. This kid is awesome and I would not fade him today. Play him anywhere and everywhere.
PP Stack with: Nazem Kadri, William Nylander, Leo Komarov
Opponent - WPG
Proj Pts FD - 16.69 DK - 5.59
McDavid is getting very expensive but it is because he is an absolute stud on the ice. We showed you on Friday that we are willing to fade him if the situation doesn't seem quite right, and sure enough Minnesota kept him somewhat under control last game as he was held off of the score-sheet, but still fired 6 goals on net. That was against Minnesot'a #1 Defense. Now McJesus and the Oilers welcome the undisciplined Jets to town who got hammered by the Flames last night by a score of 6-2. Winnipeg is 26th in Defense, and 27th on the penalty kill, and a couple weeks ago in Winnipeg, McDavid had 3 assists and 3 shots on goal. This could get ugly, and there is value to be had at the winger position tonight, so I will have heavy exposure to McDavid in all formats as well. Lock and load McJesus today.
Stack With: Leon Drasitil, Milan Lucic
Opponent - PHI
Proj Pts FD - 11.65 DK - 3.74
Woo hoo, finally I get to recommend one of my favourite under-rated players in the league. The system loves the Danish wonder from a points per dollar perspective, and with good reason as the Flyers own the league's 3rd worst defense. Nielsen has 2 assists and 9 shots on goal, and 2 blocked shots in his last 3 games, and he allows you to save a bit on salary today, because you're going to want to play a couple top players today. He's not flashy but very consistent so use him in your cash game lineups today.
PP Stack with: Dylan Larkin, Gustav Nyquist, Thomas Vanek
Opponent - VAN
Proj Pts FD - 14.08 DK - 4.72
The Great 8 hasn't been struggling by his standards and the system knows that, as his points per dollar value is poor. But when I have a gut feeling then I go with it, as Ovechkin fired 6 shots on goal in his last game to give him 104 for the year. And he's struggling? Yes because we expect him to score a hat-trick every game because well it's Ovechkin. The reason I like him today is because Vancouver their 22nd defense is in town, and when Ovy fires a pile of shots without scoring a goal in the game before, then next game he usually finds the twine. He is so expensive as usual, and very inconsistent for cash games. I would probably play Johannson over there, but stacking his line and/or his power-play line-mates is a smart gpp strategy today and could help you take down a massive tourney as the Great 8 as hat-trick upside on any given day.
Stack with: Marcus Johansson, Nicklas Backstrom
Opponent - DET
Proj Pts FD - 14.69 DK - 4.58
Holy cow and I was going to recommend Voracek before I even looked at his stats for his last 2 games, so now he instantly becomes one of my favourite all around plays today vs. Detroit, as he has, are you ready for this..... 2 goals and 6 assists in his last 2 games, yes 2 games, and he has 107 shots on goal this year already through only 30 games. The Red Wings are a middle of the pack 16th on Defense, and I expect Voracek and the Flyers to keep on rolling tonight, and he is a must play for me at these prices in every single format.
PP Stack with: Wayne Simmonds, Claude Giroux
Opponent - OTT
Proj Pts FD - 9.06 DK - 2.51
I don't mind the Blackhawks tonight and I wanted to recommend one of them here, but they are so expensive for the value they've been giving us lately. I wanted to give you a cheap play in case you are running tight on salary cap space. Enter Cogliano who isn't flashy, and he plays a defensive style of game for the Ducks, but the fact that he plays with Ryan Kesler on the 2nd line means that he will be involved in their offense every single game. He has a goal and 2 assists in his last 3 games, and even though Ottawa is ranked 13th in Defense, I still like Cogliano and his line-mates to find the score-sheet at least once today. Not the safest pick but he is so cheap that if he comes up with a dud then he won't kill your lineups.
Stack with: Ryan Kesler, Jakob Silfverberg
Opponent - DET
Proj Pts FD - 9.29 DK - 2.81
I love it when the Flyers play, because Provorov played for my local junior team, the Brandon Wheat Kings, and he is so cheap that you just can't go wrong with the young Russian on any given day. He is a DFSR favourite and as long as he keeps performing like he has, then you will be seeing a lot of him here. Provorov does a bit of everything for the Flyers as he has 3 goals, 10 assists, 52 shots on goal, and 57 blocked shots through 30 games this season. His upside is limited but he makes a great cash game play because of his contributions everywhere.
Opponent - ANA
Proj Pts FD - 17.57 DK - 5.54
The All Star Swede is the highest projected D-Man today and it's not even close. It doesn't matter who his opponent is because he is amazing at everything he does. In 28 games he has 7 goals, 20 assists, 68 shots, and 78 blocked shots, which is all pretty darned good. He plays 26 minutes per game, and he's on the #1 power-play and the #1 penalty kill. You can find cheaper value for cash games, but Anaheim isn't as good on defense as they have been in the past, so if you have the room then roster him, and I like him for your gpp's today stacked with a couple of the red hot senator forwards.
Also Consider: Jaren Spurgeon
Hockey is back and with it come our NHL projections which help inform these picks every night. When you purchase a DFSR NHL subscription to our base hockey projections you also get accessto our brand new NFL DFS suite of tools including full projections, optimal NFL lineups and our Player Lab, which includes filters to help you create NFL lineups for FanDuel and DraftKings for any format. It’s a set of tools well beyond anything we’ve ever had, and something we feel will help our users *ahem* tackle the NFL season.
If you want to see the numbers behind our projections, create linueps with a single click, or research as deeply as your heart desires, click the button below to test out yourself.
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