Daily Fantasy Hockey Picks for FanDuel and DraftKings 10/19/17

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 lineups with a single click, or research as deeply as your heart desires, click the button below to test out yourself.

GOALIE

Craig Anderson FD - $8300 DK - $7700
Opponent - NJ
Proj Pts FD - 18.25 DK - 4.56

When it comes to the goalie position, my circle of trust does not extend very far this season, especially in cash games. Although he let us down in his last start, I am going back to the well with Anderson tonight who is already confirmed to start and sits as one of the biggest favorites on the slate(-150) as he will be on home ice vs. the Devils. Although the Devils have been scoring at will, they have never been known as an offensive force and this game is also favorited to play to the under giving Anderson a great shot to get his third win of the season. He also comes at a somewhat discounted price tonight in the second tier.

Ben Bishop FD - $9100 DK - $8400
Opponent - ARI
Proj Pts FD - 18.23 DK - 4.56

While the Stars are the bigger favorites(-165) in the better matchup vs. the Coyotes, they are on the road which presents some risk leaving Bishop as a GPP only option for me tonight. Despite the Stars early struggles this season, Bishop has been excellent with his new team posting a 3-1 record, 1.49 GAA, and .944 save %. The other risk here is that the Stars have done a good job limiting the shots he has faced(25 per start) but could see more tonight as the Coyotes are averaging just under 31 per game and the current Over/Under is set at 6.

Also Consider: Mike Smith(CGY)

CENTERS

Tyler Seguin FD - $8700 DK - $7900
Opponent - ARI
Proj Pts FD - 18.3 DK - 5.54

All three of the top centers(McDavid & Stamkos the others) are on the road tonight and for cash games, I trust Seguin the most. He gets the better matchup facing a winless Coyotes team who has allowed 25 goals through their first six games(4.7 per game). Despite not having the same upside as the other options he has a very high floor as he is averaging over six shots on net per game. Seguin is also starting to heat up with points in two straight and three of his last four as the Stars look to be rebounding from a slow start. Roll Seguin out with confidence in all formats tonight.

Stack with: Jamie Benn, Alexander Radulov

Mika Zibanejad FD - $6900 DK - $6600
Opponent - NYI
Proj Pts FD - 14 DK - 4.21

The Rangers are off to an absolutely terrible start that no one expected but it hasn't been the fault of their top offensive players. Zibanejad has been centering the top line this season and has been very consistent so far with five goals and six points through the first seven games and has been a nice cash game option as he has fired 31 shots on goal(4.4 per game) while skating just under 19 minutes per game. The good news for Zibanejad and the Rangers is they face their New York counterpart who is also struggling with a 1-3 road record. The price is starting to get up there but if you are going to fade the top guys, Zibanejad makes a nice start to a more balanced lineup.

Stack with: Rick Nash, Mats Zuccarello

Also Consider: Kyle Turris(OTT) & Derek Stepan(ARI) for GPP formats

WINGERS

Nikita Kucherov FD - $8800 DK - $7500
Opponent - CBJ
Proj Pts FD - 19.68 DK - 5.68

I don't know how much more we can say about this sniper besides WOW! He has started the season with goals in seven straight games and while it is unlikely he catches and passes Mario Lemieux for the record(12!), I wouldn't put it past him the way he is playing with Stamkos right now. I mean just look at the chemistry they have, it's incredible and if you are going to view one game tonight make it this one. The matchup is tough vs. the Blue Jackets and the price is reaching its peak but Kucherov is practically unfadeable right now.

Stack with: Steven Stamkos, Vladislav Namestnikov

Mike Hoffman FD - $6500 DK - $5400
Opponent - NJ
Proj Pts FD - 14.22 DK - 4.24

Hoffman may seem more like GPP play as he has tallied all four of his points in two games this season, the shot volume brings him firmly into the cash game conversation every night. He has only recorded under four shots in a game once and sits with 28 on the season(4.7 per game) and when looking at expected goals for(via Corsica Hockey), he sits with a healthy 1.2 iXG/60 which tells us there is much more to come from Hoffman. The price is starting to climb on FanDuel(12% of cap) leaving him very close to a GPP only play there, but on DraftKings(10% of cap) he is in play in all formats at home vs. the Devils.

Stack with: Jean-Gabriel Pageau(GPP), Kyle Turris(PP), Bobby Ryan(PP)

Mikko Rantanen FD - $6100 DK - $4400
Opponent - STL
Proj Pts FD - 10.61 DK - 3.23

Rantanen has been a pleasant surprise to start the season and has played a big role in the Avs picking up four wins in their first seven games. He is skating on the top line and powerplay unit and averaging just under 17 minutes per game as he gets a huge opportunity for the rebuilding franchise. In those seven games, he has picked up points in five of them but doesn't quite give us the shot volume(2.7 per game) to be considered in cash games, at least on FanDuel where the price has eclipsed the $6K mark. On DraftKings, however, he makes an excellent salary relief option in all formats thanks to a low mid $4K price tag.

Stack with: Sven Andrighetto, Nathan McKinnon

DEFENSEMEN

Shayne Gostisbehere FD - $5900 DK - $5500
Opponent - NAS
Proj Pts FD - 11.43 DK - 3.67

As I die hard Flyers fan I am somewhat surprised I have gone this far into the season without mentioned Ghost Bear. After a very impressive rookie season two years ago, he declined substantially last season posting under 40 points but more importantly, from a team perspective, posted a horrible -21 rating. He appears to have turned it around, at least for the time being, as he leads all defensemen with 10 points and sits with a postive +4 rating through six games and has been a key for the Flyers early season success. As long as the price stays under $6K, he is in play in all formats.

Will Butcher FD - $4900 DK - $4000
Opponent - OTT
Proj Pts FD - 8.07 DK - 2.39

Speaking of hot starts, the Devils rookie 5th rounder(that is deep for NHL) has been a pleasant surprise. He doesn't have near the shot volume as other options, nor does he block shots but the offensive upside is through the roof as he has already tallied nine assists(5 on the PP) which is pretty amazing considering he is only averaging 15:52 of ice time per game. That hot start and the price under $5K on both sites brings him into the value conversation in all formats and if he keeps up the hot play that ice time will undoubtedly keep rising.

Also Consider: Alex Pietrangelo(STL) in all formats & Mark Giordano(CGY) in cash game formats

Hockey is back and with it comes 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.