Chicago Blackhawks right wing Patrick Kane celebrates after scoring his goal during the third period of an NHL hockey game against the Edmonton Oiler,s Sunday, Nov. 8, 2015, in Chicago. The Blackhawks won 4-2. (AP Photo/Nam Y. Huh)
Welcome back hockey fans. We have a very busy Sunday ahead of us with 10 games on the schedule which includes seven teams(BOS, EDM, NYR, PHI, STL, TB, VAN) playing the second game of a back to back. Let's jump in and take a look at some of the top picks at each position.
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.
Opponent - SJ
Proj Pts FD - 16.93 DK - 4.23
There are a couple way you could go at the goalie position on the early slate but if Connor Hellebuyck is back in the net for the Jets, he is my guy. I wrote him up Friday and mentioned his and Jets dominance on home ice and he didn't let us down. It wasn't his best game of the season giving up three goals but he did pick up the win to improve his record to 15-1-1 on home ice with a .925 save %. While the Sharks have been a top defensive team this year, they have struggled offensively ranking 22nd overall and have dropped three of their last four games. Fire up Hellebuyck in all formats.
Opponent - NYR
Proj Pts FD - 15.66 DK - 3.91
The Vegas Golden Knights have been nearly unstoppable on home ice with a 17-2-1 record making all of their goalies(and they have been through a lot this season) elite plays. Marc-Andre Fleury isn't just any goalie, however, as he has helped the Penguins in back to back years win Stanley Cups and then became the prize pick in the expansion draft. He was injured early in the season but picked up where he left off going 5-1-1 upon his return with two shutouts and a ridiculous .955 save %. The Rangers have Top 10 offense this season but have not been near as good on the road so fire up Fleury in all formats.
Also Consider: Sergei Bobrovsky(CBJ) in GPP formats on the early slate & Carey Price(MON) in GPP formats for the main slate
Opponent - SJ
Proj Pts FD - 15.92 DK - 4.66
You might not think the matchup vs. the Sharks 5th ranked defense would be a good spot but hear me out. Since taking over over the center role on the Jets top line(Scheifele on IR), Wheeler has been on fire with points in four straight including three multi-point efforts and now sits in a tie for 5th in overall points with 49 on the season. He not only comes with big upside but has also provided a safe floor as he averages 3.1 shots per game. The Jets have been one of the better home teams all season(15-3-1) and do get the Sharks at the right time as they are struggling having dropped three of their last four games and given up 16 goals. All things considered, we can safely fire up Wheeler in all formats.
Stack with: Kyle Connor, Patrik Laine
Opponent - BUF
Proj Pts FD - 12.99 DK - 3.61
If the matchup for Wheeler scares you at all, it is an easy pivot to Couturier who centers the Flyers top line. With two goals on Saturday afternoon, Couts now has 21 on the season to go along with 19 assists and has now set a career-high with 40 points and we are just halfway through the season. While the Flyers are playing back to back on Sunday, they get an elite matchup vs. the Sabres who rank 29th overall on defense. Fire up Couturier in all formats.
Stack with: Claude Giroux, Jakub Voracek(PP)
Opponent - DET
Proj Pts FD - 12.25 DK - 3.48
We always want a piece of the Bolts #1 overall offense but in this tough matchup vs. a hot Red Wings team(won four straight) and on a small slate, I will be rolling with the value in Brayden Point. He has flourished in a Top 6 role this season and already has tallied 36 points through 40 games(going into Saturday night) and has seen an uptick in shot volume lately with 30 over his last 10 games. Considering a small slate, Point is in play in all formats, especially on FanDuel in the mid $5K range.
Stack with: Tyler Johnson, Ondrej Palat
Opponent - EDM
Proj Pts FD - 14.35 DK - 4.65
With so many players going hog wild this season, Patrick Kane has somewhat gone under the radar. While he isn't having his usual Patrick Kan season, he is still averaging a point per game through his first 40 games and is providing a very high floor with an average of 3.6 shots per game. Tonight he gets a near elite matchup at home vs. an Oilers team that has dropped five of their last six games while giving up 24 goals against. From a raw points perspective, Kane is my top play overall tonight.
Stack with: Nick Schmaltz, Ryan Hartman
Opponent - NYI
Proj Pts FD - 15.59 DK - 4.54
Sunday gives us yet another great spot to take advantage of the Islanders league-worst defense. This time it's Taylor Hall who is carrying the Devils offense this season with 14 goals and 40 points overall. Like Kane, he is also providing a very high floor on top of the upside with an average of 3.5 shots per game which brings him into play in all formats.
Stack with: Nico Hischier, Jesper Bratt
Opponent - BOS
Proj Pts FD - 7.57 DK - 2.23
On the small four-game slate later in the day, we are going to need some value plays to help fit in the top guys. Enter Daniel Sprong who was called up on New Year's Eve and was eventually moved up to the top line with Crosby last time out and wouldn't you know it, started producing. He ended up with a goal and two assists to go along with six shots on 15 minutes of ice-time. The kicker and reason I list him over Simon is that he is also getting time on the powerplay. As long as this continues, he is safe in all formats in the mid $3K range on both sites.
Stack with: Sidney Crosby, Dominik Simon
Also Consider: Timo Meier(SJ) for value on the early slate
DEFENSEMEN
Opponent - BUF
Proj Pts FD - 11.66 DK - 3.43
The offensive production has been up and down this season for the young defensmen but he is catching fire with five points in his last six games. More importantly, he has been providing near elite PTS/$ value with 22 shots and 21 blocks during those games while skating over 23 minutes per game. Considering the elite matchup vs. the Sabres and price under $5K on both sites, Provorov is my top player at the defense position today.
Opponent - CHI
Proj Pts FD - 8.85 DK - 2.73
From a PTS/$ value perspective, not many have been as consistent as Kris Russell this season. The offensive upside is somewhat limited as he has just 16 points on the season but he hits value game in and game out with his shot blocking alone. He currently leads the league by a wide margin with 121 blocks(3 per game) and with a price in the low $4K range, is safe in all formats.
Also Consider: Victor Hedman(TB)
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.
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NHL Sheet:
https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1fpjxxbqO_RfS0TpjL1F16-jFygXn4uUmJsQ_1izYZ-c/edit?usp=sharing