Daily Fantasy Hockey Picks for FanDuel and DraftKings 2/20/18

Hello hockey fans and welcome to another exciting day of NHL action. Today we have nine games on tap with the action starting at 7 pm et. There are a few potentially high scoring games in store for us, so let's get this party started.

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

Connor Hellebuyck FD - $8200 DK - $8300
Opponent - LA
Proj Pts FD - 20.33 DK - 5.08

The Jets are enjoying a storybook-like season and this young man has played a huge role in their success as he has a 31-8-8 record and is 22-3-2 at home with five shutouts, a .928 save %, and a 2.11 GAA. The Jets have outscored their opponents 13-3 in their last two games with this guy being between the pipes for both and the Kings own the league's 18th ranked offense, so with all of these things considered, Hellebuyck is an elite play and my top goalie in all formats.

Alex Lyon FD - $7300 DK - $8100
Opponent - MON
Proj Pts FD - 17.95 DK - 4.49

The Flyers acquired Petr Mzarek from the Wings yesterday, but he won't be ready yet, Brian Elliot is on the IR and Michael Neuvirth is now injured, so it's next man up for the Flyers. I would probably mention my 12-year-old nephew who plays goal for the AA Brandon Wheat Kings here because the Canadiens are just plain awful this season and they're ranked dead last in goals scored on the road with only 2.18 per game. Lyon allowed only one goal on 26 shots in relief of Neuvirth during a 7-4 victory over the Rangers last game, so in GPP formats, Lyon looks like a terrific pivot option today.

Also Consider: Keith Kinkaid(NJ) GPP formats only

CENTERS

Auston Matthews FD - $7900 DK - $7400
Opponent - FLA
Proj Pts FD - 16.02 DK - 4.58

The sophomore sensation is turning into one of the most consistent players in the league as he has two goals and four assists in his last five games, 49 points in 51 games on the season, and he has averaged three shots per game and a blocked shot per game, which gives him an elite floor. Matthews also has a monstrous ceiling tonight as the Panthers are ranked 26th in defense, they've allowed 18 goals in their last four games, and they allow the second-most shots per game. All things considered, the young superstar is my favorite center this evening and an elite play in all formats.

Stack with: William Nylander, Zach Hyman

Aleksander Barkov FD - $7400 DK - $6500
Opponent - TOR
Proj Pts FD - 13.65 DK - 3.93

This game should be a high scoring affair as the Leafs also allow a ton of shots per game as they're ranked third in that category and the Panthers fire the third-most shots on goal per game. Barkov centers the #1 line and the #1 powerplay unit and he has two goals, five assists, and 13 shots in his last four games to give him 54 points in 55 games. Those statistics have upside written all over them and he also averages 3.31 shots per game which provides an elite floor as well, so after Matthews, Barkov is my next favorite center in all formats.

Stack with: Nick Bjugstad, Evgeny Dadonov

Brayden Point FD - $6300 DK - $5800
Opponent - WAS
Proj Pts FD - 10.17 DK - 2.92Stack with: 

One of my buddy Chris Durell's man crushes and the former Moose Jaw Warrior scored a powerplay goal last game against the Devils to give him a goal, three assists, and four blocks in his last four games and he has actually fired 20 more shots on goal on the road this season than at home. The young sophomore has 51 points in 59 games, the Capitals are ranked 20th defensively, and Point has already scored a goal with an assist in two meetings against them this season, therefore making him a solid play in all formats.

Stack with: Nikita Kucherov, Alex Killorn

 WINGERS

Taylor Hall FD - $8000 DK - $7200
Opponent - CBJ
Proj Pts FD - 17.1 DK - 4.97

Wow, just wow! Hall has gone 18 straight games with at least one point and he has an unreal 12 goals and 14 assists during his current streak. The young superstar has also averaged 3.61 shots on goal this season which is sixth-best amongst wingers and the Jackets are ranked 20th defensively while playing on the road. Safety? Check. Upside? Check. Do yourself a favor and lock Hall into every one of your lineups in all formats.

Stack with: Nico Hischier. Kyle Palmieri 

Kyle Connor FD - $5700 DK - $5700
Opponent - LA
Proj Pts FD - 10.41 DK - 2.96

I will start by saying that Blake Wheeler is a terrific play, but that is obvious, so why not mention his fellow winger, who plays beside him on the#1 line and the lethal #1 powerplay for the Jets. The young winger is developing very quickly as he has three goals in his last two games and 12 shots in his last three. The Kings own a top-five defense, but they are playing in a back-to-back and their final game of a seven-game road trip, so I can't see them putting up much of a fight against a Jets team who have scored 17 goals in their last three games. Lock and load Connor in all formats.

Stack with: Blake Wheeler, Mark Scheifele 

Sven Baertschi FD - $4400 DK - $3400
Opponent - COL
Proj Pts FD - 7.92 DK - 2.29

The Canucks have actually shown some life lately and after this guy was a healthy scratch three games ago, he has had a chip on his shoulder as he has a goal, two assists, five shots in his last two games while playing on the #1 line with two very talented players. The Avalanche are a mess right now, they ranked 27th in defense on the road and they've allowed 10 goals in their last two games. Baertschi is dirt cheap on both sites, so fire him up in all formats and spend elsewhere.

Stack with: Bo Horvat, Brock Boeser

Also Consider: Cam Atkinson(CLB), Craig Smith(NSH)

DEFENSEMEN

Tyler Myers FD - $5000 DK - $4700
Opponent - LA
Proj Pts FD - 8.45 DK - 2.63

How can anyone not enjoy watching the Jet's play right now? Myers has established himself as one of their best defensemen and in his last three games, he has a goal, five assists, 10 shots, and five blocks while logging time on both the powerplay and the penalty kill units. The Kings are solid defensively, but I'm throwing that out the window, mostly because the Jets have scored 17 goals in their last three games. Fire up Myers in all formats.

Justin Braun FD - $4300 DK - $3600
Opponent - STL
Proj Pts FD - 8.71 DK - 2.56

This guy has stepped up his game recently as he has a goal, three assists, and eight blocks in his last three games while averaging a solid 20 minutes of ice-time during that span. Superstar Brent Burns is questionable to play this evening due to an unspecified injury and if he were to miss this game, then Braun would be a must play as he would take Burns' spot on the #1 powerplay unit. Regardless though, Braun is a great play in all formats at these cheap prices.

Also Consider: Roman Josi(NSH), Alex Edler(VAN), Kris Russell (EDM)

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.