Daily Fantasy Hockey Picks for FanDuel and DraftKings 10/16/18

Welcome back hockey fans. Tuesday brings us an eight-game slate with just two teams(DAL, MIN) playing on a back to back with a collection of defenses who have gotten off to terrible starts. Put it all together and it spells yet another high-scoring slate. Let's jump in and take a look at some of the top plays at each position and then make sure to grab a copy of my cheatsheet where I highlight all my favorite plays and top stacks.

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GOALIE

Devan Dubnyk FD - $8600 DK - $8500
Opponent - ARI
Proj Pts FD - 18.82 DK - 4.7

The Minnesota Wild defense hasn't been a big help to Dubnyk early on in the season as he has already faced 167 shots(41.8 per game). The good news is that those shot totals help him provide a very high floor and he has also been solid overall with a .934 save %. Even better news as the Wild will be at home tonight against a Coyotes team that is firing 36.5 shots on goal per game but have only scored three goals in four games ranking dead last in offense. As a big favorite( ), you can fire up Dubnyk in all formats tonight.

Semyon Varlamov FD - $8200 DK - $8000
Opponent - NYR
Proj Pts FD - 15.91 DK - 3.98

Another goalie off to a hot start has been Semyon Varlamov who comes into tonight a very impressive .946 save % while facing an average of 32.5 shots per game. The difference between he and Dubnyk is that the Avs offense has also been hot scoring 3.8 goals per game which has helped Varlamov to a 3-0-1 record. Like the Wild, the Avs and Varlamov also get a very nice matchup tonight facing a Rangers team that has gone 1-4 to start the season while averaging just 2.4 goals per game. The other positive is that they have fired just over 34 shots per game so all things considered, Varlamov can also be considered in all formats.

Also Considered: Andrei Vasilevskiy(TB)

CENTERS

Nathan MacKinnon FD - $8900 DK - $7700
Opponent - NYR
Proj Pts FD - 15.6 DK - 6.05

Looking at the raw points tonight, Nathan MacKinnon is right at the top with the Pens Crosby and Malkin but where he separates himself, at least in cash games, is the shot volume. Through five games he is third in overall shots with 26(5.2 per game) with an elite 20.4 iCF/60. Not only has he provided a high floor but also a ton of upside as he has converted those shots into six goals with seven total points. The matchup is also in his favor as the Rangers not only rank near the bottom in offense but defense as well as they have allowed 3.6 goals per game against to start the season. MacKinnon is an elite play in all formats.

Stack with: Mikko Rantanen, Gabriel Landeskog

Jack Eichel FD - $7700 DK - $7000
Opponent - VEG
Proj Pts FD - 11.9 DK - 4.56

From a PTS/$ perspective, Jack Eichel also stands out as a top center on this slate. He doesn't have quite the same upside as the top centers but he has already recorded five points(three on the powerplay) in five games and best of all he comes at a big discount from the top centers leading to a more balanced lineup. The other thing that stands out, especially from a cash game perspective, is the shot volume as he has recorded four or more shots in all five games(21 total). Going off last season's numbers, Vegas doesn't look like a great matchup but they haven't gotten off to a great start allowing just over three goals per game so fire up Eichel in all formats.

Stack with: Conor Sheary, Sam Reinhart

Also Consider: Evgeni Malkin(PIT) in GPP especially on DraftKings at $6.7K, Vincent Trocheck(FLA) in all formats in the mid-range

WINGERS

Kyle Connor FD - $5600 DK - $6700
Opponent - EDM
Proj Pts FD - 9.29 DK - 3.54

The Winnipeg Jets have the 2018-19 season where they left off last year going 2-0. Tonight they welcome the Edmonton Oilers to town in a matchup where the Jets are huge -200 favorites making them terrific offensive targets. There is a lot to like on their top two lines but for me, from a PTS/$ standpoint, I will be starting with Kyle Connor who has started the season scoring a goal in four of his five games. He not only provides big upside skating alongside Wheeler and Scheifele, but he also provides a high floor averaging 3.4 shots per game. Looking at the pricing between the two sites I will be loading up on Connor on FanDuel and Wheeler on DraftKings.

Stack with: Blake Wheeler, Mark Scheifele

Wayne Simmonds FD - $5600 DK - $5800
Opponent - FLA
Proj Pts FD - 10.76 DK - 4.75

The Flyers had a down game against the Golden Knights on Saturday but overall have been involved in some high-scoring games to start the season making it an easy decision to get exposure in these upside matchups. Tonight, they will be at home once again to face a struggling Panthers team that has not won a game yet(0-2-1) and has given up three goals per game without their starting goaltender. Wayne Simmonds will continue to be on my list as long as his price sits in the sub $6K range as he is firing an average of 3.4 shots per game on net and while he skates on the third line, he joins Voracek, Giroux, Gostisbehere, and Couturier on the top powerplay unit.

Stack with: Mikhail Vorobyev, Scott Laughton or the top PP unit in a GPP stack

Also Consider: Zach Parise(MIN), Derick Brassard(PIT)

DEFENSEMEN

Shayne Gostisbehere FD - $6400 DK - $6000
Opponent - FLA
Proj Pts FD - 12.72 DK - 4.78

If you are paying up at defense tonight, Shayne Gostisbehere is most definitely on the radar. He is a workhorse for the Flyers skating on the top unit and has also averaged over four minutes per game quarterbacking the top powerplay unit. He hasn't quite touched on his upside this far with just three points(all on the powerplay) but has provided us a high floor with 22 shots(4.4 per game) and 10 blocks(2.0 per game). The Flyers also get a plus matchup at home tonight against a struggling Panthers team that has started 0-2-1 while allowing three goals per game. All things considered, Ghost Bear is in play in all formats.

Mirco Mueller FD - $3500 DK - $3000
Opponent - DAL
Proj Pts FD - 7.16 DK - 2.51

Mueller is a former first-round draft pick(2013) but has never really got the opportunity to showcase his skills playing no more than 28 games since his rookie season. That could change this season as he is currently skating on the Devils top unit and getting right around 20 minutes of ice-time. He has also impressed early recording a point in each of his first three games and is likely on his way to earning time on the powerplay as well. If you are looking to punt tonight(I always am), Mueller is a terrific PTS/$ option.

Also Consider: Keith Yandle(FLA), Christopher Tanev(VAN)

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