Daily Fantasy Hockey Picks for FanDuel and DraftKings 11/17/18

Welcome back hockey fans. Saturday starts with three afternoon matchups but for this article, I will be concentrating on the eight-game main slate that includes two teams(STL, BOS) who are playing a back to back and third game in four nights. Let's jump in and take a look at some of the top plays at each position.

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GOALIE

Pekka Rinne FD - $9100 DK - $8500
Opponent - LA
Proj Pts FD - 17.55 DK - 4.39

The Predators offense couldn't get Rinne the win on Thursday as he allowed just two against and for the season he has only given up more than two goals twice and has yet to give up more than three goals in 10 starts. Put it all together and he has some elite numbers and leads the lead with a 1.53 GAA and .948 save %. He now returns home where he has been even better(.956 save % and two shutouts) and faces a Kings team that not onyl struggles defensively but also ranks dead last in offense scoring just 1.94 goals per game. Rinne is more than worth the price tag in all formats.

Also Consider: Martin Jones(SJ) in all formats as a -200 home favorite against a Blues team that is playing on a back to back and third game in four nights on the road or Carey Price(MON) in GPP formats facing a Canucks team that has lost four straight scoring just eight goals

CENTERS

**If you can fit them Connor McDavid and Evgeni Malkin are elite plays at the position and in great spots but for this article, I will be going in a different position.**

Mika Zibanejad FD - $7200 DK - $6700
Opponent - FLA
Proj Pts FD - 12.3 DK - 4.78

This isn't the first time I have mentioned Zibanejad and it likely won't be the last. Despite the Rangers in somewhat of a rebuild situation this season, Zibanejad has provided excellent fantasy value starting with a high floor as he is averaging 3.8 shots on goal per game and a 17.6 iCorsi/60 which leads all centers on this slate. Then there is the upside as he is skating over 20 minutes per game on the top line and powerplay unit and has already tallied 16 points(6 on the PP) in 19 games. At his price, he is in play in all formats.

Stack with: Mats Zuccarello, Chris Kreider(PP), Vladislav Namestnikov(PP)

Boone Jenner FD - $4800 DK - $5700
Opponent - CAR
Proj Pts FD - 6.91 DK - 3.05

If you are going to try and fit McDavid, Malkin or a combination of other studs in your lineups tonight you are going to need some value. One that stands out is Boone Jenner of the Blue Jackets who is not only maintaining a role on the second line but is also centering the top powerplay unit. He has only tallied 9 points in 19 games this season but has provided a high floor averaging three shots per game and in addition, he also sits among the leaders at the forward position with 1.2 blocks per game. From a PTS/$ perspective, Jenner is my top value play of the night.

Stack with: Josh Anderson, Cam Atkinson(PP)

Also Consider: Logan Couture(SJ) as a GPP play against a Blues team that not only ranks 22nd on defense but is also playing on a back to back and third game in four nights on the road. 

WINGERS

Mike Hoffman FD - $5700 DK - $6600
Opponent - NYR
Proj Pts FD - 10.13 DK - 4.21

I am going to go back to the Rangers/Panthers game here at winger and rolling with one of the hottest players in the league. Mike Hoffman comes into tonight with points in 14 straight games and has earned his way all the way up to the top line in Florida. On top of the huge upside, he has also given us a high floor averaging 3.4 shots on goal per game backed up by an elite 20.3 iCorsi/60. The decision is a little tougher on DraftKings where his price has reached a near season-high $6,600 but on FanDuel where he is the 29th most expensive winger on this slate, he is most definitely in play in all formats.

Stack with: Evgeny Dadonov, Aleksander Barkov

Patric Hornqvist FD - $5600 DK - $5800
Opponent - OTT
Proj Pts FD - 8.82 DK - 3.39

After spending some time down on the third line, Patric Hornqvist has been back skating in a top-six role lately alongside Evgeni Malkin and seen his value skyrocket. He is coming off a three-point game against the Lightning and has tallied three or more shots in four straight games(16 total). If Sidney Crosby is out once again tonight, look for Malkin, Kessel, and Hornqvist to carry the load against a Senators team that ranks dead last in defense allowing over four goals per game.

Stack with: Evgeni Malkin, Tanner Pearson

Also Consider: Cam Atkinson(CBJ) and Craig Smith(NSH)

DEFENSEMEN

Mark Giordano FD - $5600 DK - $5800
Opponent - EDM
Proj Pts FD - 10.49 DK - 4.43

I wrote about Giordano on Thursday and he was one of the plays I recommended that really paid off as he recorded two assists and five blocked shots. For some reason, however, his price continues to sit in the sub $6K range meaning he is a near lock for me once again. Like I mentioned Thursday, he checks all the boxes with upside(18 points in 19 games) as well as a very high floor averaging three shots and 1.9 blocks per game. He is a terrific play once again in all formats.

Jake Muzzin FD - $4100 DK - $3400
Opponent - NAS
Proj Pts FD - 7.93 DK - 3.03

There is already a ton of value on this slate making it a terrific night to go balanced, at least in cash games, but I am still going to recommend a punt play on defense. Jake Muzzin is not going to provide upside on a struggling offense in Los Angeles but he is providing enough of a floor for his price to be considered. Over his last five games, he has 14 blocks and six shots which is good for an average of 2.6 DraftKings/8.8 FanDuel points per game. If you are looking for upside, look elsewhere but for a punt play with a viable floor get Muzzin into your lineup.

Also Consider: Kris Russell(EDM) as a value play who has averaged 2.6 DraftKings/8.7 FanDuel points per game over his last 10 games

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