The NHL DFS Breakdown offers data-driven analysis for each day’s slate using the FantasyLabs Tools and metrics to highlight notable players.
Friday has a five-game main slate starting at 8:00 pm ET.
Note: Projections may change throughout the day after this article is posted. Consult the Player Models directly for any updates.
And don’t forget to check out our Lineup Builder if you like to hand build your lineups or are Lineup Optimizer for those of you that like to enter multiple lineups into tournaments.
Center
Top Play
Leon Draisaitl ($8,600 DraftKings, $9,600 FanDuel) vs. New York Rangers
Leon Draisaitl is the hot hand in the Edmonton Oilers offense, and he presents as a more affordable option than Connor McDavid on tonight’s DFS slates.
Draisaitl has scored 12 points over his last five games to usurp McDavid for the NHL scoring lead. The German center is individually responsible for 35 scoring and 11 high-danger chances so far this season while being on the ice for 120 and 50, respectively. His advanced metrics are above 50.0% across the board, indicating that he continues to outplay his opposition on a nightly basis, and he is an integral component of the Oilers’ lethal powerplay.
Edmonton is in a favorable spot against the New York Rangers on Friday night, and Draisaitl will continue to feature prominently in the Oilers offense.
Top Value
Mark Scheifele ($5,400 DraftKings, $7,100 FanDuel) vs. Chicago Blackhawks
Taking a stance on whoever is playing the Chicago Blackhawks has paid off early this season, and tonight it’s the Winnipeg Jets who can exploit that matchup.
The Jets host the struggling Hawks, and center Mark Scheifele should have the third line wheeling on Friday. Scheifele has played in just three games this season but should be back up to speed after playing in his first game in nearly two weeks on Tuesday. The 28-year-old recorded a powerplay assist, two shots, and a block in that contest for 13.3 fantasy points at FanDuel. That’s a strong first game back that the forward can build on against the Hawks.
Granted, Scheifele presents with more value on the DK slate than at FanDuel, but nevertheless, he rates highly in our projections and will have plenty of opportunities against the defensively bankrupt Hawks.
Wing
Top Play
Patrick Kane ($6,700 DraftKings, $8,600 FanDuel) vs. Winnipeg Jets
As bad as the Blackhawks have been defensively, they have respectable offensive metrics, and Patrick Kane gives them their best chance at scoring goals.
Kane leads the Hawks with 11 points through seven games played, with nearly half his points coming on the powerplay. The former Hart Trophy winner has six points in two games since returning from a 10-day absence and is averaging nearly 5:00 minutes of powerplay time per game, tops among Hawks’ forwards. Kane’s on-ice relative metrics are above 50.0%, and he gets 86.7% of his starts in the attacking zone, which are both indicators for sustained output.
The Hawks know that their offense has to run through Kane, and they continue to set him up to be successful, with offensive zone starts and significant powerplay time.
Top Value
Blake Wheeler ($4,300 DraftKings, $6,000 FanDuel) vs. Chicago Blackhawks
Joining Scheifele on the Jets’ third line is winger Blake Wheeler, who is our value play at wing on the Friday slates.
Wheeler joins Scheifele on the Jets’ top powerplay unit, also recording a powerplay assist against the Dallas Stars on Tuesday. The Jets captain has the second-best Corsi rating and scoring chances-for rating on the team, while starting 65.7% of his shifts in the offensive zone. The Hawks don’t have the depth to neutralize all three scoring lines of the Jets, meaning Wheeler and Scheifele could have some extra room to roam on Friday night.
Based on our projections, Wheeler rates as one of the best value plays on the docket, with the second-best Pts/Sal on the wing.
Defense
Top Play
Dougie Hamilton ($7,500 DraftKings, $7,000 FanDuel) vs. Los Angeles Kings
Dougie Hamilton leads the New Jersey Devils in points, assists, shots, and powerplay assists while ranking near the top in blocked shots, goals, and powerplay time. He’s our top option on defense as the Devils look to snap out of their mini two-game losing streak.
Hamilton’s advanced metrics are among the best in the NHL. Across all strengths, the 28-year-old has a 62.0% Corsi rating, 61.1% scoring chance rating, and 61.6% high-danger chance rating, despite starting only 51.9% of the time in the offensive zone. Hamilton’s value has been on full display over the Devils’ recent stretch, recording five points over his past five games, including two powerplay assists and 25 shots on net.
The Devils’ newly-signed defenseman is on a blistering pace over his recent sample and should be included on DFS rosters tonight.
Top Value
Nate Schmidt ($4,700 DraftKings, $4,100 FanDuel) vs. Chicago Blackhawks
The Jets defensive corps has changed over the past few seasons, but Nate Schmidt has emerged as a team leader early this season.
Schmidt is tied for the team lead in points among defensemen with eight points through nine games, with five of those coming on the man advantage. The veteran defenseman features as the quarterback of the Jets’ top powerplay unit, recording three powerplay assists over his last five games. Schmidt adds fantasy value by blocking shots and has recorded at five shots on goal over the last four games.
Relying on the FantasyLabs Pts/Sal calculation, Schmidt rates as one of the best values on the board.
Goalies
Be sure to check the Starting Goalie Page throughout the day to see which goalies are confirmed starters.
Top Play
Thatcher Demko ($7,700 DraftKings, $7,800 FanDuel) vs. Nashville Predators
The Vancouver Canucks will be looking to build some momentum off their first win in four games when they host the Nashville Predators tonight. The Canucks won’t face a ton of offensive pressure from the Preds, elevating Thatcher Demko’s fantasy ceiling.
The Predators have attempted more than 24 scoring and eight high-danger chances just once over their past four games, resulting in 10 goals over the four-game span. That puts Demko in a good spot to continue his recent strong play, as he’s stopping 93.3% of shots over his past five outings, winning three of those starts. Overall, Demko is stopping 84.8% of even-strength high-danger chances and 93.5% of even-strength shots.
Demko is thriving right now and won’t face an onslaught against the Preds. He’s the top option in net on Friday’s slate.
Top Value
Matt Murray ($7,500 DraftKings, $7,900 FanDuel) vs. Arizona Coyotes
Anaheim Ducks goaltender, John Gibson, is coming off a shutout performance and is in a good spot to duplicate tat against the Arizona Coyotes.
Gibson has been outstanding at home this season, posting 1.76 goals-against average and stopping 93.3% of shots. Three of Gibson’s four wins have come on home ice, and his high-danger (88.1%)and powerplay (94.3%) save percentages are superb. The Coyotes have been one of the most underwhelming teams in the NHL this season, and we’re anticipating those struggles to continue against Gibson and the Ducks.
Take note — Gibson has a 96.1% save percentage when coming into a game on three days rest this season. Gibson’s salary doesn’t accurately represent his fantasy ceiling tonight.
Notable Stack
With Lineup Builder, it’s easy to incorporate stacks into our DFS lineups for tournaments.
If you connect the dots through our roster plays, you’ll notice a Winnipeg Jets trend emerge. We’re high on the Jets tonight as home favorites and have them as our notable stack for DFS lineups.
We built today’s stack using the points/salary projections and landed with two of the three aforementioned Jets players. Scheifele and Wheeler present as a top option among forwards, with Nate Schmidt being replaced by Logan Stanley in our notable stack. Stanley doesn’t have the same offensive upside as Schmidt, but both are viable options on defense. Eric Comrie should be starting in net for the Jets, as there are some health concerns surrounding Connor Hellebuyck. Comrie is 2-0-0 this season and is stopping 91.5% of shots.
Betting market confidence is high on the Jets as they enter tonight’s contest as -154 favorites, per the line info from FanDuel Sportsbook. That aligns with the FantasyLabs projections, as the Jets present as one of the most notable stacks.
