This series uses the FantasyLabs Tools to analyze five key NHL players in the day’s slate. The series does not provide play or fade recommendations. It provides analysis.
Tonight we have a short five-game slate that begins at 7 pm ET.
James Neal: Winger, Golden Knights ($6,600 DraftKings, $7,100 FanDuel)
The Vegas Golden Knights are off to a great start as the first expansion team in NHL history to go 3-0. Tonight they are taking on the Detroit Red Wings, who are playing their second game in as many nights. James Neal has led the way for the Golden Knights with five of their nine goals. While it is still early in the season, Neal is averaging 3.67 shots per game, which is slightly below his career average. However, this dip in shots is not concerning, as he is still shooting a lot and leads his team with a 57.38 Corsi For percentage (CF%). Playing on the top line with Cody Eakin and David Perron, Neal is tied for third among all forward on the slate with six Pro Trends.
Taylor Hall: Winger, Devils ($6,200 DraftKings, $7,100 FanDuel)
Now in his second full season with the New Jersey Devils, Taylor Hall is looking to get back to the elite level of play he had during the early part of his career. Although he has not picked up a goal yet, he has fired 14 shots in the first three games and has still gotten on the scoresheet with three assists. Since the beginning of last season, players putting up a similar number of shots have had a +1.89 FanDuel Plus/Minus and 50 percent Consistency Rating. The Washington Capitals are not a team one would typically want to target, but they are allowing four goals against per game this season despite surrendering just 24.8 shots per game, the fewest in the NHL. This season their goaltending has been suspect, which the Devils could look to exploit with their speed. Hall is the No. 5 DraftKings winger in the CSURAM88 Model.
Tyson Barrie: Defense, Avalanche ($5,300 DraftKings, $4,900 FanDuel)
The Colorado Avalanche are home against the Anaheim Ducks tonight, and Colorado is off to a surprising 3-1 start as a team many projected to finish near the bottom of the standings. After struggling offensively last season, Tyson Barrie is looking like the offensive juggernaut he had been in the three seasons prior. He is firing the puck at an elite rate for a defenseman with 17 shots through just four games. On top of that, he is putting up one blocked shot per game, which gives him a solid shot+block average of 5.25 per game. While it hasn’t occurred often, defensemen averaging similar shot+block totals have had a +3.06 FanDuel Plus/Minus and 58.9 Consistency Rating. However, they’ve also had 16.8 percent ownership rates, so DFS players have historically known to roster these plays. Barrie might be the slate’s highest-owned player.
Dion Phaneuf: Defense, Senators ($4,800 DraftKings, $4,100 FanDuel)
Dion Phaneuf is in his second full season with Ottawa, and he has been asked to play a more defensive style for the Senators than he did in Toronto, racking up 12 blocks in just three games. While four blocks per game is not sustainable, getting back to more than two blocks per game is definitely a positive. With Erik Karlsson injured, he has been quarterbacking the top power play unit, which allows for a short-term offensive bump. The Senators are in Calgary to take on the Flames, a team that was second in times shorthanded last season. Although they had a decent penalty kill, ranking 12th in the league with an 82.1 percent kill rate, the sheer volume of times shorthanded resulted in their allowing the ninth-most power play goals.
Sergei Bobrovsky: Goalie, Blue Jackets ($8,000 DraftKings, $9,200 FanDuel)
Sergei Bobrovsky is the confirmed starter tonight and is coming off his second Vezina Trophy win in the last five seasons. Bobrovsky has continued where he left off last season, starting with a 2-0 record to go along with a 0.48 goals-against average, 0.985 save percentage, and a shutout. Bobrovsky is a home favorite and has historically been dominant in similar situations with a +0.84 DraftKings Plus/Minus and 60.5 Consistency Rating. It is worth noting that he has come with a relatively low ownership in these spots, averaging a 13.2 percent ownership rate, which isn’t too high for goaltenders. The opposing New York Rangers have struggled to put the puck in the net this season with just 10 goals in their first four games despite averaging 33 shots per game. That shot volume should allow Bobrovsky to pick up a bunch of saves, which will raise his floor as he looks to pick up the win. Bobrovsky is the highest-rated DraftKings goalie in the CSURAM88 Model.
Updates
After this piece is published, FantasyLabs is likely to provide updates regarding projected lines and starting goaltenders. Be sure to stay ahead of your competition with our Team Lines page.
