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.
Today we have a five-game slate that starts at 8:00 pm ET.
Connor McDavid ($8,000 DraftKings, $9,300 FanDuel)
Connor McDavid enters tonight’s slate as the top-rated forward in the CSURAM88 Model. It deserves mention that this season McDavid has consistently been a better option on DraftKings, where he holds a 99 percent Bargain Rating and hits on 10 Pro Trends. He has reached salary-based expectations in 70 percent of games on DraftKings compared to just 40 percent on FanDuel. His production has remained consistent despite the Oilers’ lackluster play this season. He is averaging 5.3 DraftKings points per game and has recorded points in seven of his last eight games. Additionally, the Oilers top line boasts a slate-high 92 rating in the only game with an over/under of at least 6.0 goals.
Oscar Klefbom ($5,300 DraftKings, $5,400 FanDuel)
Similar to McDavid, Oscar Klefbom has been reliable despite his team’s lack of success. He has also reached salary-based expectations in 70 percent of games on DraftKings, but unlike McDavid he has done this almost solely through peripheral stats: He averages 4.55 shots+blocks per game and has recorded just two assists. Last season Klefbom piled up 12 goals and 26 assists, so a jump in production could be coming soon. He has averaged Plus/Minus values of +1.93 and +0.59 on FanDuel and DraftKings this season and has logged over 26 minutes in each of his last five games while averaging 14.18 FanDuel PPG.
Duncan Keith ($5,000 DraftKings, $6,100 FanDuel)
Duncan Keith has a 98 percent Bargain Rating on DraftKings, where he hits on seven Pro Trends. Chicago is a home favorite against Philadelphia, which looked awful against Arizona two nights ago. This bodes well for Keith, who has averaged 3.66 DraftKings PPG at home this season as opposed to 3.00 on the road. He has also recorded at least 3.5 DraftKings points in six of his last eight games. He ranks second on the slate in time on ice, and he is an affordable option in a Chicago stack with Jonathan Toews and Brandon Saad, which gives exposure to a Blackhawks top line and power play unit facing Philadelphia’s 23rd ranked penalty kill. This stack was utilized sparingly (under two percent) last Friday on a slate similar to tonight’s.
Bryan Rust ($4,500 DraftKings, $4,400 FanDuel)
The Pittsburgh Penguins have been playing around with line combinations over the past couple of weeks in an attempt to find more consistent offensive production. Bryan Rust has been one of a few players to spend time on multiple lines. He practiced alongside Evgeni Malkin and Tom Kuhnhackl yesterday, and he plays on Pittsburgh’s second power play unit. Playing with Malkin has been great for Rust, who opened the season with eight points in six games, most of which came while playing on Pittsburgh’s second line. Rust has also spent time with Crosby as of late. Getting exposure to Pittsburgh’s two top lines at Rust’s price is worth considering. Over the last year, Rust has averaged 9.3 FanDuel and 2.6 DraftKings PPG, with much of that production coming on the second line.
Corey Crawford ($7,500 DraftKings, $9,000 FanDuel)
As mentioned above, Chicago is a home favorite against Philadelphia tonight. Historically, this has been a good thing for Corey Crawford. Last season, he had a 2.24 goals against average at home, which was substantially better than his 2.85 mark on the road. In the early stages of this season, the numbers are even more drastic, as he is allowing an average of 1.59 goals at home compared to 2.71 on the road. Crawford ranks second in projected saves (one of our new metrics) among tonight’s goaltenders. Given his price, Crawford may be a better option on DraftKings, where he leads all goaltenders with a 95 percent Bargain Rating.
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.
