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 three-game slate that starts at 7 p.m.
Patrice Bergeron, Center, Bruins ($7,200 DraftKings, $7,300 FanDuel)
Targeting players who shoot the puck often is a proven strategy in NHL DFS, and few players shoot more than Patrice Bergeron. For that reason alone, he is a popular play on most nights. That trend will likely continue tonight as he possesses slate-high marks in shots per game (3.83) and shots + blocks per game (4.49). He also gets to face an Anaheim team that is incredibly weak down the middle of the ice: their top two centers are Antoine Vermette and Derek Grant. Not great! As the top-ranked center in the CSURAM88 Model for both platforms, Bergeron hits on nine Pro Trends, and he plays alongside David Pastrnak on the slate’s highest ranked line.
Dougie Hamilton, Defense, Flames ($5,600 DraftKings, $5,200 FanDuel)
The Calgary Flames have been much better over the past couple of weeks, and Dougie Hamilton has played a big role in that improvement. During this stretch, he has seen an increased role, averaging more than 23 minutes of time on ice, which is over two minutes above his season-long average. In his past five games, Hamilton has exceeded fantasy expectations four times despite having just one goal. Instead, he is dominating in peripheral stats, piling up 23 shots on goal and 10 blocks in that span. While his recent numbers aren’t sustainable, his season-long average of 4.07 shots + blocks per game makes him a viable option on most nights. He will likely see a lot of offensive zone time tonight since the Flames possess a slate-high Corsi-For rating over the past month and are taking on a Detroit team that has the lowest team rating on the slate.
Ryan McDonagh, Defense, Rangers ($4,600 DraftKings, $5,500 FanDuel)
The New York-Chicago game is likely to be the most popular game of the night from a fantasy perspective. Since ownership tends to mirror Vegas lines, the Rangers may be slightly less owned than the Blackhawks. However, if Labs users consult our Team Ratings page, they can see that New York may be the better option to target in this matchup. The Rangers lead all teams on the slate in goals for and total fantasy points over the past month, and Chicago has allowed more fantasy points than any other team on the slate during that stretch. That opens up the door for a red-hot Ryan McDonagh, who leads all defensemen on the slate with 4.16 shots + blocks per game and has recorded nine assists in his past eight games. He leads all defensemen with a 96 percent Bargain Rating on DraftKings where he hits on nine Pro Trends.
Duncan Keith, Defense, Blackhawks ($4,900 DraftKings, $5,300 FanDuel)
Trying to pinpoint where fantasy production will come from in Chicago is no small task. In general, I tend to shy away from playing anybody on the Hawks because it is so easy to miss even if they play a great game. However, with limited options tonight, and the fact that Chicago has a slate-high Vegas implied total of 3.2, Duncan Keith makes a lot of sense. He comes in at third overall — and No. 1 among defensemen — in the CSURAM88 Model for both sites. He will log more minutes than any other player on the slate, and he should be the focal point in a potentially high-scoring game. Keith ranks third among defensemen with 2.32 shots per game, and he hits on seven FanDuel Pro Trends tonight.
Jimmy Howard, Goaltender, Red Wings ($7,600 DraftKings, $8,000 FanDuel)
The list of DFS players who have been burned by Jimmy Howard is long, but that won’t stop me from considering him tonight against the Flames. Howard is the top-rated goalie on both platforms, ranking second in projected saves. The Flames have allowed goaltenders a +3.0 DraftKings and +11.0 FanDuel Plus/Minus. Given Calgary’s recent Corsi numbers, Howard is likely to see a lot of shots. If he gets the win, he could easily be the top play at his position tonight.
