Six NHL Studs for Thursday the 14th
There are many benefits to using an NHL Optimizer when making daily fantasy lineups for DraftKings or Fanduel. FantasyData uses expert fantasy projections which creates an opportunity for spotting value in the cost when making your lineup. DFS sites do not adjust the prices of players of any slate once available, which means that if a player is ruled out from an injury the backup player’s price is not adjusted. Staying on top of all injuries can be a huge task, thankfully FantasyData’s team is making updates to their projections constantly to allow their subscribers an edge in finding the best players. All of our NHL player projections are fed into our NHL optimizer daily to allow the user the best possible DFS NHL Lineup.
Instead of looking only at the DFS side of hockey betting, we will also be looking at the value to be found within prop bets for this Thursday’s slate of games.
Using FanDuel Salaries
Brandon Montour
Over 2.5 Shots on Goal | DFS: $4,800
For such an inexpensive salary for DFS, Montour offers a nice upside on one of the league’s top teams. He is on the top powerplay unit and is seeing over 23 minutes of ice time per game, the most on the entire team. Montour has had 2 or more shots in four of the last five games. He is a great skater and often finds himself up in the play. Not to mention, he has the opportunity to get shots away easier on the powerplay. The Panthers go up against Buffalo in this game, who are middle of the pack in stopping the defensemen position.
Jonathan Huberdeau
Over .5 Points | DFS $4,500
Huberdeau got off to a slow start to the season but he has recently started to elevate his game back to the level we’ve seen him play at in the past. In the 4 games since the All-Star break, he has 2 goals and three assists. The addition of Kuzmenko on the top line alongside him has jumpstarted the Flames offense. The Flames also have a very good matchup against the Sharks. The Sharks have struggled to keep the puck out of the net, averaging 3.8 goals against per game. With his very cheap salary for DFS, he has a great opportunity and allows the selection of much more expensive players to be easier in your lineup.
Artemi Panarin
Over 1.5 Points | DFS $8,900
Panarin has a very good cost considering the offense he has produced this season. He leads the Rangers in both goals and assists and you can get him in your DFS lineup for less than $9,000. He is an elite player who has produced 68 points through 53 games this season. I know 1.5 points seems like a lot, but the Rangers are 4-0 since the All-Star break and have the advantage in the matchup with the Canadiens. He is a threat to get this line of 1.5 points done as both a playmaker and a scorer.
Zach Hyman
Over 2.5 Shots on Goal | DFS $9,200
I think Hyman and the Oilers keep the great offense they had going last game and roll it right into this matchup with the Blues. Hyman is linemates with the best player in the NHL, Connor McDavid, who is coming off a 6 assist game against Detroit. Hyman has been very steady this season, he leads the Oilers with 32 goals so far this season. Hyman plays almost 20 minutes a night and leads the team in shots this season. Every night he goes out there with McDavid as a linemate, he has a great opportunity to score and be involved in the game.
Erik Karlsson
Over .5 Points | DFS $5,800
Erik Karlsson has been on a roll in his last 10 games, notching 8 assists in that time. This matchup with the Blackhawks is a smash play, they will want to bounce back after going down 5-2 to the Panthers last game. The Blackhawks struggle defensively, averaging 3.5 goals against per game. Karlsson commands the powerplay and is tied for the team lead in assists. He has a very reasonable cost and a great matchup, making him a good pick for your lineup, as well as recording a point to cash this prop bet.
Jack Hughes
Over 3.5 Shots | DFS $9,700
Hughes has played 4 games since returning from injury and he has looked great. He has recorded 4 or more shots in all 4 of those contests. The Devils matchup with the Kings, who are coming off a 7-0 loss to the Sabres. The DFS cost is very pricey, but he has been the Devils go-to guy and he seems like he has picked that role right back up since returning from injury. Hughes missed many games and is still tied for the team lead in shots this season. He also has the most ice time per game of any forward on the Devils.
