:format(webp)/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/68814768/usa_today_15562548.0.jpg)
Saturday features an eight-game NHL slate, starting at 7:00 p.m. ET. In this article, we’ll discuss DraftKings daily fantasy targets as well as plays on DraftKings Sportsbook.
Set your DraftKings NHL lineups here: NHL $50K Twine [$10K to 1st]
DK Sportsbook
Columbus Blue Jackets at Chicago Blackhawks over 5.5 goals (-107)
The Blackhawks and Blue Jackets combined for 11 goals in their last meeting two days ago, and there should be more goals on the horizon here. Since getting Patrik Laine ($6,800) onto the team, Columbus has been a prime candidate for the over as four of their past five games have seen seven or more goals scored. Outside of two meetings with defensive-minded Dallas, three of Chicago’s past five games have also seen seven or more goals. Both teams give up plenty of scoring chances and have offenses that are humming right now. The over at 5.5 looks like a great target.
Florida Panthers Money line (+116) vs. Tampa Bay Lightning
The Panthers are coming off a 5-2 win against Tampa Bay yesterday and will go back at again here. The Lightning are short-handed with Steven Stamkos out, and yet they still enter this game as pretty heavy favorites. The Panthers are no slouches this year, though, and enter the game with an 8-1-2 record. As a team, the Panthers sit third in expected goal rate (xGF%) and have allowed the sixth-fewest scoring chances. The plus-money on the ML here looks juicy.
Top Line Stacks
Columbus Blue Jackets at Chicago Blackhawks
Jack Roslovic ($4,700) – Patrik Laine ($6,800) – Cam Atkinson ($5,100)
As mentioned above, the Blue Jackets have been scoring at a solid rate since adding Laine and Roslovic to the equation. The team has scored three or more goals in five straight games and seems to have finally found a top line worth targeting every night in daily fantasy. Laine was benched briefly last week but was back in his usual role against the Blackhawks two nights ago when he skated over 20 minutes in a 6-5 win and contributed with an assist. His line-mates did most of the heavy lifting though as Roslovic and Atkinson showed good chemistry as they scored three goals and six points between them.
Despite the great play by all three men, this line remains undervalued due to Roslovic’s and Atkinson’s salaries here against the Blackhawks, who have given up the second-most scoring chances thus far in 2021. The Blackhawks have also now given up an average of 37 SOG against in their past five games, making them a perfect target. Keep riding this Columbus first line here, and in future slates, until their salary goes up.
Superstar to Target
Patrick Kane ($7,800)
As much as I like the Blue Jackets’ first line, you have to give some respect for the Blackhawks’ offense in this spot as well. The Blue Jackets enter this game with two goalies who are sporting GAA above 2.75 and as a team, Columbus has also given up the sixth-most scoring chances. Kane enters this game with nine points over his past four games and is skating big minutes for Chicago every night, including on the power play where Chicago ranks third in the league in effectiveness as a unit and is going up against Columbus who has been terrible on special teams in 2021 and features the 10th-worst penalty kill in the league. Kane’s already potted seven of his 20 points on the PP and should have an opportunity for more here. All three games between these teams have been tight affairs this year, but with both offenses playing better and both teams prone to giving up a lot of chances, Kane and the other studs in this game are all in spots to potentially have big nights in fantasy.
Value on Offense
Joel Kiviranta, Dallas Stars vs. Carolina Hurricanes ($4,400)
The Stars continue to be injury-laden upfront. They’re now without Alexander Radulov for at least the short term, as he’s been placed on IR. This has opened up room for the rookie winger Kiviranta to take a spot on the Stars’ first line and his price looks worth taking advantage of here. He’s only played in three games for Dallas thus far but was pivotal in their playoff run at points last season. He’s in a spot here to potentially see some PP1 exposure as well. Even in a tougher matchup, he’s a solid target given the lack of other options up front for the Stars.
Pius Suter, Chicago Blackhawks vs. Columbus Blue Jackets ($5,200)
Suter’s been a nice revelation for the Blackhawks as the rookie has taken over as the team’s No. 1 center of late in the absence of Jonathan Toews. Suter comes into this contest averaging 17 minutes of ice over his past two games, has landed eight SOG over that same span and has increased his fantasy production as his ice time has gone up. He comes into this game with five points over his past six contests and is in a great matchup to take advantage of his still cheap salary. The Blue Jackets give up plenty of scoring chances (see above) and give up over 31 SOG per game, so pairing him with Patrick Kane ($7,800) is certainly a good option tonight.
Stud Goalies
Pekka Rinne, Nashville Predators vs. Detroit Red Wings ($8,200)
Rinne has started to turn things around and with the Predators entering this game as -165 home favorites, you have to like his chances of picking up some win bonus points for you here. Overall, he’s now posted save percentages of .923 or better in each of his past four games and his season-long average has now also crept up to over .911. This is good news for the Preds, who have been terrible defensively this season and enter with the worst penalty-kill in the league. Luckily, Rinne and the Preds are up against the Red Wings' offense, which is terrible at burying their chances and ranks second-to-last in goals per game. Rinne’s a good cash game target here.
Thatcher Demko, Vancouver Canucks vs. Calgary Flames ($7,000)
At some point in the year, you have to figure the Canucks will win again. The Canucks enter this game on a six-game losing streak and are last in many defensive categories. The fact they allow the second-most SOG though does give their goalies upside and Demko has breached 30.0 DKFP now in two of his three wins on the year. Assuming he gets the start here, the young goalie has plenty of GPP upside at this cheap a price for those who don’t mind the boom or bust nature of targeting a Vancouver goalie.
Value on Defense
Dante Fabbro, Nashville Predators vs. Detroit Red Wings ($4,300)
Fabbro is exactly the kind of defenseman we want to be targeting under $5K in price. He’s averaging 1.7 blocked shots per game and 2.3 SOG and comes in on a bit of a heater having now produced points in two of his past three games. While he cedes most of the power-play time to Roman Josi ($7,000), Fabbro has been getting exposure on the second unit for Nashville, which only adds to his upside, especially in spots like tonight against weaker opponents like the Red Wings. He’s not glitzy or overly exciting, but he’s not likely to bust your lineup either given the way he contributes in all areas. Fabbro’s a nice value tonight if you’re looking to go cheap at D.
Power-Play Defensemen
Seth Jones, Columbus Blue Jackets at Chicago Blackhawks ($5,000)
Jones is going to be taking a bigger role on special teams with Zach Werenski out of the lineup for CBJ and he comes in on a tear, having scored points in five straight games while also hitting the SOG bonus two nights in a row. Jones’ added role as the main point man on the PP1 has a big part of the increase in production as three of those five points have come on the power play. For a player who can contribute in every single category and who has a terrific matchup here against the Blackhawks, this price is way too cheap and he makes for a perfect target for all formats and a great stacking partner with Patrik Laine ($6,800) or any of the other top-six forwards on CBJ tonight.
Morgan Rielly, Toronto Maple Leafs at Montreal Canadiens ($5,200)
Rielly again looks too cheap considering his role on the Leafs, which sees him average 23.5 minutes per game. Rielly comes into tonight having scored 10 points over his past 10 games, with five power-play assists buried in those 10 points. Montreal is a quality opponent but their penalty kill is attackable as they currently feature the 13th-worst PK unit in the league and will be in tough here against Toronto’s fourth-best power-play unit. Getting some exposure to this game, which has an O/U 6.5 goal total attached on DraftKings Sportsbook, makes a ton of sense, and Rielly’s a solid and affordable way to do just that tonight on DraftKings.
I am a promoter at DraftKings and am also an avid fan and user (my username is wavegoodbye) and may sometimes play on my personal account in the games that I offer advice on. Although I have expressed my personal view on the games and strategies above, they do not necessarily reflect the view(s) of DraftKings and I may also deploy different players and strategies than what I recommend above. I am not an employee of DraftKings and do not have access to any non-public information.
If you or someone you know has a gambling problem, crisis counseling and referral services can be accessed by calling 1-800-GAMBLER (1-800-426-2537) (IL).
Gambling problem? Call 1-800-GAMBLER(NJ/WV/PA/MI), 1-800-9-WITH-IT (IN), 1-800-522-4700 (NH/CO), 1-800-BETS OFF(IA), 1-888-532-3500 (VA) or call/text TN REDLINE 1-800-889-9789 (TN).
21+ (18+ NH). CO/IL/IN/IA/NH/NJ/PA/TN/VA/WV/MI only. Eligibility restrictions apply. See draftkings.com/sportsbook for full terms and conditions.