NHL Daily Fantasy Helper: Sunday 10/15/23

NHL DFS is similar to MLB in terms of how you build lineups, how you view stacking, and how to value players.

Two main points to always focus on in NHL DFS are what lines the players are on and making sure the goalies you are rostering are confirmed as the starters.

Two of the best resources for that are LeftWingLock.com and DailyFaceOff.com. That is where you can find updated forward and power-play lines for each team, along with which goalies are confirmed as the starters.

Let's jump in and take a look at today's slate, find a goalie, some stacks, and some value plays for your NHL DFS lineups on FanDuel.

Goalie to Target

Antti Raanta, Carolina Hurricanes ($7,900)

If you're playing percentages on this odd, two-game slate, the wheel comes up on Antti Raanta ($7,900) of the Carolina Hurricanes just about every single time.

Per the NHL odds at FanDuel Sportsbook, Raanta's team is the largest favorite of the day (-310) against the lowly Anaheim Ducks. Anaheim has the worst expected-goals-for percentage (33.3 xGF%) to begin the young season, and that's come with the fourth-fewest expected goals per 60 minutes (2.26).

Raanta was 31st of 103 qualifying goaltenders last year in goals saved above expectation (5.48 GSAx), so he's a known, reliable quantity in a sublime matchup. numberFire's model has him projected for 19.0 FanDuel points, which -- to no surprise -- is the highest mark of the four goaltenders on the slate.

Stack

Ottawa Senators

Most will turn to the aforementioned Hurricanes in stacks with the day's highest implied total, but I prefer the offensive outlook in the Tampa Bay Lightning-Ottawa Senators clash -- specifically from Ottawa's side. Anaheim's backup goalie, Lukas Dostal, was actually quite good last season.

The Lightning have a tough task to crack Joonas Korpisalo (16.72 GSAx in 2022-23), but the Senators could open the floodgates. They'll face minor-league netminder Matt Tomkins, who last played in the Swedish Hockey League with a 2.54 GAA. Bouncing around in the AHL for three years, Tomkins never had a GAA lower than 3.00.

Ottawa's top line is an amazing stack any time that they have a plus matchup. Brady Tkachuk ($7,200), Tim Stutzle ($7,100), and Claude Giroux ($6,100) all play across the primary even-strength and power-play line, so if they're going off, it's almost always together. Of course, defenseman Thomas Chabot ($5,300) logged nearly 25:00 TOI per game last year and also captains this trio on the power-play unit.

This primary line would be my stack in a single-entry format tonight.

Value Skaters

Victor Hedman, D, Tampa Bay Lightning ($6,300)

Victor Hedman ($6,300) isn't a "value skater", but there's plenty of salary to burn unless you stack Tampa's top line, so I do want to make sure I include him.

Hedman's defense role has been a fantasy cheat code for years, and he hasn't slowed down to begin this season with four points in two games. However, he's not scoring-dependent like other blue-liners, adding seven shots and two blocks in the contests, as well. With -144 juice to over 6.5 goals in this game, we'll see plenty of activity on both ends for Hedman -- and his 25:08 TOI per game to begin the year.

numberFire's model has Hedman projected for 10.9 FanDuel points on Sunday; I'd still consider him a value at this salary on a full slate, too.

Michael Bunting, W, Carolina Hurricanes ($5,100)

Though the results aren't quite there yet, a forward playing on a Stanley Cup contender's top even-strength and power-play line shouldn't be $5,100, and I don't expect Michael Bunting ($5,100) will be very long.

Bunting scored a power-play goal in Carolina's opener, but he produced a bagel in last night's 6-5 win over the Los Angeles Kings, so some might have reservations about him here despite his opportunity from what should be the day's most popular team.

The former Toronto Maple Leafs winger produced 23 goals and 26 assists last season when spending a bit of time on the Leafs' top line, so there's a reason Carolina snagged him.

Because of his role, Bunting is projected for 12.3 FanDuel points by numberFire's model tonight. He grades out as its fifth-best play per dollar of salary.

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The above author is a FanDuel employee and is not eligible to compete in public daily fantasy contests or place sports betting wagers on FanDuel. The advice provided by the author does not necessarily represent the views of FanDuel. Taking the author's advice will not guarantee a successful outcome. You should use your own judgment when participating in daily fantasy contests or placing sports wagers.