NHL Daily Fantasy Picks and Helper: Thursday 12/21/23

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.

NHL DFS Picks

Goalie to Target

Juuse Saros, Nashville Predators ($7,100)

The season started out surprisingly bad for Juuse Saros ($7,100) after what we've come to expect from him. He has been able to turn things around lately, and gets a good matchup tonight.

Saros is now at 5.07 goals saved above expected after a great run to get him back on track. Before Tuesday, he had allowed nine goals in his previous six games -- all wins.

The Nashville Predators are on the road against the Philadelphia Flyers tonight. Nashville is an underdog tonight, but they shouldn't allow too many goals. The Flyers are 23rd in goals per game and 22nd in expected goals per 60 minutes, via Natural Stat Trick.

This game is the only one of 12 on the slate that has a 5.5-goal total on FanDuel Sportsbook with all the others being 6.5. This makes both goalies acceptable plays, but Saros has a lower salary and more talent.

Getting a goalie at the level of Saros for just $7,100 against a non-elite offense is fantastic value.

Stacks

Toronto Maple Leafs

The Toronto Maple Leafs may be struggling to win games in regulation, but they are not struggling to score goals. They are second in the league with 3.59 goals per game. Tonight, they'll get a great spot to keep scoring.

Auston Matthews ($10,500) returned to the lineup on Tuesday after missing one game and scored two goals. He now leads the league with 25 goals in 28 games. William Nylander ($9,800) is ninth in the NHL with 41 points. These two play together on the first line and power play. They're joined by rookie Matthew Knies ($3,800), who is a great addition to this stack for a low salary.

Toronto will face the Buffalo Sabres tonight. Buffalo just allowed nine goals to the Columbus Blue Jackets on Tuesday, and they've now allowed the eighth-most goals per game and seventh-most expected goals per 60 minutes.

The Leafs have an implied team total of a healthy 3.51 goals, and this stack has the potential to erupt in this matchup.

Minnesota Wild

It's not been a smooth ride for the Minnesota Wild this season -- on or off the ice. Their coaching change has made a big difference, though. They've gone 7-3-0 in their last 10 games.

The Wild have made some changes to their lines, partially due to necessity with some injuries. Now Kirill Kaprizov ($8,000) is playing with Joel Eriksson Ek ($7,900) and Matthew Boldy ($6,300). Eriksson Ek has been great offensively this year with 14 goals.

Much was made of both Kaprizov and Boldy struggling to create offense this season. Kaprizov scored twice last game and Boldy now has 6 goals in his last 10 games, so they both could be coming out of their funk. They'll have the chance to keep that going tonight.

The Wild will play the Montreal Canadiens at home on Thursday. Montreal has allowed the third-most expected goals per 60 minutes and has the fifth-worst penalty kill in the league.

A problem with stacking Minnesota in the past has been not having correlation across the three forwards. That isn't the case anymore; this top line will be fully linked up on the power play to attack a weak Montreal penalty kill.

Value Skaters

William Eklund, W, Sharks ($3,900)

There is a stink on playing anyone from the San Jose Sharks based on how they've started the season. That should keep the popularity of William Eklund ($3,900) down tonight.

On another team, we might have some excitement for Eklund. He's a 21-year-old who was the seventh overall pick in 2021. He has 15 points in 31 games and possesses a role on the top line and top power play.

I'm definitely willing to take a shot on Eklund tonight in this role with this low salary against an Arizona Coyotes team that is not too intimidating.

Juraj Slafkovsky, W , Canadiens ($3,600)

Another young winger who's getting chance on the top line and power play is Juraj Slafkovsky ($3,600). He's had a slow start to his career for a former first overall pick but will certainly get his chance to show his skill.

Slafkovsky has been getting to play with Cole Caufield and Nick Suzuki, Montreal's two best forwards. They'll get a great chance to score on the power play tonight; Minnesota's penalty kill is the second worst in the NHL.

Montreal probably won't be rostered a ton tonight, so Slafkovsky is a nice under-the-radar play for a low salary. Stacking Montreal could make sense if we like the Wild and expect this game to shoot out.

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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.