NHL Daily Fantasy Picks and Helper: Wednesday 11/29/23

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

Cam Talbot, Los Angeles Kings ($8,500)

With just four games on the slate tonight, we're rolling with the best goalie of the early season as the one to target.

Cam Talbot has been out-of-this-world good for the Los Angeles Kings through 14 games. The journeyman goaltender has posted a 2.02 goals against average and .931 save percentage. Unsurprisingly, these two marks are the best of his career since his 21-game rookie campaign. Overall, Talbot ranks third in goals against average and second in save percentage in the entire NHL thus far.

His numbers aren't fluky, either, as the advanced metrics back them up. Talbot ranks eighth in the league in goals saved above expectation at an 8.46 clip.

The matchup against the Washington Capitals is a welcome one. They rank 25th in Corsi For per 60 minutes (56.01) and 31st in Goals For per 60 minutes (2.3), showing limited signs of turning their scoring woes around any time soon. Sometimes we are looking for teams with high shot percentages, but with how the slate is looking today, we'll comfortably go with this matchup.

numberFire's model projects Talbot to finish the night with 18.2 FanDuel points.

Stacks

Los Angeles Kings

There's an argument to be made that the Los Angeles Kings are the best team in the NHL right now.

Los Angeles is dominating on both ends of the ice. The Kings are top 10 in both Corsi For and Corsi Against -- coming in at 6th in creating offensive opportunities (64.9) and 5th in stopping their opposition from getting chances (54.03).

Being able to limit the opposition has allowed them all the more offensive chances, and they are taking advantage, currently sitting as the top-scoring offense. The Kings average 3.95 Goals For per 60 minutes, leading the entire NHL.

The Capitals have a tough time on the defensive end. They're allowing a 62.85 Corsi Against per 60 minutes, ranking them 25th in the league. Washington has kept their opponents to 2.74 goals per 60 minutes, but with an expected Goals Against of 3.15, there's room for the Kings to have a big day.

Darcy Kuemper is expected to be in the net for the Capitals. He has a 2.95 goals against average and .894 save percentage, so it shouldn't be a tough matchup for the Kings.

When stacking the Kings, the top line is where your best chances are. Adrian Kempe ($7,900), Anze Kopitar ($7,600), and Quinton Byfield ($5,600) are all viable, with the trio taking up spots on the top power play. Kevin Fiala ($7,200) is worth considering, too.

New York Rangers

Facing off with the Detroit Red Wings, there's potential for a high-scoring night for the New York Rangers.

The Rangers are scoring a lot lately, notching three or more goals in 8 of their last 10 games. They're on a good run, and it makes them worth stacking tonight. New York has a 58.01 Corsi For per 60 minutes and are averaging 3.25 goals per 60 minutes. Neither mark is necessarily through the roof, but they also benefit from having the third-best power-play percentage in the NHL (30.2). The Rangers should get some chances as the Red Wings have been penalized 95 times in the 2023-24 season.

Detroit ranks in the middle of the league with a 61.01 Corsi For per 60 minutes. Things only get better for the Rangers as Ville Husso will be between the pipes. Husso is struggling greatly this year, repping a 3.47 goals against average and sub-.900 save percentage (.888). He hasn't been good for the Red Wings since joining them last season. Husso has allowed four or more goals in three of his last four starts.

The Rangers have the second-best implied total of the night at 3.69, according to numberFire's heat map.

Firing up the Rangers should mean that Artemi Panarin ($10,200) is in your lineups. He's the top-projected player of the night by numberFire's model at 17.9 FanDuel points. His linemate, Vincent Trocheck ($6,400), should be under consideration, too. The top-line duo of Chris Kreider ($8,100) and Mika Zibanejad ($6,500) is another good bet to help stack the Rangers as all four forwards are on the main power-play unit.

Value Skaters

Sean Monahan, C, Montreal Canadiens($5,200)

Sean Monahan is long overdue to get on the scoresheet.

Believe it or not, Monahan has gone six straight games without recording a point. Feels pretty unusual for a player who takes up a spot on the top power-play unit for the Montreal Canadiens. But alas, here we are. The even crazier part is that even with his recent struggles, Monahan is still having a strong season.

Through 21 games, the center has 6 goals, 7 assists, and 13 points while averaging 2.24 shots on goal per game and logs an average 18:13 time on ice. Everything works in his favor except the recent skid, which is why I am backing him tonight against a poor Columbus Blue Jackets team, one that has a 68.8 Corsi Against.

numberFire's model projects Monahan to put together a good effort, expecting him to finish with 13.3 FanDuel points.

Johnny Gaudreau, W, Columbus Blue Jackets ($4,600)

We're rolling with a pair of former Flames as our values tonight with Johnny Gaudreau coming in as our second selection.

It's been a tough year for the Blue Jackets' forward. Gaudreau has 3 goals, 8 assists, and 11 points over 23 games. For what is expected of him, that's not all too impressive, but the good news is that he's starting to find his way.

Prior to the game against the Boston Bruins, he had three straight games of recording a point. And in that Bruins game, he had a breakaway that almost resulted in four straight. He's beginning to find his game, so against a Canadiens team that allows plenty of opportunities (66.06 Corsi Against), it sizes up as another chance to keep getting on track.

Gaudreau is projected to finish with 12.6 FanDuel points, per numberFire.

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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.