Boston Bruins Vs. New York Rangers

There are only two NHL games today, but they are great games, and we should be able to build some competitive DFS lineups.

Let’s start with the Bruins and Rangers. This matchup is expected to have some goals, but they may all be coming from one team.

The Bruins have been excellent this season, and that shouldn't change tonight. It all starts with their top line of Brad Marchand, Patrice Bergeron and David Pastrnak. It’s going to be a challenge to fit all three into one lineup, so if you can only pick one player from the bunch, make it Pastrnak. He’s been exceptional since making his debut at the beginning of the month.

If you need some value, Nick Ritchie is skating on the second line and top power play unit. He’s $4200 on DK, so that’s value that we might need tonight.

On defence, the Bruins have decided to go with five forwards on the top power play unit, so that hurts Charlie McAvoy’s value quite a bit. He’s $4600 on DK, so if you feel the need to play him, go ahead, but I wouldn’t do everything to make him work in my line.

In goal, Tukka Rask is where my money is at. The Rangers have a ton of talent up front, but it’s yet to come together this season. Even as the most expensive goalie on the slate, I would feel comfortable playing him.

For the Rangers, we want some exposure to them, but not much. Their top line will still see a ton of Bergeron’s line, even if they have last change, and their depth lines are not something to target.

If I’m taking one player from this game, it’s Artemi Panarin, who’s $5800 on DK. At that price, it’s really hard to say no to him. Ryan Strome is $3400, so if you want to get cute, you can go with those two in a mini-stack. Outside of that, there’s no reason to target anyone else.

 

Toronto Maple Leafs Vs. Montreal Canadiens

Here’s a matchup that should feature a lot of goals. We already know that Frederik Andersen isn’t good, and that his recent success won’t last, while Carey Price has yet to find his game so far this season. If all goes according to plan, we should see a lot of goals in this contest.

For Toronto, their top line is where I’m looking to spend my money. Paying up for Auston Matthews would be nice, but in this case, I’m looking to target his wingers Zach Hyman and Mitch Marner. Marner is $1300 less expensive than Matthews and has been elite so far this season, while Hyman is $4700 and is seeing time on the top power play unit. That’s value we just can’t pass up on.

Speaking of value, Daily Faceoff has Nick Petan on the top power play unit. I don’t know if that will stick, but if so, at $2500 on DK, we may want to play him, just as a salary relief option. Any points he would get would be a real big bonus. This is something to monitor as we get closer to game time, so make sure to check back before 7PM ET.

On defence, Morgan Rielly is an option, but I’ll actually move down the player pool and go with Jake Muzzin. He isn’t seeing any power play time, but he’s blocking a bunch of shots, seven shots in his last two games. The Canadiens love to fire the puck, so this is an optimal situation to play Muzzin. If he can get the shot block bonus on DK, he may hit value without finding the score sheet.

For the Habs, Nick Suzuki is my second favourite center option on the slate. The kid has been great this season-- with 12 points in as many games-- and is only $5200 on DK. He plays with Jonathan Drouin on the top power play unit, so that would be the mini-stack to go with. If you can afford to add Josh Anderson too, go ahead. That entire line seems to be playing some great hockey of late.

If you want to eat some chalk, Tyler Toffoli is the best way to do it, but his $6700 price tag is too rich for me. He deserves to be that price, but I’m not down to pair him with Jesperi Kotkaniemi -- who's been quiet this season-- and Corey Perry. Toffoli and Perry play together on the top unit, so there’s that to consider if you want to live life on the edge.

On the blue line, Jeff Petry is the way to go, but he’s the most expensive defenceman on the slate. I can’t pay up for him on a short slate like this, but if you have the salary to do it, go ahead. We could target Shea Weber, who is $5500, but he’s not producing like Petry is, and 

I’d even go as far as considering using Ben Chariot over him. 

In goal, Carey Price hasn’t been great this season, but he’s in a great GPP spot. Most people will be targeting the Leafs, so if they don’t perform and Price can help backstop his team to a win, that should shoot you up the leaderboard in a hurry.