Friday's 9-game NHL slate is loaded with top-tier scorers featuring a great matchup as Auston Matthews and the Toronto Maple Leafs face Johnny Gaudreau and the Columbus Blue Jackets. We should expect lots of tight games with some great matchups out there, but expect some of the top scorers to shine through still. So, be sure to check in with our NHL DFS Tools, with the daily NHL projections, and our NHL lineup generator when building those lineups today to help you decide which players you should be targeting!

 

NHL DFS Playbook December 29th

DFS Lineup Construction Thoughts

In cash games, I would look to lean into the Maple Leafs and the Stars today. The last time Toronto faced Columbus there were 11 goals scored, and I wouldn't be too surprised if we saw similar fireworks today between those two teams. The Stars will face Chicago today, and they open the day with the highest expected goal total, so look to get some shares of Jason Robertson, Roope Hintz and company. In a GPP I would look to get some Columbus players at a discount such as Adam Fantilli, and Justin Danforth, and pay up for New Jersey's top players as Ottawa is yet to figure out how to play defence, and they are giving up more than four goals per game over the last two weeks.

Recommended DFS Starting Goalies,

Top Options for Saves

Elvis Merzlikins vs Toronto Maple Leafs

Jordan Binnington vs Colorado Avalanche

Joey Daccord vs Philadelphia Flyers

Best Odds for a Win

Scott Wedgewood vs Chicago Blackhawks

Ilya Samsonov vs Columbus Blue Jackets

Alexandar Georgiev vs St. Louis Blues

Favorite Goalies to Use for DFS Lineups

Ilya Sorokin, G, New York Islanders

With the Capitals scoring just 1.86 goals per game over the last two weeks, it makes Sorokin a great pick today, especially playing at home. I would also look for the Islanders to look much better today after being embarrassed by the Penguins in their last game.

John Gibson, G, Anaheim Ducks

There is certainly some risk to using any Ducks goalie, as the chances of getting the win are rarely high. However, Gibson has won each of his last two starts and has looked good doing it, putting up save percentages of 0.938 and 0.947 in those games. The Coyotes team he is facing is also not a team that scores a tonne of goals which makes Gibson a solid value pick in goal for GPP's.

Carter Hart G, Philadelphia Flyers

Hart continues to play well for the Flyers. His last start wasn't great against Detroit, but he has been stellar in four of his last five appearances with save percentages of 0.947 in those games. He will face a Seattle team that has struggled to score goals this season, so I would look for another solid performance from Hart today.

Recommended DFS Skaters

Highest Expected Goal Totals 

Dallas Stars vs Petr Mrazek (4.0)

Toronto Maple Leafs vs Elvis Merzlikins (3.9)

New Jersey Devils vs Joonas Korpisalo (3.7)

Favorite Skaters to Use for DFS Lineups

Auston Matthews, C, Toronto Maple Leafs

Matthews has scored in seven of his last eight games. In the last game against the Blue Jackets, he has three points and nine shots! Matthews is as safe as any player today and he has a great matchup so I would look to try to use him wherever possible, and he would be a staple in my cash lineups.

Jason Robertson, W, Dallas Stars

It appears that Robertson has finally found his shot. He has five shots or more in three of his last four games, and he has a great matchup today against Chicago, one of the worst teams in the league. Robertson is both a GPP and a cash game play.

Justin Danforth, W, Columbus Blue Jackets

On most teams, Danforth would be a third or fourth liner, but on Columbus… he is on the top line and top powerplay. He has scored in back-to-back games and if you believe the Blue Jackets are going to be in another shootout with the Maple Leafs he could provide tremendous value.

Pavel Mintyukov D, Anaheim Ducks

Mintyukov is in a great place to provide value. His price is low, he has blocked three shots or more in back-to-back games, and he is on the Ducks' top powerplay, which has allowed him to get points in three of his last five games.

Player Pool

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Stacks

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