NHL Daily Fantasy Picks and Helper: Tuesday 10/31/23
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
Joseph Woll, Toronto Maple Leafs ($8,000)
When there are just two games on a slate, you have to be willing to take some chances with picks for DFS lineups. That's how we arrive at Joseph Woll as the goalie to target for today.
Woll isn't a bold pick necessarily; he's impressed between the pipes for the Toronto Maple Leafs so far. It's rather because of the matchup because it's the toughest on the night. However, with how he's played, we'll take that as the opportunity to make more stops is how points at up.
The Los Angeles Kings have been one of the best offensive teams through eight games. They rank top 10 with a 65.88 Corsi For per 60 minutes -- meaning they're getting opportunities. The difference for them is that they've also turned those opportunities into goals, ranking first in goals per 60 minutes at a 4.29 mark.
Despite this, we're still rolling with Woll because of how great he's been. Woll has made just four starts, yet the 25-year-old stopper has the third-best goals saved above expectation (GSAx) in the NHL (7.36). He's now appeared in 15 games over three seasons, posting a .934 goals against average and 2.11 save percentage in those starts. We're going to trust that he's on his way to being an elite goaltender and should be able to keep the Kings in check.
Woll is projected for 17.8 FanDuel points, per numberFire's model.
Stacks
Toronto Maple Leafs
In a matchup that very well could be filled with scoring, there's no better team to stack tonight than the Toronto Maple Leafs.
Toronto has been one of the best offenses in hockey for several seasons now, showing their ability all over again in this 2023-24 campaign. The Maple Leafs rank top 10 in both Corsi For per 60 minutes (64.36) as well as goals for per 60 minutes (3.42). They are one of the few teams that have played to expectations early on as their 3.42 goals per 60 is in line with their expected tallies per 60 (3.44).
Cam Talbot will be in the crease for the Los Angeles Kings tonight, making for the best matchup of any team on the slate. Talbot has been fine for the Kings, posting a .905 save percentage, 2.72 GAA, and 0.37 GSAx. Nothing from his work has been over-the-top, stand-on-your-head type of play, so roll with the Leafs tonight.
It should come as little surprise that the pairings you want offensively are Auston Matthews ($10,300) and Mitchell Marner ($6,900) or the William Nylander ($9,900) and John Tavares ($9,500) duo. All four men get major minutes and are on the top power-play unit for Toronto.
numberFire's model has all four players in the top five for projected points on the night, so get them in your lineup.
Value Skaters
Andrei Kuzmenko, W, Vancouver Canucks ($5,100)
Andrei Kuzmenko is locked into a top role for the Vancouver Canucks, making him a great value for tonight.
Kuzmenko is on the first line alongside Elias Pettersson and Ilya Mikheyev. In eight games, he's shown to be a quality offensive option with 2 goals, 4 assists, and 6 points to go with putting 15 shots on goal. The Canucks' winger is also averaging 15:41 TOI. His value comes from being a part of the first power-play unit, giving him key scoring opportunities, as well.
numberFire has Kuzmenko projected for 14.3 FanDuel points, the sixth-most of any skater on the night.
Thomas Novak, C, Nashville Predators ($4,800)
If you're looking for a player to help fill out your lineup after going big with the Maple Leafs, Thomas Novak is a great value on the two-game slate.
Novak mans the second-line center position for the Nashville Predators while taking a spot on the second power-play unit. Novak has had a pretty solid start to the year for Nashville, putting together four goals and adding two assists for a total of six points. After recording 43 points in 51 games in 2022-23, it's clear Novak has the skills to make a mark offensively, so this strong start seems positioned to continue.
The 26-year-old is averaging 14:46 TOI per game, which is a bit lower than what you're looking for at times but with so few games on Tuesday, we can overlook more warts.
Novak is projected for a good outing tonight; he's expected to put together 12.1 FanDuel points, per numberFire's model.
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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.