DFS Lines to Target: 11/05/19
After a quiet few days in the NHL, the action heats up on Tuesday with a large 11-game slate. The Canucks’ trio of J.T. Miller, Elias Pettersson and Brock Boeser will look to stay hot against the Blues, while Winnipeg’s offense will go to work against a struggling New Jersey defense. With several quality options to choose from, I’ve highlighted my top high-priced, medium-priced, and value stacks to help you narrow it down. Best of luck!
High-Priced
Vancouver 2 – J.T. Miller ($6,400) , Elias Pettersson ($7,100), Brock Boeser ($6,900)
The Canucks “second line” has been red-hot and have been one of the best possession lines in the NHL this season. They have combined for 19 goals and 51 points through 14 games and own a 64 CF% together. After a 3-0 California road trip, the Canucks get to return home to face a Blues team that has surrendered over three goals in three of their last four games. Quinn Hughes is also returning from injury and will provide a big boost to a dangerous first power-play unit that has gotten at least two goals from each player in this stack.
This Canucks trio is also lethal at even-strength and they have an easy matchup at 5v5 going up against the Blues second line of Ryan O’Reilly, David Perron and Zach Stanford. This line has been significantly outchanced when put together this year, recording a 39.24 CF% in over 40 minutes of sample size. I also expect Pettersson, Boeser and Miller to continue their lethal production on the power play with the return of Hughes against a Blues PK unit that is among the bottom-10 in the league ( 80% efficiency).
Medium-Priced
Winnipeg 2 – Nikolaj Ehlers ($6,600), Bryan Little ($3,700), Patrik Laine ($6,200)
Winnipeg’s top two lines are both strong options against a New Jersey team that is struggling to keep the puck out of their net. The trio of Patrik Laine, Nikolaj Ehlers and Brayan Little have been hotter than the first line and holds more value tonight. The Devils sit at the bottom of the Metropolitan Division standings and have surrendered 17 goals in their last four outings. They will be turning in net to Mackenzie Blackwood, who owns a .878 save percentage on the season and gave up two goals to the Jets on just nine shots in relief of Cory Schneider when these two teams met earlier this season.
Ehlers is catching fire after a slow start with four goals and six points in his past five games, while Little has two goals and five points in that span. Laine has two assists and 12 shots on goal in his last two games. The Jets are beginning a crucial four-game homestand and will be well-rested and motivated to start it on the right note after not having played since Saturday. With Nikita Gusev set to return to the lineup for New Jersey, the Jets second line will likely be matched up against a new-look New Jersey second line that features Gusev, Jack Hughes and Pavel Zacha. Not only should Laine, Little and Ehlers be able to take advantage of the lack of chemistry and rust of Gusev, but they should also produce against a Devils penalty kill that ranks seventh-worst in the NHL (75%).
Value Stack
Dallas 2 – Jamie Benn ($4,500), Jason Dickinson ($2,600), Joe Pavelski ($4,000)
With Dallas leading goal-scorer Roope Hintz sidelined for a week with a lower-body injury, other players on the Stars will need to step up if the team hopes to continue its string of recent success. The Stars have put together a new-look second line of Jamie Benn, Joe Pavelski and Jason Dickinson that is priced nicely at home against an Avalanche team that has lost four straight games. The Avalanche were one of the best teams to begin the season, but they’re struggling with injuries to Mikko Rantanen and Gabriel Landeskog.
This game seems like it has breakout potential for Jamie Benn. The Dallas captain has underwhelmed in the early goings of the 2019-20 season with just a single goal and six points in 16 games. I like his chances of getting going playing alongside a hot Joe Pavelski who has a goal and five assists over his last three games. Benn had four shots on goal last game and is too good to stay quiet for long. The Hintz injury might be what it takes to get him going. Dickinson is the other member of this line, and while he’s been held off the scoresheet in 12 games this season, he had 22 points in 67 games last year and is capable of producing when he’s playing alongside talented players. The Stars have recently been very good at home against Colorado and the second line should get on the board against an Avalanche team that is trending in the wrong direction.