DraftKings Fantasy Hockey Cheat Sheet: October 16th

There are seven games on the schedule tonight, so there are a lot of options out there and a number of games that are worth targeting and some that should be avoided.

Tonight’s featured DraftKings contest has a $3 entry fee or FREE if you are a new user. The top 3,840 finishers will split a prize pool of $60,000 with first place taking him $4,000! Do you have what it takes to turn $3 into $4,000!

Are you new to DraftKings or Daily Fantasy Sports (DFS)? Here’s a quick lesson on how to build your lineup an play! You have $50,000 in Salary space, to build a team that consists of 2C, 3W, 2D, 1G and 1 Util. Below you will find how skaters and goalies scoring works!

• Players will accumulate points as follows:

Goal = +3 PTS
Assist = +2 PTS
Shot on Goal = +0.5 PTS
Blocked Shot = +0.5 PTS
Short Handed Point Bonus (Goal/Assist) = +1 PTS
Shootout Goal = +0.2 PTS
Hat Trick Bonus = +1.5 PTS

• Goalies only will accumulate points as follows:

Win = +3 PTS
Save = +0.2 PTS
Goal Against = -1 PTS
Shutout Bonus = +2 PTS

• Goalie Scoring Notes:

Goalies WILL receive points for all stats they accrue, including goals and assists.
The Goalie Shutout Bonus is credited to goalies if they complete the entire game with 0 goals allowed in regulation + overtime. Shootout goals will not prevent a shutout. Goalie must complete the entire game to get credit for a shutout.

Below I’ve listed my top DFS plays at each position as well as my ideal DraftKings lineup for tonight.

Centres

Ryan Getzlaf – vs. COL – ($7,000)

The Ducks have not been able to figure it out offensively through the first three games of the season. They have just one goal so far this season, but a meeting with the Avalanche might be just what the doctor ordered. Colorado has had the opposite problem, they can’t seem to be able to keep the puck out of their net (14 GA in 3 games)—on top of that, Reto Berra, not Semyon Varalmov gets the nod tonight.

Henrik Zetterberg – vs. CAR – ($6,700)

Zetterberg is currently tied for the NHL points lead with seven points (2G / 5A) in three games. His line with Justin Abdelkader and Dylan Larkin has been dangerous in all three games this season and that should continue tonight vs. a subpar Hurricanes team. He had one goal and one assist vs. Carolina last Saturday—which gives him 11 goals and eight assists (19 points) in 14 career games vs. the Canes.

Ryan Johansen – vs. TOR – ($6,300)

The Blue Jackets are not off to an ideal start to the season, but that hasn’t slowed Johansen down at all. He has a point in every game so far this season, giving him one goal and four assists through five games. He has also recorded 17 shots on goal and if that trend continues tonight vs. the Leafs, he should be able to cash in. Johansen comes in with nine career points (6G / 3A) in seven games against the Maple Leafs.

Cheap Options: Mikael Granlund – @ LA – ($4,000), Dylan Larkin – vs. CAR ($3,800)

Wingers

Corey Perry – vs. COL – ($7,000)

Like Getzlaf, Perry is looking to get his season rolling in the right direction. Through three games, he has yet to record a point and has just two shots on goal. In steps Colorado. Tonight could be a breakthrough for Perry and the Ducks.

Brandon Saad – vs. TOR ($5,800)

Saad has scored a goal in three of his first four games with the Blue Jackets. He has shown some nice, early-season chemistry with Ryan Johansen and that line should be able to produce plenty of offence vs. the Maple Leafs undermanned lineup.

Justin Abdelkader – vs. CAR ($4,700)

A dream start to the season for Abdelkader sees him sitting with four goals and one assist in three games. He has arguably been the Red Wings best player so far this season and he already has a two-point night vs. the Hurricanes this season, so why not bank on another one?

Cheap Options: Joel Ward – @ NJ – ($3,700), Teemu Pulkkinen – vs. CAR – ($2,900)

Defensemen

Dustin Byfuglien – vs. CGY – ($5,500)

Byfuglien is one of the NHL’s best offensive defenseman and he comes into play tonight with one goal, two assists and 12 shots in four games. Tonight is the Jets home opener, so they should come out with a little extra juice. He will face Karri Ramo and a Flames team who has given up 3.67 goals per game to start 2015-16.

Ryan Suter – @ LA – ($4,200)

Suter gets a tonne of ice time and so far this season he has turned that into four assists in three games. He has a point in each game to this point and a meeting with the Kings could see him extend his point streak to four. Los Angeles has been horrible so far this season, hopefully for Suter’s sake that carries into one more game.

Colton Parayko – @ VAN – ($2,600)

After a breakout two goal game vs. Calgary, Parayko was held scoreless vs. the Oilers last night. He has a booming shot and a nice opportunity with Kevin Shattenkirk out. It is hard to find this much value anywhere else.

Cheap Options: Matt Dumba – @ LA – ($3,500) Ryan Murray – vs. TOR – ($2,800)

Goalies

Martin Jones – @ NJ – ($7,000)

Jones has been the talk of the NHL in the first week of the season. The former L.A Kings’ backup has started the year 3-0 with a 0.33 GAA and .987 SV%. His salary is still relatively low and he has an outstanding matchup against a low-scoring Devils team who is without Travis Zajac. Could he make it three shutouts in a row?

Jimmy Howard – vs. CAR ($6,900)

There were some question marks surrounding Howard in the offseason, but he has answered all of his critics through two starts. He has allowed just a single goal on 43 shots (.977 SV%) and draws a strong matchup tonight vs. Carolina. When Petr Mrazek faced the Hurricanes last week he faced 47 shots, expect the Red Wings to tighten things up in front of Howard tonight.

My Lineup