DraftKings Fantasy Hockey Cheat Sheet: October 30th

I have to rush out to get to a concert, so tonight’s Cheat Sheet is slightly condensed. Good luck to all on DraftKings tonight and be sure to join our DailyFaceoff Contest tomorrow!

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

Tomas Plekanec – @ CGY – ($6,000)

Plekanec has been great so far in 2015-16, he has registered 11 points (5G / 6A) in 11 games, which is tied for eighth in the NHL. Plekanec is on one of the league’s hottest lines and they should take advantage of the Flames.

Evgeny Kuznetsov – vs. CBJ – ($5,600)

Speaking of hot. Kuznetsov is on fire right now. I pumped the Capitals on Wednesday vs. the Penguins and Kuznetsov was the only one who scored, giving him 12 points in eight games. His linemate, Alex Ovechkin, will be looking to get back on the score sheet tonight and that bodes well for Kuznetsov, who gets a generous matchup vs. the Blue Jackets.

Derick Brassard – vs. TOR ($4,800)

Brassard has scored in back-to-back games and he is expected to skate on the top line next to Rick Nash, who is ready to bust out. Brassard is a reasonably cheap option down the middle with a strong matchup.

Wingers

Alex Ovechkin – vs. CBJ – ($9,300)

Like I said, after being held off of the scoresheet on Wednesday, Ovechkin will be determined to get back on there tonight. He has a great matchup and I expect him to find the back of the net.

Max Pacioretty – @ CGY – ($7,700)

I love the Habs stack tonight. Putting Pacioretty with Plekanec should make you some money on DraftKings tonight. The Flames blueline doesn’t look good right now and their goaltending is even more suspect. Pacioretty has seven goals in 11 games and is second in the NHL with 41 shots.

Rick Nash – vs. TOR – ($6,900)

Check out this week’s podcast. I have Rick Nash as a buy-low candidate. He is off to a rough start, but he is still getting his shots. He has 32 this season, but is firing at just 3.1%—if he were shooting at his career 12.4%, he’d have four goals, not one. Look for him to break out of his slump vs. Toronto.

Defensemen

John Carlson – vs. CBJ – ($6,400)

Carlson, like almost every Capital, was held pointless on Wednesday, but in step the Blue Jackets to pick their spirits back up. Carlos has a point in six of eight games and three multi-point games so far. He is a safe bet on the blueline.

P.K Subban – @ CGY – ($6,000)

Subban is also tied for eighth in the NHL in scoring with 11 points (1G / 10A) in 11 games. His point-per-game pace is unsustainable, but you might as well ride the hot streak.

Michael Stone – vs. VAN – ($3,400)

Stone’s price tag is great. He plays with Oliver Ekman-Larsson, he shoots quite a bit and the Coyotes have shown they have a strong offence. On Friday they get a break with Richard Bachman in net. If you need to save money on D, Stone is your guy.

Goalies

Braden Holtby – vs. CBJ – ($8,000)

Holtby has picked up wins in five of his first seven starts while posting a 2.03 GAA and .917 SV%. He is a premiere goaltending option with a very winnable matchup tonight.

Henrik Lundqvist – vs. TOR – ($7,900)

Like Holtby, Lundqvist has an equally winnable matchup tonight with the Maple Leafs in town. He has just four wins in eight games, but his 1.97 GAA and .941 SV% speak for themselves.

Jimmy Howard – vs. OTT – ($7,000)

I wanted Michal Neuvirth to be my third option tonight, but DraftKings isn’t offering him, so my No. 4 is Howard. The Red Wings have struggled recently, but they are bending, not breaking. This matchup with Ottawa would be a scary one if they were healthy, but they’re a little banged up and Andrew Hammond starts opposite Howard.

My Lineup