NHL DFS Plays: August 13th

Line Stacks

Vegas 1 — Pacioretty ($7,700) – Karlsson ($6,200) – Stone ($7,000)

Game 1 was a pretty low-event game but it’s hard to envision that continuing into Game 2. VGK1 was held off of the scoresheet but they had a strong game, posting a 62.5 SCF% and 85.04 ExpectedGoalsFor%. Tuesday was Pacioretty’s first game in five months so he should be even better in Game 2. With Vegas’ second-line popping off in Game 1 and priced $5,200 cheaper, they should attract a lot of attention and keep VGK1’s ownership down.

Tampa Bay 1 — Palat ($4,500) – Point ($6,100) – Kucherov ($7,900)

Tonight will be the Blue Jackets’ fifth game in a week and that will feel like even more after Tuesday’s six-hour marathon. Fatigue should play a factor in this afternoon’s game and that makes Tampa Bay’s top line even more appealing. During Game 1, Kucherov and Point hooked up for two goals including the game-winner. TBL1 maintained their dominance over all eight periods, generating 24 scoring chances with a 77.4 ScoringChancesFor%. That kind of territorial edge is going to lead to a lot of goals in this series and makes Tampa Bay’s top-line the top target on the four-game slate.

Boston 2 — DeBrusk ($4,000) – Krejci ($3,800) – Kase ($3,700)

Boston flipped the script on the Hurricanes in Game 1 and won the puck possession battle with a 55.0 CF% and 57.3 SCF%. Their second line did most of the damage, creating 12 Scoring Chances with a 70.59 SCF%. Kase has been battling injuries for most of his time in Boston but he’s fully healthy now and is a great value play on Thursday. He’s maintained solid shot-volume throughout his career and BOS2’s numbers when he’s in the lineup are impressive. They are averaging nearly 38 SCF/60 and should get the better of the Jordan Staal line again tonight.

Defensemen

Shea Theodore — VGK ($6,600)

Theodore has been red-hot in his last three games, picking up five points (2G / 3A) while averaging 4.7 shots and 2.3 blocked shots per game–totalling in 23.9 DKPts/gm. In Game 1 he spent about 33 percent of his 5v5 ice-time with Vegas’ top-line and pairs with Stone and Pacioretty on the power-play. The problem with playing him with VGK1, is you’re left with just $4,500 remaining per player to fill out the other five spots.

Mikhail Sergachev — TBL ($3,900)

In Game 1, Sergachev was moved to the top power-play unit which makes him a must-play when you’re playing TBL1. He correlates perfectly with Point and Kucherov and comes in averaging 3.25 shots and 1.75 blocked shots per game since the restart.

Goalies

Robin Lehner — VGK ($8,300)

Lehner is the safest bet to win Game 2 of any goalie on the slate and that is reflected in his $8,300 price tag. Lehner is as close to a guarantee of 15 points as you’ll find but the way Vegas limited Chicago in Game 1 hurts his upside. He probably won’t be the highest-scoring goalie on the slate but he’s the safest.

Andrei Vasilevskiy — TBL ($8,100)

I don’t think they’re going to play eight periods tonight so you’re not going to get another 61-save performance out of Vasilevskiy but the Lightning have a chance to put Columbus on the ropes tonight. With the Blue Jackets playing for the fifth time in eight days, you have to like Tampa Bay’s chances of winning Game 2.