NHL DFS Plays: August 12th

Line Stacks

Colorado 1 — Namestnikov ($3,800) – MacKinnon ($8,500) – Rantanen ($7,400)

During the Qualifying Round, Nashville’s top-line ran all over the Coyotes. They averaged over 40 ScoringChancesFor/60 and had a SCF% over 70 for the series. While a trio of Filip Forsberg, Ryan Johansen and Viktor Arvidsson is great, what they don’t have is Nathan MacKinnon. If NSH1 can cave in the Coyotes at 5v5, this MacKinnon line should have no trouble doing the same. During the regular season, no player on this slate averaged more DraftKings Points Per Game than MacKinnon, who led Colorado with 15 shots (3.0 per game) while picking up three points (1G / 2A) in their three round-robin games. Additionally, Mikko Rantanen was tied for the team-lead with four points (all assists), so this line comes into the series in good form following a long layoff.

Washington 2 — Vrana ($4,700) – Kuznetsov ($5,600) – Wilson ($4,800)

When the Capitals and Islanders got together this season, it was often high-scoring. They split the season series with both teams averaging 3.50 goals for per game. All three players in Washington’s new-look second line had two goals during the season series against the Islanders, so they are no strangers to scoring against Barry Trotz’s team. Even though the Islanders escaped the qualifying round, they gave up the fourth-most ScoringChancesAgainst/60, so it should be a high-event hockey game.

New York 2 — Beauvillier ($3,700) – Nelson ($5,100) – Bailey ($3,600)

If it’s going to be a high-event, high-scoring hockey game, you’re going to want some exposure to the Islanders as well. Sure you could play their top-line, but NYI2 comes in $5,300 cheaper and look just as good on paper. No Islander skater looked better than Anthony Beauvillier in the qualifying round and all three of them play on a power-play unit that Trotz often throws out first.

Defensemen

Cale Makar — COL ($6,000)

Makar was pretty quiet in the round-robin but now that the games matter, the Avalanche offence should be firing on all cylinders and Makar pairs great with COL1. It’s an expensive stack but you can easily fit it with NYI2. Makar still had eight shots in three games while playing over 22 minutes per game, with the majority of that coming with MacKinnon on the ice. You could go down to Samuel Girard ($3,800) but Makar has a much high ceiling.

Dmitri Orlov — WSH ($4,400)

Orlov is a terrific play if John Carlson remains out. Monitor Carlson’s status during warmups because he’s listed as a game-time decision. Orlov has moved to the top power-play with Carlson out and played over 26 minutes per game in the round-robin. He’s good for a couple of shots and could pick up a point and/or a shot-block bonus as well.

Devon Toews — NYI ($4,000)

The best play on the Islanders’ blueline is Ryan Pulock ($5,500) but Toews is fine for $1,500 cheaper. Toews’ floor is nowhere near as sturdy as Pulock’s because he doesn’t shoot often but he isn’t afraid to block a shot, plays a ton and picked up an assist in all four games vs. the Panthers. Toews also pairs perfectly with NYI2, as he quarterbacks the power-play that features all three of them.

Goalies

Carter Hart — PHI ($8,000)

Hart was excellent in the round-robin, going 2-0 while stopping 57 of 59 shots (.966) in his two starts. Now he draws the best matchup on the slate and should outplay Carey Price while guiding the Flyers to a 1-0 series lead. In his brief career, Hart is 2-2 with a 2.85 GAA and .913 SV% in two games vs. the Flyers.