NHL DFS Core Plays March 22nd: Top DraftKings & FanDuel Picks
Welcome to the NHL DFS core plays! You will see three tiered options for DraftKings, and FanDuel every night that there are three or more games. Otherwise, you are still getting the same great top plays and the Discord chat is still open for all of your questions. Don't forget to check out our NHL daily projections, the NHL DFS lineup generator, today's NHL betting odds, and NHL starting lines. Have fun and let's make some money together today!
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Pittsburgh @ Colorado 8pm ET on TNT
Just two games today for NHL DFS but let's start in this matchup with the forwards! Nathan MacKinnon is the top tier option at center at 9.5k which is steep but the matchup is prime for him and most of the Colorado offense. The Penguins are allowing 3.6 goals per game over the last 10 road games and the Avalanche offense is nearly topping 4 goals per game in that same game span. MacKinnon is over 20 DFS points in 5 of the last 7 games too. Another option at center is Sidney Crosby and Evgeni Malkin but the matchup isn't good at all. Colorado allowing the 5th fewest points to centers this season. In a normal slate I would fade them but since its so small they are under consideration. Flyer play in this contest would be J.T. Compher but the production just hasn't been there.
As for the wingers in this contest the top names are playable, most of all Mikko Rantanen who has a goal in 5 straight games heading into tonight. Jake Guentzel is another play, usually a safe floor of 10+ DFS points on any given night. Valeri Nichuskin is the wild card for Colorado but with all the injuries he may be asked to do more and that could benefit those who play him tonight. They only other winger I want for Pittsburgh is Rickard Rakell, he has 4 goals in the last 6 games and always gets his shots on goal. On the lower end take a look at Denis Malgin tonight, he is on the top line for Colorado and coming off a 3 point game.
On the defense and goalie side here, Cale Makar is day to day so he may not play which is a big shot to the slate. That really leaves 3 options for this game, Kris Letang, Devon Toews and Bowen Byram. Byram is the most like Makar if you want a plug and play but Toews is safer and on the ice a ton. For goalies I will play Alexandar Georgiev and no Tristian Jarry for me till he gets it together again.
Arizona @ Edmonton 10:30pm ET on TNT
Second game on the slate and the late night hammer more than likely. I like this game way more for DFS tonight, considering Arizona just played last night and could be a sacrificial lamb to Connor McDavid. Let's talk about those centers real quick. You can play McDavid and Leon Draisaitl all day long, no questions at all. If you want to save cash I am looking at Barrett Hayton on the Arizona side at 4.4k. Hayton has had some big games lately and is over 13 DFS points in 6 of the last 7 games including a 43.3 point banger of a night.
On the wings tonight are a few good options too! Hyman is the most expensive but the production has really lacked so he's not a must play. Clayton Keller is the top choice for Arizona at 6.4k on DK and has really played well in March. He has 8 total goals in 11 games this month to go along with 11 assists. Then we have Evander Kane who is always interesting but burns us all the time. Last 2 games he has 4.3 DFS points and 36 DFS points. Which one are we getting? I have not a clue. Ryan Nugent-Hopkins brings the consistency that Kane does not at a cheaper tag. He is consistently over double digit DFS points and plays a lot, you can't go wrong with him. Outside of that I take dart throws on Lawson Crouse for Arizona and Warren Foegele for Edmonton.
Defense and goalie should be quick here but Darnell Nurse, Juuso Valimaki and Mattias Ekholm are the names you want to know. Ekholm is coming off of two massive games of 30.1 and 22.1 DFS points thanks to 5 total points and Valimaki has very productive since Arizona traded all their blue line at the deadline. For goalies I'll stick with whoever the Oilers end up starting, Stuart Skinner, hopefully. In big field GPPs I can't take the chance on a backup for Arizona sorry. I would rather play Jarry for the Penguins.
Player News
Dolphins signed No. 13 overall pick DT Kenneth Grant to a four-year contract.
ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler reports that Grant will sign his contract today. The former Michigan defensive tackle is expected to fill a major void left by Christian Wilkins, who left for the Raiders in the 2024 offseason. Grant totaled 32 tackles, three sacks, and seven TFLs in his final season at Michigan and excelled at stopping the run while also generating 27 pressures in his final season, per PFF.
Daulton Varsho picked up three hits, three RBI and a homer in a win over the Angels on Thursday.
Varsho has only played in seven games this year, but they’ve been seven good ones. He’s homered three times already, and his slugging percentage is a remarkable — and entirely unsustainable — .727 over 22 at-bats. Varsho has been a mediocre offensive player in his two seasons with the Blue Jays, but it’s possible at the age of 28 he’s having a breakout campaign. Far from a guarantee, but possible.
Taylor Ward hit a two-run homer in a loss to the Blue Jays on Thursday.
Ward, 31, gave the Angels a 2-0 lead with a two-run homer off Chris Bassitt in the first inning. He’s now gone deep in two of his last three games, and it ‘improves’ his slash to .181/.224/.391. Ward has been one of the most hot/cold players players in the sport over the last few years, so fantasy managers who can afford to make some roster moves may want to look at Ward while the going is good.
Vladimir Guerrero Jr. picked up three hits and scored twice in an 8-5 win over the Angels on Thursday.
Guerrero also drew a walk. It gives the first baseman multiple hits in back-to-back games, and it’s the third time in May that he’s reached that mark. That’s helped raise his average from .268 to .295, and the only thing fantasy managers can be disappointed with is his .432 slugging percentage. That number should continue to climb as the season unfolds, but Vladdy Jr. has had some inconsistent seasons when it comes to power production.
Chad Green picked up his first save of 2025 with a scoreless ninth against the Angels on Thursday.
Green got the save after Jeff Hoffman worked in back-to-back games — and struggled — in the first two contests against the Angels. He struck out two and looked the part while needing just nine pitches to get through the inning. Hoffman should remain the closer, but Green is on his tail if the struggles were to continue.
Chris Bassitt allowed five runs — four earned — while working six-plus innings against the Angels on Thursday while picking up a win.
Bassitt allowed three runs over the first two innings on a pair of homers, but settled down over his next four frames. He came out to work the seventh, but ended up being charged for two more runs after leaving the contest. The 36-year-old veteran has forged a 3.35 ERA and outstanding 49/8 K/BB ratio over the first quarter of the season, but this wasn’t him at his best. He’ll get the Rays next week if the rotation order stays the same for Toronto.