NHL DFS Core Plays March 22nd: Top DraftKings & FanDuel Picks
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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.