NHL DFS Playbook December 11: Top DraftKings and FanDuel Picks

Published: Dec 11, 2023
Monday's 4-game NHL slate is loaded with top-tier scorers featuring a great matchup as Bo Horvat and the New York Islanders face Auston Matthews and the Toronto Maple Leafs. We should expect lots of tight games with some great matchups out there, but expect some of the top scorers to shine through still. So, be sure to check in with our NHL DFS Tools, with the daily NHL projections, and our NHL lineup generator when building those lineups today to help you decide which players you should be targeting!
NHL DFS Playbook December 11th
DFS Lineup Construction Thoughts
As far as four-game slates go this is an interesting one. We don't have any high expected goal totals, but you can look at each matchup and find a path to four or more goals. Colorado provides the clearest path, as Nathan MacKinnon continues to play well, and is shooting the puck a lot, Bo Horvat has been hot as of late with six points in his last three games and Toronto continues to struggle to play at a high level consistently. Dallas has the highest expected goal total today, but they are playing a Detroit team that has proven they can score goals as well, and lastly Buffalo has Tage Thompson back, and they face an Arizona team that is hard to predict, but they have been scoring at a much greater pace this season than in previous years.
Recommended DFS Starting Goalies,
Top Options for Saves
Connor Ingram vs Buffalo Sabres
Ilya Sorokin vs Toronto Maple Leafs
Daniel Vladar vs Colorado Avalanche
Best Odds for a Win
Jake Oettinger vs Detroit Red Wings
Alexandar Georgiev vs Calgary Flames
Ilya Samsonov vs New York Islanders
Favorite Goalies to Use for DFS Lineups
Connor Ingram, G, Arizona Coyotes
Ingram is a player who should be in consideration for your GPP's. He will face a Sabres team that is averaging 36.7 shots per game over their last seven games, and the Coyotes are a team that isn't afraid to let their goalies face nearly 40 shots. That kind of upside is hard to pass on in a GPP.
Ville Husso, G, Detroit Red Wings
While Husso hasn't played great recently, he is priced in a way that he has a lot of upside. Detroit should be in this game with the Stars and they could certainly win as well and the win alone should be enough to get you to value at Husso's price.
Ilya Sorokin, G, New York Islanders
Sorokin has started to play much better as of late for the Islanders. He is coming off a 34-save win against the Kings, and this is a game that the Islanders can win at home, so don't be afraid to buy in on Sorkin.
Recommended DFS Skaters
Highest Expected Goal Totals
Colorado Avalanche vs Daniel Vladar (3.8)
Dallas Stars vs Ville Husso (3.6)
Buffalo Sabres vs Connor Ingram (3.5)
Favorite Skaters to Use for DFS Lineups
Bo Horvat, C, New York Islanders
Horvat comes into this game with points in five straight games and multi-point games in three of his last four games. He won't draw the same attention as the bigger names on this slate which makes him a great fit for GPP's.
Nathan MacKinnon, C, Colorado Avalanche
The attraction to MacKinnon is always the shots. His big games will come and go, but his shots are almost always there, which provides an ideal cash game floor if you can pay up for him. The Flames at home should be a good matchup for him to get points as well, so I would be willing to use him in all game types today.
Mason Marchment, W, Dallas Stars
Marchment has been very solid for the Stars as of late. He has a point in three of his last five games, and Detroit will likely be without Dylan Larkin today which is likely to help the Stars as well.
Noah Dobson D, New York Islanders
It shouldn't go unnoticed that Dobson is playing at a near point-per-game pace as a defenceman on an Islanders team that doesn't score a lot of goals. He shoots and blocks shots as well, which has given Dobson one of the best floors this season.
Player Pool
$ Tier | C | W | D | G |
---|---|---|---|---|
High | ![]() | ![]() | ![]() | ![]() |
Medium | ![]() | ![]() | ![]() | ![]() |
Low | ![]() | ![]() | ![]() | ![]() |
Stacks
Avalanche | Mikko Rantanen | Nathan MacKinnon | Bowen Byram |
![]() | 8100 | 9600 | 3800 |
![]() | 8900 | 10400 | 4100 |
Islanders | Noah Dobson | Mathew Barzal | Bo Horvat |
![]() | 7100 | 6700 | 6000 |
![]() | 8200 | 7200 | 7300 |
Player News
Zack Short was scratched from the lineup for Sunday’s game against the Mariners with left rib soreness.
Short was hit by a pitch during Saturday’s game. It’ll be Mauricio Dubón taking over at shortstop in his place.
Shelby Miller (forearm) has progressed to throwing bullpen sessions.
It’s a bit unclear how close Miller is to making it back to Arizona’s bullpen, but it’s an encouraging development that he’s already progressed to throwing bullpen sessions. He’ll need to face hitters in a live batting practice session before he’s cleared to kick off a rehab assignment. There’s a decent chance he’s back at some point in August.
Dodgers manager Dave Roberts said Sunday that Max Muncy (knee) could return in a couple weeks.
“It’s coming a lot quicker than we had hoped or had expected,” added Roberts. Muncy progressed to swinging a bat earlier this week and appears relatively close to making it back to Los Angeles’ suddenly struggling lineup in the near future. There isn’t a definitive return timeline yet, but it’s theoretically possible Muncy could be back at some point in early August.
Nolan Schanuel made an early exit from Sunday’s game against the Phillies after being hit by a pitch on the left wrist.
Schanuel left the contest in the opening frame shortly after being hit by an offering from Phillies starter Ranger Suárez during his first at-bat. The 23-year-old first baseman will presumably undergo further evaluation and testing to determine whether he suffered any fractures. There should be an update on his status shortly.
Diamondbacks activated 2B Ketel Marte from the restricted list.
Marte remains out of Arizona’s lineup for Sunday’s series finale against the Cardinals. The 31-year-old franchise cornerstone has rejoined the Diamondbacks following a two-game absence after his home was burglarized during the All-Star break, according to the Scottsdale Police Department. There’s a strong possibility he’s back in the lineup for Monday’s series opener against the Astros.
Diamondbacks designated INF Sergio Alcántara for assignment.
Alcantára’s brief stint with Arizona lasted only two games as he’s been jettisoned to make room for Ketel Marte to be activated from the restricted list.