NHL DFS Playbook December 20: Top DraftKings and FanDuel Picks
Published: Dec 20, 2023
Wednesday's 3-game NHL slate is a bit smaller than normal so we just have to be that much more accurate with our decision making! 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 20th
Recommended DFS Starting Goalies,
Top Options for Saves
Joey Daccord vs Los Angeles Kings
Laurent Brossoit vs Detroit Red Wings
Semyon Varlamov vs Washington Capitals
Best Odds for a Win
Laurent Brossoit vs Detroit Red Wings
Charlie Lindgren vs New York Islanders
Favorite Goalies to Use for DFS Lineups
Charlie Lindgren, G, Washington Capitals
The Islanders played last night in a win against the Oilers but have a quick turnaround against a pesky team in the Capitals. Islanders are just 6-7 straight up on the road and their production in goal scoring dips as well. I think the Capitals win this game and in a small slate you must pick a winning goaltender.
Laurent Brossoit, G, Winnipeg Jets
Playing a goalie against the Red Wings has been a painful endeavor for many this season as they have scored 3.7 goals per game on the road the last month but I have a feeling the Jets goalie will be widely under owned for a starter that should get a win. The Wings also pile on lots of shots this season so the floor is safe if he can allow 3 or less goals.
Recommended DFS Skaters
Highest Expected Goal Totals
Winnipeg Jets vs James Reimer (3.71)
Los Angeles Kings vs Joey Daccord (3.47)
Washington Capitals vs Semyon Varlamov (3.41)
Favorite Skaters to Use for DFS Lineups
Dylan Strome, C, Washington Capitals
Not the most sexy name but in a 3 game slate you got to go digging around and Strome is solid as they come right now with 18 points on the season. He is also riding a 4 game point streak and the Islanders allow the most DFS points to centers this season.
Nikolaj Ehlers, W, Winnipeg Jets
No Kyle Connor in the lineup right now for the Jets so Ehlers is stepping up to the top line in a great matchup for wingers! The Red Wings allow the 7th most DFS points to left wingers this season and Ehlers has 7 points over his last 3 games, keep that streak going!
Trevor Moore, W, Los Angeles Kings
The man is on a heater right now and can't be ignored with 18 shots over the last 3 games and a goal in the last 2 games! Seattle in average against wingers but they are swiss cheese on defense in general so fade them and put Moore in the lineup tonight.
Neal Pionk, D, Winnipeg Jets
Something to keep an eye on but Josh Morrissey missed practice yesterday after taking a puck to the face and may be out tonight. If he is then expect Pionk to pull increased minutes and see powerplay one time. That's enough to make the 3.6k price tag on DK worth it and the Wings are really bad against defenseman this season.
Player Pool
| $ Tier | C | W | D |
|---|---|---|---|
| High |  Mark Scheifele  $8,100 |  Adrian Kempe $7,500 |  John Carlson $6,100 |
| Medium | Anze Kopitar $7,300 | Trevor Moore $7,400 |  Moritz Seider $6,300 |
| Dylan Strome $6,400 |  Nikolaj Ehlers $6,600 | ||
| Low | Adam Lowry $4,200 | Quinton Byfield $5,900 | Neal Pionk $4,400 |
| Connor McMichael $4,400 |  Kyle Palmieri $5,600 | Alexander Romanov $4,600 |
Stacks
| Jets | Neal Pionk | Mark Scheifele | Nikolaj Ehlers |
 DraftKings | 3600 | 7200 | 6200 |
| Fanduel | 4400 | 8100 | 6600 |
| Jets | Neal Pionk | Mark Scheifele | Nikolaj Ehlers |
| DraftKings | 3600 | 7200 | 6200 |
| Fanduel | 4400 | 8100 | 6600 |
Player News
Randy Vasquez worked 4 1/3 innings while allowing two runs and not factoring into the decision Friday against the Diamondbacks.
Vasquez issued four free passes, and that’s one of the main culprits for why he was only able to pitch into — and not complete — the fifth frame. He also allowed just one hit and struck out one, so he was once again fortunate to only allow those pair of runs. He’ll likely be the fifth starter for the Padres after the All-Star break.
Manny Machado went 3-for-5 with a solo homer in a 4-3 win for the Padres over the Diamondbacks on Thursday.
Machado swatted his 16th homer of the season with a solo blast off Eduardo Rodriguez. He also doubled and singled and is now up to 2,004 hits in his impressive career. Machado remains one of the best third baseman in the sport, and should be able to remain at that level for the foreseeable future.
Fernando Tatis Jr. went 2-for-4 with a homer and a walk in a win over the Diamondbacks on Thursday.
Tatis Jr. gave the Padres an early 2-1 lead in the third with a solo homer off Eduardo Rodriguez. The 26-year-old star also singled, and the three-reach game improves his slash to .262/.358/.450. It’s not the superstar level he was playing at to begin the year, but it’s far from unusable.
Robert Suarez allowed no runs while picking up a save Thursday against the Diamondbacks.
Eduardo Rodriguez went four innings while allowing four runs in a no-decision Friday against the Padres.
Taylor Ward went 2-for-4 with a homer in a loss to the Rangers on Thursday.