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
Orioles manager Brandon Hyde told reporters that Zach Eflin (lat) is likely to return and start Sunday against the Angels
It was assumed that Eflin would be back this weekend, but now we have a concrete date. The 31-year-old may not be at full strength after throwing fewer than 60 pitches in his rehab start, but the Orioles feel confident enough to have the right-hander back on the bump for the series finale against the Angels.
Riley Greene is not in the lineup for the first game of a doubleheader against the Rockies on Thursday.
Greene will get a break and likely return to the lineup for the second game of the twin-billing. Zach McKinstry will get the start in left field while Greene rests.
Panthers released TE Jordan Matthews.
Matthews converted to tight end a few years ago and hasn’t made much noise at the position. The change has, however, likely kept him in the league for a few more seasons. He appeared in four games with the Panthers last year but didn’t record any stats on offense. The Panthers also released or waived WR Dax Milne, C Andrew Raym, and TE Colin Granger.
Yu Darvish (elbow) is facing live hitters on Thursday.
Darvish has been throwing bullpen sessions and traveled to the team’s complex in Arizona to face live hitters on Thursday. It will be his first time facing live batters since a spring training appearance on March 13th. He will likely need a few sessions like this before the Padres can map out a rehab appearance timeline for him.
Adael Amador is starting at second base and batting ninth for the Rockies on Thursday.
Amador has now started three of the last four games at second base for the Rockies. He’s gone just 7-for-43 this season with 15 strikeouts in 16 games. He’s just 22 years old, so there is plenty of time for him to adjust to the MLB level, but he doesn’t need to be on redraft radars right now.
Jackson Holliday is playing second base and batting second for the Orioles on Thursday against the Twins.
With Cedric Mullins sitting out on Thursday, Gunnar Henderson will bat lead off, and Holliday will jump up from sixth in the order to second. Holliday is riding a hot streak right now, and the Orioles are taking advantage. This is likely just a one-game sample with no Mullins or Adley Rutschman in the lineup, but Rutschman has been struggling, so perhaps it could become a more permanent spot in the lineup for Holliday moving forward.