NHL DFS Playbook December 29: Top DraftKings and FanDuel Picks
Published: Dec 29, 2023
Friday's 9-game NHL slate is loaded with top-tier scorers featuring a great matchup as Auston Matthews and the Toronto Maple Leafs face Johnny Gaudreau and the Columbus Blue Jackets. 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 29th
DFS Lineup Construction Thoughts
In cash games, I would look to lean into the Maple Leafs and the Stars today. The last time Toronto faced Columbus there were 11 goals scored, and I wouldn't be too surprised if we saw similar fireworks today between those two teams. The Stars will face Chicago today, and they open the day with the highest expected goal total, so look to get some shares of Jason Robertson, Roope Hintz and company. In a GPP I would look to get some Columbus players at a discount such as Adam Fantilli, and Justin Danforth, and pay up for New Jersey's top players as Ottawa is yet to figure out how to play defence, and they are giving up more than four goals per game over the last two weeks.
Recommended DFS Starting Goalies,
Top Options for Saves
Elvis Merzlikins vs Toronto Maple Leafs
Jordan Binnington vs Colorado Avalanche
Joey Daccord vs Philadelphia Flyers
Best Odds for a Win
Scott Wedgewood vs Chicago Blackhawks
Ilya Samsonov vs Columbus Blue Jackets
Alexandar Georgiev vs St. Louis Blues
Favorite Goalies to Use for DFS Lineups
Ilya Sorokin, G, New York Islanders
With the Capitals scoring just 1.86 goals per game over the last two weeks, it makes Sorokin a great pick today, especially playing at home. I would also look for the Islanders to look much better today after being embarrassed by the Penguins in their last game.
John Gibson, G, Anaheim Ducks
There is certainly some risk to using any Ducks goalie, as the chances of getting the win are rarely high. However, Gibson has won each of his last two starts and has looked good doing it, putting up save percentages of 0.938 and 0.947 in those games. The Coyotes team he is facing is also not a team that scores a tonne of goals which makes Gibson a solid value pick in goal for GPP's.
Carter Hart G, Philadelphia Flyers
Hart continues to play well for the Flyers. His last start wasn't great against Detroit, but he has been stellar in four of his last five appearances with save percentages of 0.947 in those games. He will face a Seattle team that has struggled to score goals this season, so I would look for another solid performance from Hart today.
Recommended DFS Skaters
Highest Expected Goal Totals
Dallas Stars vs Petr Mrazek (4.0)
Toronto Maple Leafs vs Elvis Merzlikins (3.9)
New Jersey Devils vs Joonas Korpisalo (3.7)
Favorite Skaters to Use for DFS Lineups
Auston Matthews, C, Toronto Maple Leafs
Matthews has scored in seven of his last eight games. In the last game against the Blue Jackets, he has three points and nine shots! Matthews is as safe as any player today and he has a great matchup so I would look to try to use him wherever possible, and he would be a staple in my cash lineups.
Jason Robertson, W, Dallas Stars
It appears that Robertson has finally found his shot. He has five shots or more in three of his last four games, and he has a great matchup today against Chicago, one of the worst teams in the league. Robertson is both a GPP and a cash game play.
Justin Danforth, W, Columbus Blue Jackets
On most teams, Danforth would be a third or fourth liner, but on Columbus… he is on the top line and top powerplay. He has scored in back-to-back games and if you believe the Blue Jackets are going to be in another shootout with the Maple Leafs he could provide tremendous value.
Pavel Mintyukov D, Anaheim Ducks
Mintyukov is in a great place to provide value. His price is low, he has blocked three shots or more in back-to-back games, and he is on the Ducks' top powerplay, which has allowed him to get points in three of his last five games.
Player Pool
| $ Tier | C | W | D | G |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| High |  Auston Matthews  $10,500 |  Jason Robertson $7,800 |  Roman Josi $7,900 |  Ilya Sorokin $8,600 |
| Medium | Roope Hintz $7,000 |  Tyler Toffoli $6,300 |  Moritz Seider $6,400 |  Carter Hart $7,800 |
| Low |  Alexander Kerfoot $0 |  Justin Danforth $3,800 |  Pavel Mintyukov $4,200 | John Gibson $6,900 |
Stacks
| Blue Jackets | Justin Danforth | Johnny Gaudreau | Ivan Provorov |
 DraftKings | 3600 | 4000 | 4300 |
| Fanduel | 3800 | 5100 | 5100 |
| Maple Leafs | Auston Matthews | TJ Brodie | Mitch Marner |
| DraftKings | 10100 | 3400 | - |
| Fanduel | 10500 | 4000 | - |
| Devils | Jack Hughes | Tyler Toffoli | Luke Hughes |
| DraftKings | 9600 | 6000 | 4100 |
| Fanduel | 10100 | 6300 | 4500 |
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.