NHL DFS Playbook December 4: Top DraftKings and FanDuel Picks
Published: Dec 04, 2023
Monday's six-game NHL slate is loaded with top-tier scorers featuring a great matchup as Jason Robertson and the Dallas Stars face Nikita Kucherov and the Tampa Bay Lightning. 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 4th
DFS Lineup Construction Thoughts
Based on the Vegas numbers we should expect a lot of low-scoring games today. There isn't a single team with an expected goal total of four or higher. With that said, there are four teams (St. Louis, Tampa Bay, Carolina, and Montreal) at the bottom of the league in goal allowed over the last two weeks, so don't be too surprised if there are some high-scoring games. I would look at Dallas in particular as a team to put some weight behind. The Stars have averaged four goals per game over the last two weeks while Tampa has really struggled. They gave up eight goals to the Stars on Saturday, and they have given up four goals or more in five of their last eight games.
Recommended DFS Starting Goalies,
Top Options for Saves
Tristan Jarry vs Philadelphia Flyers
Laurent Brossoit vs Carolina Hurricanes
Scott Wedgewood vs Tampa Bay Lightning
Best Odds for a Win
Logan Thompson vs St. Louis Blues
Joey Daccord vs Montreal Canadiens
Alex Nedeljkovic vs Philadelphia Flyers
Favorite Goalies to Use for DFS Lineups
Alex Nedeljkovic, G, Pittsburgh Penguins
I was a little surprised to see that the Flyers have the most shots on goal per game over the last two weeks at 37.2 while scoring less than two goals per game. If this continues you should be able to get lots of value from Nedeljkovic today.
Scott Wedgewood, G, Dallas Stars
With Dallas blowing out Tampa Bay on Saturday I would look for the Lightning to come out fast and put a lot of shots on goal. Wedgewood has played great on the road this season, so if he can help get the Stars through the early game he should be in a good spot to get the win and make lots of saves doing it.
Logan Thompson, G, Vegas Golden Knights
Thompson has been very good at home this season. He has a 0.938 save percentage in his home games, and while he is facing a Blues team that has started to score, I think this should be a challenge that Thompson is up to. He is my choice for cash games today.
Recommended DFS Skaters
Highest Expected Goal Totals
Vegas Golden Knights vs Jordan Binnington(3.9)
Seattle Kraken vs Sam Montembeault (3.6)
Pittsburgh Penguins vs Carter Hart (3.5)
Favorite Skaters to Use for DFS Lineups
Jack Eichel, C, Vegas Golden Knights
Coming into today's games Eichel has seven points in the last week. This is a good matchup against the Blues who are giving up 4.33 goals per game over the last two weeks. I wouldn't be afraid to pay up for Eichel today.
Jason Robertson, W, Dallas Stars
Robertson has points in five straight games, but a quarter of the way into the season his goals and his shots are way down from the last two years. Maybe today is the day when he will get back to shooting the puck more.
Oliver Bjorkstrand, W, Seattle Kraken
With Seattle facing Montreal today, there is a good opportunity for them to score some goals. Bjorkstrand has five shots or more in his last two games and has been one of Seattle's best players all season long.
Alex Pietrangelo, D, Vegas Golden Knights
Pietrangelo is always a player who can get multiple bonuses for you. He shoots and blocks shots, and he will see the majority of the powerplay time as well for Vegas. Tonight he should be in a good place to get points as well which is nice as well.
Player Pool
| $ Tier | C | W | D | G |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| High |  Jack Eichel  $9,400 |  Jason Robertson $6,800 | Alex Pietrangelo $6,800 |  Logan Thompson $8,600 |
| Medium | Matt Duchene $6,100 |  Andrei Svechnikov $5,500 | Miro Heiskanen $5,600 |  Scott Wedgewood $8,200 |
| Low |  Morgan Frost $4,600 |  Oliver Bjorkstrand $5,800 |  Cam York $4,000 |  Alex Nedeljkovic $7,900 |
Stacks
| Stars | Roope Hintz | Jason Robertson | Miro Heiskanen |
 DraftKings | 6300 | 6500 | 5400 |
| Fanduel | 7600 | 6800 | 5600 |
| Kraken | Oliver Bjorkstrand | Eeli Tolvanen | Vince Dunn |
| DraftKings | 4700 | 4800 | 4600 |
| Fanduel | 5800 | 5700 | 6200 |
| Golden Knights | Alex Pietrangelo | Jack Eichel | Mark Stone |
| DraftKings | 6700 | 8200 | 5600 |
| Fanduel | 6800 | 9400 | 6000 |
Player News
Dolphins signed No. 13 overall pick DT Kenneth Grant to a four-year contract.
ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler reports that Grant will sign his contract today. The former Michigan defensive tackle is expected to fill a major void left by Christian Wilkins, who left for the Raiders in the 2024 offseason. Grant totaled 32 tackles, three sacks, and seven TFLs in his final season at Michigan and excelled at stopping the run while also generating 27 pressures in his final season, per PFF.
Daulton Varsho picked up three hits, three RBI and a homer in a win over the Angels on Thursday.
Varsho has only played in seven games this year, but they’ve been seven good ones. He’s homered three times already, and his slugging percentage is a remarkable — and entirely unsustainable — .727 over 22 at-bats. Varsho has been a mediocre offensive player in his two seasons with the Blue Jays, but it’s possible at the age of 28 he’s having a breakout campaign. Far from a guarantee, but possible.
Taylor Ward hit a two-run homer in a loss to the Blue Jays on Thursday.
Ward, 31, gave the Angels a 2-0 lead with a two-run homer off Chris Bassitt in the first inning. He’s now gone deep in two of his last three games, and it ‘improves’ his slash to .181/.224/.391. Ward has been one of the most hot/cold players players in the sport over the last few years, so fantasy managers who can afford to make some roster moves may want to look at Ward while the going is good.
Vladimir Guerrero Jr. picked up three hits and scored twice in an 8-5 win over the Angels on Thursday.
Guerrero also drew a walk. It gives the first baseman multiple hits in back-to-back games, and it’s the third time in May that he’s reached that mark. That’s helped raise his average from .268 to .295, and the only thing fantasy managers can be disappointed with is his .432 slugging percentage. That number should continue to climb as the season unfolds, but Vladdy Jr. has had some inconsistent seasons when it comes to power production.
Chad Green picked up his first save of 2025 with a scoreless ninth against the Angels on Thursday.
Green got the save after Jeff Hoffman worked in back-to-back games — and struggled — in the first two contests against the Angels. He struck out two and looked the part while needing just nine pitches to get through the inning. Hoffman should remain the closer, but Green is on his tail if the struggles were to continue.
Chris Bassitt allowed five runs — four earned — while working six-plus innings against the Angels on Thursday while picking up a win.
Bassitt allowed three runs over the first two innings on a pair of homers, but settled down over his next four frames. He came out to work the seventh, but ended up being charged for two more runs after leaving the contest. The 36-year-old veteran has forged a 3.35 ERA and outstanding 49/8 K/BB ratio over the first quarter of the season, but this wasn’t him at his best. He’ll get the Rays next week if the rotation order stays the same for Toronto.