NHL DFS Playbook May 12: Top DraftKings and FanDuel Picks
Published: May 12, 2023
Friday's two-game NHL DFS slate is loaded with top-tier scorers as the conference semifinals of the 2023 NHL Stanley Cup playoffs continue. The Florida Panthers will try to eliminate the Toronto Maple Leafs tonight, but to do so they will need to get production from the likes of Matthew Tkachuk, Aleksander Barkov, and Sam Reinhart as the Maple Leafs should get a boost from the crowd at home today. Connor McDavid and the Edmonton Oilers head back to Vegas looking to keep the momentum going. Both teams will be down defensemen with Darnell Nurse and Alex Pietrangelo suspended, but that should only add value to other players like Shea Theodore. As you build daily fantasy hockey lineups for these NHL Playoffs matchups, be sure to check out our NHL daily projections, NHL DFS lineup generator, and other NHL daily fantasy tools. Let's get into our NHL DFS picks and top plays on DraftKings and FanDuel for today's Stanley Cup Playoffs slate!
NHL DFS Playbook May 12th
DFS Lineup Construction Thoughts
I don't think too much has changed in what the winning formula is going to look like today. I think you want to pick a goalie from the Toronto/Florida game, and then load up on your preferred team in the Vegas/Edmonton game. With how that series has gone, I can see a Jack Eichel/Jonathan Marchessault/Shea Theodore stack paying dividends, but if you want to roll with Edmonton's high-end players and stacking Connor McDavid/Leon Draisaitl/Evan Bouchard, I can see how that can work too. The odds makers like this game to have the most goals and I do too so I would follow that trend today.
Recommended DFS Starting Goalies
Top Options for Saves
Stuart Skinner vs Vegas Golden Knights
Joseph Woll vs Florida Panthers
Best Odds for a Win
Joseph Woll vs Florida Panthers
Stuart Skinner vs Vegas Golden Knights
Favorite Goalies to Use for DFS Lineups
Sergei Bobrovsky, G, Florida Panthers
I fully expect Bobrovsky to make the most saves today. Toronto should get a jolt from being at home, and with that should come with more shots on goal. Bob has been a pleasant surprise so far in these playoffs as he is yet to have a bad game. He is my top choice for goalies today.
Adin Hill G, Vegas Golden Knights
Neither Edmonton nor Vegas have played back-to-back good games in this series. If you expect that trend to continue, and I do, then Hill should be in a good place to get the win today, and he won't come at a high cost either which lets you get a few top players in, especially if you're not taking McDavid or Draisaitl.
Joseph Woll, G, Toronto Maple Leafs
Woll was a difference maker for Toronto in game four, stopping 24 of the 25 shots he faced in a tight game. If he can provide a similar performance today he will give the Leafs a fighting chance at keeping this series going.
Recommended DFS Skaters
Highest Expected Goal Totals
Toronto Maple Leafs vs Sergei Bobrovsky
Vegas Golden Knights vs Stuart Skinner
Favorite Skaters to Use for DFS Lineups
Connor McDavid, C, Edmonton Oilers
While Edmonton has struggled to have good games on consecutive nights, McDavid is still incredibly safe with multiple points in three of the four games in this series so far.
William Nylander, W, Toronto Maple Leafs
Nylander has been steadily putting shots on goal, and it finally paid off in the last game when he scored. He has four shots or more in three of the four games in this series and I would expect Toronto to put a lot of shots on goal today at home.
Jonathan Marchessault, W, Vegas Golden Knights
I am going to stay the course on Marchessault. He now has three straight games with five shots or more, and it seems like it's every other game that one team scores five goals or more.
Shea Theodore, D, Vegas Golden Knights
With Alex Pietrangelo out for this game, Theodore should pick up the extra minutes on the ice, and more specifically the powerplay. At Theodore's price, he is worth the gamble on his upside.
Dominate your NHL DFS contests today with our Player Projections, Lineup Generator & DFS Tools
Player Pool
| $ Tier | C | W | D | G |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| High |  Connor McDavid  $9,800 |  Matthew Tkachuk $7,200 |  Joseph Woll $8,200 | |
| Leon Draisaitl $8,300 | ||||
 Jack Eichel $6,900 | ||||
| Medium | Sam Bennett $5,100 | William Nylander $5,700 | Evan Bouchard $5,200 | Adin Hill $7,600 |
 Jonathan Marchessault $4,900 | Shea Theodore $4,400 | |||
| Low | William Karlsson $3,500 | Eetu Luostarinen $3,000 | Brayden McNabb $3,500 | Sergei Bobrovsky $7,400 |
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.