Tueday's three-game NHL slate is loaded with top-tier scorers. 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 October 10th

DFS Lineup Construction Thoughts

It's opening night for the NHL and we will get our first look at Connor Bedard, as he faced Sidney Crosby and the Penguins who should look quite different with the addition of Erik Karlsson. The Penguins are likely to be a popular pick as Chicago is likely to still be a work in progress all over the ice.  So while I don't really see any issues with buying into the hype around Bedard, but I also wouldn't lose sight of the fact that there is a top 10 player in the league lining up against him in Crosby who should be able to take full advantage of the young Bedard. We should also be sure to go looking for value from Seattle, who was a 5 team in goals scored last year, as well as Nashville, who will be facing a Tampa Bay team that is without Andrei Vasilevskiy and will go to Jonas Johansson who has played 14 NHL games over the last two years and hasn't looked great in those games.

Recommended DFS Starting Goalies

Top Options for Saves

Petr Mrazek vs Pittsburgh Penguins

Jusse Saros vs Tampa Bay Lightning

Philip Grubbauer vs Vegas Golden Knights

Best Odds for a Win

Jonas Johansson vs Nashville Predators

Tristan Jarry vs Chicago Blackhawks

Adin Hill vs Seattle Kraken

Favorite Goalies to Use for DFS Lineups

Juuse Saros, G, Nashville Predators

Saros is the best goalie playing tonight, and you are going to get him at a discount. Yes I know that Saros is a goalie who has traditionally started slow, and yes I know that Tampa Bay still has Nikita Kucherov. I think this is a game the Preds and in DFS the win counts for a lot.

Tristan Jarry, G, Pittsburgh Penguins

This should be a game that the Penguins are up for facing the newest next big thing in Connor Bedard. There could be an adjustment period defensively that will come with having Erik Karlsson on the blue line, but all-in-all this should be a soft matchup for the Penguins on opening night facing the worst team in the league from the previous year.

Philipp Grubauer, G, Seattle Kraken

I don't love Grubauer, or any of Seattle's other options, but I think Grubauer gives you a good chance to get a win at a relatively low price, and I also wouldn't discount the how hard it is to play after you have a long delay to start the game, as we will tonight with Vegas raising their Stanley Cup banner.

Recommended DFS Skaters

Highest Expected Goal Totals 

Pittsburgh Penguins vs Petr Mrazek (4.1)

Tampa Bay Lightning vs Juuse Saros (3.7)

Vegas Golden Knights vs Philipp Grubauer (3.7)

Favorite Skaters to Use for DFS Lineups

Sidney Crosby, C, Pittsburgh Penguins

While we would all agree that Crosby isn't getting any younger, I think this is a game where he could look like he has had a drink from the fountain of youth. He will get to start the season against the league's next big thing in Connor Bedard, and Crosby will likely be tasked with slowing him down. That could be a challenge defensively for Crosby, but nowhere near the struggle that Bedard will face going against the future HOF'er who should be able to physically dominate him both in the face-off circle, in the corners and in front of the net. Look for Crosby to have a big game tonight. 

Ryan Donato W, Chicago Blackhawks

If we are going to buy in on the hype of Bedard then we should also be buying in on the value of Donato who is going to skate with him 5 on 5 and see time on the second power play unit. If you have the money, you can also look at Taylor Hall whichhas a decent price and also gets the PP1 time, but I know I'm willing to buy in on the upside of Donato today, especially at his near minimum price. 

Luke Evangelista, W, Nashville Predators

Evangelist had a nice start to his career last year with the Preds and started to establish himself as a part of this team's core moving forward. If he is able to maintain his 13 percent shooting percentage or better it then he should have a very nice year. For today's matchup, he is reasonably priced, and he should see good offensive opportunities on the top power play and likely seeing 16 minutes or better tonight. Let's also not forget he is facing Jonas Johanson who has rarely looked good in his NHL career. 

Mikhail Sergachev, D, Tampa Bay Lightning

Sergachev is a bonafide three bonus contender on DK. He is going to get the top power play time again this season and he will block shots, as well as never being afraid to shoot. Expect his price to only go up from where it currently is he continues to fill in more and more of the space that used to be held by Victor Hedman.


 

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