The following NHL DFS Spotlight Stacks were selected by Awesemo.com writer Chris Wassel. For more analysis on the slate, check out the Projections page as well as Awesemo’s NHL Player and Stack Rankings. Subscribe to the Awesemo.com YouTube Channel to get notifications when “Hit The Ice” goes live! For more details on our NHL articles and videos, check out our NHL Content Schedule! Since this article is released very early in the day, it will be updated with notes if we get line-changes throughout the afternoon and evening.
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STL 1 (Schenn-O’Reilly-Tarasenko)
Stacking against the New Jersey Devils becomes a good idea even in a sludge matchup. What is a sludge matchup? Simply, NHL wise it is a meeting between two teams on no rest. This trio has created a ton of chances without much to show for it. In their 239 minute sample, they have generated 70 Corsi For per 60, 35.8 Scoring Chances For per 60, and 18.5 High-Danger Chances per 60. St. Louis seeing the most time against the Travis Zajac line which is steady but was cratered in their last meeting. The Blues trio generates 4.5 goals per 60 while allowing just 1.5.
The top line possesses some correlation on the second power-play unit. The idea is this St. Louis line is cheaper than early in the season and can do more damage (price per point rate). St. Louis’s first line will not be as high-owned so this is about balance and spending elsewhere. This spotlight stack yields better points per dollar value. Edmonton’s top-line is quite expensive but useable. After that, DFS NHL players have to go more frugal.
OTT 1 (Tkachuk-Pageau-Veronneau)
The risk is high here but if this top line stays together, it can create matchup problems for Toronto everywhere. This stack prices at around $12,000 which is extremely cost-effective. Also, the line offers full correlation but on the second power-play unit. They have been successful against Toronto of late including a six-goal outburst against them. Toronto allows nearly 3.8 goals per game in their last eight contests, while their penalty kill is 79% on the road. Ottawa’s power-play converts at nearly a 20% conversion rate. You can add Thomas Chabot to join in on the power-play point potential, should you feel so inclined. Toronto’s second line will be popular as they generate a ton of numbers — including 79 Corsi For per 60, 17.4 high-danger chances per 60, and nearly 49 scoring chances per 60.
SAN 1 (Meier-Couture-Nyquist)
Joe Pavelski appears ready to play tonight but will be a decision left closer to game time. A matchup against VGK 1 is about as good as it gets in hockey and Couture is going to be on the top power-play unit. Gustav Nyquist would benefit heavily from the Pavelski news. San Jose and Vegas both have struggled to score goals at times over the last five contests but San Jose gets a Vegas team coming off no rest. If Pavelski happens to play then a pivot to the second San Jose line is a prudent idea as Tomas Hertl and Evander Kane created much havoc in previous matchups. Finally, their game against Chicago showed how Kane and Hertl fed off of each other. VGK1 is one to watch as well as their speed will cause problems against San Jose’s less than agile defense and goaltending.
