There are so many plays we could talk about with this 9-game slate, but we’ll try to narrow it down to a few to spotlight tonight. With ownership not being a huge issue, feel free to plug these guys into tournament lineups and/or cash-games. This is one of the last big nights of the NHL DFS season, so let’s try to go out on a high-note! Awesemo will be quoted first, and then I (Jake Hari/Tommienation1) will follow up with some analysis.
Top-Tier
Auston Matthews ($7,400 DK/$7,600 FD)
“Matthews gets one of the best matchups in the NHL against the Buffalo Sabres, and with the Leafs having one of the highest goal totals on the night, this is a perfect chance for him to get back to his playmaking ways.”
Matthews (“A” points grade) will get a favorable matchup at even-strength regardless of who he goes up against, and his line has been one of the best in league at creating scoring and high-danger chance this season. His team shouldn’t have a problem scoring goals here with their 3.9 total, and it’s going to be hard for the Sabres to keep a great playmaker like Matthews off the scoresheet tonight.
Alex Ovechkin ($7,900 DK/$8,800 FD)
“One of the best goal-scorers in the NHL against a Rangers’ defense that is having trouble defensively makes for a great candidate as a one-off.”
Of all players on the slate tonight, Ovechkin’s 25.2 individual Corsi For per 60 minutes (iCF/60) is the highest in the month of March. Meanwhile, his opponent, the Rangers, has allowed the most Corsi Against per 60 minutes (CA/60), 3rd-most Scoring Chances Against per 60 minutes (SCA/60), and 5th-most High-Danger Chances Against per 60 minutes in that same span. Ovechkin has some of the highest individual floor and upside on this slate, as it’s a great even-strength matchup, and he’ll get to set up in his office should the Caps get power-play chances.
Jeff Carter ($5,700 DK/$6,400 FD)
“Carter will avoid the Backlund line, and instead go up against the Monahan-and-Gaudreau-less Flames. The 3.4 goal total and -237 numbers for the Kings are evidence that their could be a bunch of goals scored here tonight.”
With Anze Kopitar glued to the Backlund line tonight on home ice, Carter (and his linemates Tobias Rieder and Tyler Toffoli) should have a lot of open ice against the Calgary depth lines. The Flames are missing Johnny Gaudreau and Sean Monahan tonight, so Carter will face the likes of Michael Ferland, Curtis Lazar, Nick Shore, and Chris Stewart, to name a few. He’s playing some of his best hockey of the season right now, posting 32 shot attempts and 22 individual Scoring Chances over his last five games. He’s one of the better raw point and value plays on the slate, which is reflected in Awesemo’s “B” DraftKings value grade.
Values
Valentin Zykov ($4,000 DK/$3,300 FD)
“The Hurricanes may be out of the playoffs, but they seem to have found something with Zykov-Aho-Teravainen, and their implied total is up almost a full goal on their season average.”
Most players are going to be in play when they’re skating with Sebastian Aho and Teuvo Teravainen, and Zykov is not an exception to that. In two games with them, he already has four points and seven shots on goal, and while we can’t expect him to post numbers like that over the long run, this is another great matchup against the Ottawa depth lines. Zykov is simply too cheap for his current situation, which is why he gets a “B” DraftKings value tonight.
Jeff Petry ($4,300 DK/$4,500 FD)
“Petry has played some big minutes over his last few games including power-play time on the top unit. Going up against a Red Wings team, Petry makes for a decent value on both sites.”
Petry is probably better suited for GPPs than cash-games tonight, but he’s seen at least 20 minutes in every game this month, and makes for a solid add-on if you’re stacking that Montreal top line. Top pairing and top power-play defensemen are usually tough to come by at this price, so take advantage of Petry at this price as an “A” FanDuel value.
Fire as always!