NHL DFS Picks Today: Victor Hedman, Lightning Get Miserable Montreal Special Teams

There is a five-game slate on Wednesday night, with a couple of games on TNT and three fillers, offering some great options to sift through for NHL DFS. Let’s examine the best plays for Wednesday on DraftKings and FanDuel NHL DFS today. Of course, be sure to check Stokastic’s NHL DFS rankings and NHL DFS projections.

NHL DFS Picks for DraftKings

Stack 1 – Calgary Flames

(C) Mikael Backlund: $4,800

(W) Andrew Mangiapane: $3,400

(D) Noah Hanifin: $5,300

Martin Jones is projected to take the crease for Seattle and could be a good fade candidate to target with a Flames stack. Through 23 appearances between the pipes, he has a troubling .888 save percentage (save percentage) and ranks 24th among qualified goalies in goals saved above expected per 60 minutes (GSAx/60) at five-on-five.

A Flames stack consisting of Mikael Backlund, Andrew Mangiapane and Noah Hanifin is a great build for this game. Head coach Darryl Sutter continues to mix up the lines, attempting to create a spark offensively as the team continues to adjust to the large roster turnover from the offseason. Recently, Sutter created the Mangiapane-Backlund-Blake Coleman line, and it has thrived. Through 52 minutes played together this season, that line boasts an incredible 76% expected goal percentage, and yesterday it produced Calgary’s lone goal against Edmonton.

Backlund loves to shoot the puck, which always makes him a viable DFS option. Backlund is averaging 10.5 fantasy points per game over his last 14. Additionally, Backlund and Mangiapane both skate on the second power play alongside defenseman Noah Hanifin. This power play should feast against the Kraken, a team that struggles mightily on special teams. Entering this game, Seattle ranks 17th in the league in penalty minutes and second-to-last in penalty kill percentage.

Even if Hanifin fails to find the scoresheet, he is typically a solid play in DFS due to his willingness to block shots. Over his last 15 games, he is averaging roughly 10 fantasy points per game.

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Stack 2 – Tampa Bay Lightning

(C) Brayden Point: $7,400

(W) Brandon Hagel: $5,400

(D) Victor Hedman: $6,000

Through 23 starts this season, Jake Allen is 9-13-1 with a .900 save percentage and 3.26 goals against average (GAA). He ranks 26th among starting goaltenders in GSAx/60 at five-on-five. This poor play is likely to continue against Tampa Bay, a team against which Allen has struggled. Over his last seven starts against the Lightning, Allen is 2-5 with a .882 save percentage and 3.43 GAA.

In front of Allen is a weak blue line that ranks just 25th in the league in expected goals against per 60 minutes (xGA/60) at five-on-five. For the Lightning, Brayden Point and Brandon Hagel both skate on the first line alongside Nikita Kucherov, which is one of the stronger lines in hockey. Through 325 minutes played together, the Hagel-Point-Kucherov line boasts a 55% expected goal percentage.

Point has been on a tear throughout December, and the lowly Canadiens will not stop that trend. He boasts a commanding 14.8 fantasy points per game across his last eight games.

Over that same stretch, Hagel is averaging 12.3 fantasy points per game. Additionally, Point and Hagel both skate on the first power play alongside defenseman Victor Hedman, and the Canadiens struggle mightily on special teams. Entering this game, Montreal ranks third-to-last in the league in penalty minutes and 20th in penalty kill percentage. Plus, Hedman is averaging 10.7 fantasy points per game over his last eight.

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Stack 3 – Vegas Golden Knights

(W) Michael Amadio: $3,600

(W) Mark Stone: $5,700

It has been a tough campaign for John Gibson, who is 5-14-3 with a .896 save percentage and 3.99 GAA. He ranks 19th among starting goaltenders in GSAx/60 at five-on-five. In front of Gibson is arguably the worst defense in hockey, as the Ducks rank dead last in the league in xGA/60 at five-on-five.

Due to the long list of injuries currently plaguing Vegas, Michael Amadio has stepped up to the first line to skate alongside Mark Stone and Chandler Stephenson. This line boasts a 64% expected goal percentage through 44 minutes played together. Amadio has taken full advantage of his increased role, potting a goal in each of his last three games while averaging 19.8 fantasy points. Over that same stretch, Stone has three goals, three assists and a dominant 25.7 fantasy points per game.

These two guys also skate together on the first power play, which should be in store for a monster game, as the Ducks rank second-to-last in the league in penalty minutes and third-to-last in penalty kill percentage.

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Goaltender

Casey DeSmith (PIT vs DET): $8,100

Detroit is third-to-last in the league in expected goals for per 60 minutes (xGF/60) at five-on-five. It has been a tough stretch offensively for the Red Wings, who are averaging just 2.4 goals over their last seven games. This is good news for Casey DeSmith, who has thrived in the backup role for the Penguins. Across 11 starts, he boasts a .914 save percentage and 2.83 GAA.

DeSmith should expect another strong performance against the Red Wings, a team he has dominated in his career. He boasts a commanding .930 save percentage and 1.92 GAA through two career outings against Detroit.

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