Goalie update (4:30 PM ET): Edmonton confirmed Tristan Jarry, not Devon Levi. The Rangers confirmed Joonas Korpisalo, Pittsburgh confirmed Sergei Murashov, Calgary confirmed Devin Cooley and Utah is expected to start Sebastian Cossa. The goalie picks below are updated. The stacks and skater picks do not change.
Cutter Gauthier has the best chance on the slate at five or more shots on goal, about 39%, and he gets a Nashville team that played last night and then flew to Anaheim. Gauthier leads our main stack, the Anaheim top power play unit (ANA PP1), and Tristan Jarry, who has the best win chance of any goalie tonight, is confirmed in net for Edmonton. Edmonton's PP1 and a Tampa Bay unit with far fewer fans fill out the second and third builds. With six games on the card, we have room to run all three without a reach for a contrarian play.
Last Night
MacKenzie Blackwood won for Colorado and scored 15.1 DK points, so the goalie call hit. Our main stack did not: Minnesota PP1 scored 31.8 points and finished 11th of 14 power play units. Both value plays came up short, Jonas Brodin at 6.9 points and Brett Kulak at 2.8, and on blocks Alexandre Carrier got his three while Kaiden Guhle had one. Easton Cowan cleared his 1.5 shots line with four. Since 10/29, our cash goalie is 10-3, our main stack has finished in the top three of its group 8 of 13 times, value plays have hit 9 of 26, blocks picks 5 of 12, and props are 6-4.
Slate Overview
Lock is 7:00 PM ET, when Tampa Bay and Buffalo drop the puck. Switch tabs for the goalies, the injuries, the line matchup edges and the blocks picks.
| Game | Total | Favorite | Implied goals | Note |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| TBL @ BUF | 6.5 | TBL -128 | TBL 3.41, BUF 3.19 | BUF kill 26th |
| NYR @ CGY | 5.5 | NYR -152 | NYR 3.11, CGY 2.67 | CGY power play 30th |
| PHI @ EDM | 6.5 | EDM -220 | EDM 3.58, PHI 2.63 | PHI third game in four nights |
| UTA @ VGK | 6.5 | VGK -125 | VGK 3.32, UTA 3.13 | VGK power play 4th, UTA kill 25th |
| NSH @ ANA | 6.5 | ANA -134 | ANA 3.49, NSH 3.19 | NSH back-to-back with travel |
| PIT @ SJS | 6.5 | PIT -138 | PIT 3.59, SJS 3.25 | SJS kill 31st |
| Goalie | Status | Win chance | Opp. goals | Salary |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Tristan Jarry (EDM) | Confirmed | 62.5% | 2.74 | $8,400 |
| Sergei Murashov (PIT) | Confirmed | 56.1% | 3.21 | $8,000 |
| Joonas Korpisalo (NYR) | Confirmed | 55.7% | 2.69 | $8,200 |
| Laurent Brossoit (ANA) | Confirmed | 55.3% | 3.20 | $8,100 |
| Carter Hart (VGK) | Confirmed | 53.6% | 3.11 | $7,900 |
| Andrei Vasilevskiy (TBL) | Likely | 53.6% | 3.17 | $7,800 |
| Sebastian Cossa (UTA) | Likely | 46.4% | 3.32 | $7,500 |
| Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen (BUF) | Likely | 46.4% | 3.39 | $7,600 |
| Justus Annunen (NSH) | Likely | 44.7% | 3.52 | $7,300 |
| Devin Cooley (CGY) | Confirmed | 44.2% | 3.01 | $7,200 |
| Yaroslav Askarov (SJS) | Confirmed | 43.9% | 3.59 | $7,400 |
| Dan Vladar (PHI) | Confirmed | 37.5% | 3.49 | $7,000 |
| Player (team, pos) | Status | Impact (1-10) | Who benefits |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bryan Rust (PIT, RW) | Injured Reserve | 8 | Nick Robertson, Rickard Rakell, Sidney Crosby |
| Dylan Guenther (UTA, RW) | Day-To-Day | 7 | Lawson Crouse, Clayton Keller, Logan Cooley |
| Brayden Point (TBL, C) | Injured Reserve | 7 | Zemgus Girgensons, Nikita Kucherov, Brandon Hagel |
| Noah Hanifin (VGK, D) | Out | 6 | Brayden McNabb, Jeremy Lauzon, Shea Theodore |
| Sean Durzi (NYR, D) | Injured Reserve | 6 | Braden Schneider, Marcus Pettersson, Adam Fox |
| Igor Chernyshov (SJS, LW) | Injured Reserve | 6 | Kiefer Sherwood, Macklin Celebrini, Will Smith |
| Frederik Andersen (EDM, G) | Injured Reserve | 6 | Devon Levi |
| Igor Shesterkin (NYR, G) | Injured Reserve | 6 | Dylan Garand |
| Line | Players | Edge | Main opponent | Sample |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| EDM F1 | McDavid, Draisaitl, Podkolzin | +11.4 | PHI F1 (45% of 5v5 time) | Full line, 251 min |
| UTA F2 | Crouse, Cooley, Trocheck | +8.9 | VGK F1 (37%) | Full line, 59 min |
| NYR F2 | Kartye, Miller, Dorofeyev | +7.0 | CGY F1 (36%) | Full line, 91 min |
| Player | Pair | PP | Blocks | 3+ chance |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| MacKenzie Weegar (UTA, $4,700) | D1 | PP2 | about 2 | 39% |
| Brayden McNabb (VGK, $3,200) | D1 | none | about 2 | 31% |
The best special teams spot of the night is in Las Vegas, where the Vegas power play ranks fourth in expected goals and the Utah kill ranks 25th. A line edge is the share of 5v5 expected goals a line should win against the lines it will see most, minus 50; we use it as a tiebreaker. The full ranks are on the team matchups page, the injury report and the line matchups tool.
Starting Goalies
Tristan Jarry (EDM, $8,400), cash and GPP
Jarry is confirmed. Philadelphia ranks 30th in 5v5 expected goals and plays its third game in four nights, so the Flyers have the lowest implied total on the board. He should face about 24 shots and make about 21 saves, and his 7.3% shutout chance is the best of the night. If you want a cheaper option, Joonas Korpisalo ($8,200) for the Rangers is confirmed against a Calgary team implied for 2.69 goals. Status updates land on the starting goalies page.
Stacks to Target
Each header shows the three-player core we would build around and what that core costs. Switch tabs for the stack summary and our top plays at each spot.
| Stack | Core | Core salary | Big night (full unit) | Field | Contest |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| ANA PP1 | Gauthier, Sennecke, LaCombe | $20,600 | about 101 DK points | Chalk | Cash and GPP |
| EDM PP1 | McDavid, Draisaitl, Bouchard | $26,700 | about 97 DK points | Popular | Small field GPP |
| TBL PP1 | Kucherov, Hagel, Carlson | $20,400 | about 94 DK points | Less popular | Large field GPP |
| Player | Pos | Salary | Role | Use |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Mikael Granlund (ANA) | C | $5,200 | F2, PP1 | Cash |
| Jack Eichel (VGK) | C | $7,600 | F1, PP1 | GPP |
| Cutter Gauthier (ANA) | W | $8,000 | F2, PP1 | Cash |
| Tage Thompson (BUF) | W | $8,600 | F1, PP1 | GPP |
| Shea Theodore (VGK) | D | $4,200 | D1, PP1 | Cash |
| Rasmus Dahlin (BUF) | D | $6,500 | D1, PP1 | GPP |
| Drew Helleson (ANA) | D | $2,900 | D1 | Value |
| Tristan Jarry (EDM) | G | $8,400 | Confirmed | Cash and GPP |
ANA PP1: Cutter Gauthier, Beckett Sennecke, Jackson LaCombe ($20,600 for the core)
Justus Annunen is expected in goal for Nashville on the second night of a back-to-back, after travel. We like the tired legs more than the special teams spot here: Nashville ranks 11th in expected goals allowed on the penalty kill, and the Anaheim power play sits 15th. At even strength, Gauthier and Sennecke play on the second line with Mikael Granlund, a line that wins 50.7% of the 5v5 shot attempts when it is on the ice. Troy Terry and A.J. Greer are both on injured reserve, and the injury report lists Gauthier, Sennecke and Leo Carlsson as the players who gain their work. Carlsson and Granlund complete PP1, and the full unit ($32,300) still fits under the cap with any goalie. We use this core in cash and as our main GPP stack.
EDM PP1: Connor McDavid, Leon Draisaitl, Evan Bouchard ($26,700 for the core)
Dan Vladar is expected in goal for Philadelphia. McDavid and Draisaitl skate on a top line that wins 56.3% of the 5v5 shot attempts when it is on the ice, and that line has the best edge on the slate. The Edmonton power play ranks third in expected goals, but the Flyers kill ranks fourth, so most of the edge here comes at 5v5. The Edmonton defense group gets a SMASH tag, which means it rates well above the Philadelphia units it faces, and Bouchard is the top name in it. Ryan Nugent-Hopkins and Zach Hyman complete PP1, but the full unit ($38,300) does not fit with any goalie on the slate. Paying for both McDavid and Draisaitl is the most expensive way to feel safe, so we keep this core for small field GPPs.
TBL PP1: Nikita Kucherov, Brandon Hagel, John Carlson ($20,400 for the core, third stack)
Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen was in the starter's crease at the Buffalo morning skate, but he is still not confirmed. Tampa Bay has the better special teams spot of our three stacks: its power play ranks 12th in expected goals, and the Buffalo kill ranks 26th. Kucherov's top line wins 55.7% of the 5v5 shot attempts when it is on the ice, and Brayden Point is on injured reserve, so Kucherov and Hagel take more of the work. Jake Guentzel and Charle-Edouard D'Astous complete PP1, and the full unit ($31,300) fits with any goalie. Far fewer people will play this stack than the first two, which makes it our large field build. Line and power play units for every team are on the lines page.
How to Build It
Start with the ANA core and Jarry. That costs $29,000 and leaves $21,000, or $4,200 a spot for the other five players, which is enough for a second stack piece. In large fields, cut the core to Gauthier and Sennecke ($14,900); with Jarry, that leaves $26,700, or $4,450 a spot for six players.
For a 4-3-1 build, add Granlund to the core for four Ducks ($25,800). With Jarry that is $34,200, so you have $15,800 for the last four spots, or $3,950 a spot. A three-man line like the Value Stack below ($13,200) fits there with $2,600 left for a one-off. For single entry and 3-max, a 3-3-2 build works: the ANA core, the Value Stack line and Jarry cost $42,200, which leaves $7,800, or $3,900 a spot, for a two-man mini-stack. DraftKings needs skaters from at least three teams, so the two-man piece must come from a third team.
Value Stack
NYR F2: Pavel Dorofeyev, J.T. Miller, Tye Kartye ($13,200 for the unit)
The Rangers second line wins 51.6% of the 5v5 shot attempts when it is on the ice, and it has a +7.0 edge against a Calgary group that ranks 31st in 5v5 goals. Dorofeyev and Kartye also play on PP1, which helps when the price is this low.
Chalk and Pivots
Chalk stack: ANA PP1. Pivot: TBL PP1 ($31,300). The Tampa Bay unit has a big night close to the Ducks unit, costs less, and draws far fewer people. In cash, we play the chalk.
Chalk goalies: Joonas Korpisalo ($8,200) and Sergei Murashov ($8,000). Pivot: Tristan Jarry ($8,400). Jarry has the higher win chance, costs a little more and draws fewer people, so we would spend the money on him.
Fades
PIT PP1 ($27,700). It is the third most popular stack, but the Pittsburgh power play ranks 29th in expected goals. The Penguins forwards do rate well above San Jose at 5v5, so if you want Pittsburgh, use them at even strength and skip the PP1 price.
Skaters
Centers
Mikael Granlund ($5,200): cash. He centers Gauthier and Sennecke on the second line, plays on PP1 and should play about 20 and a half minutes. At this price, he gives a cash build a piece of the Anaheim power play without the cost of the core.
Jack Eichel ($7,600): GPP. Eichel plays on the Vegas top line and PP1, and his power play gets the Utah kill that ranks 25th. Far fewer people will play him than the Edmonton and Anaheim stars at a similar price.
Wingers
Cutter Gauthier ($8,000): cash. He plays on the second line and PP1, and he should get about four shots. That shot volume gives him the best floor of any winger on the slate.
Tage Thompson ($8,600): GPP. Thompson plays on the Buffalo top line and PP1, and Konsta Helenius is out, which gives him more of the work. He should get three or four shots and has a 23% chance at five or more, and very few people will play him.
Defensemen
Shea Theodore ($4,200): cash. Noah Hanifin is out, so Theodore plays on the Vegas top pair and PP1 and should play about 27 and a half minutes. He should block about two shots, and at this price the floor is hard to beat.
Rasmus Dahlin ($6,500): GPP. Dahlin plays on the Buffalo top pair and PP1 and should play about 23 minutes with two or three shots. Few people will play him, and he pairs well with Thompson as a Buffalo mini-stack against our Tampa Bay build.
Value Plays
Drew Helleson (ANA D, $2,900): He plays on the Anaheim top pair with LaCombe and should play about 21 minutes, so he is on the ice with our main stack at 5v5. He has a 23% chance at three or more blocks, which gives a near-minimum salary a real floor.
Before Lock
- Jarry is confirmed for Edmonton. Vasilevskiy, Luukkonen, Cossa and Annunen are expected but not confirmed yet.
- Nashville plays on the second night of a back-to-back after travel, and Philadelphia plays its third game in four nights.
- Dylan Guenther (UTA) is a game-time call. If he sits, Lawson Crouse, Clayton Keller and Logan Cooley gain the work.
- Start times (ET): TBL @ BUF 7:00, NYR @ CGY 7:30, PHI @ EDM 9:00, UTA @ VGK 9:30, NSH @ ANA and PIT @ SJS 10:00. Put an Anaheim skater in UTIL so you can still swap him late. Brossoit, Murashov and Askarov are the late goalies, and all three are confirmed. Annunen is expected for Nashville.
Final Thoughts
In cash, play Jarry with Gauthier, Sennecke and LaCombe for $29,000, which leaves $4,200 a spot. In GPPs, build around ANA PP1, add EDM PP1 in small fields or TBL PP1 in large fields, and leave the Pittsburgh power play to the field. Our full numbers for every skater and goalie are on the projections page.
NHL DFS FAQ
How does a back-to-back change NHL DFS picks?
A team on the second night of a back-to-back often starts its backup goalie and can look slow late in the game. Tonight, Nashville plays in Anaheim after a game last night and travel, which is one reason we stack the Ducks. Wait for the goalie news before lock, because a backup in net makes the stack better.
What is a PP1 stack in NHL DFS?
A PP1 stack is the five players on a team's first power play unit. When that unit scores, three or four of them get points on the same goal, so their DraftKings scores rise together. Tonight our three PP1 stacks come from Anaheim, Edmonton and Tampa Bay.
Tools used for this slate
Every number in this playbook comes off the BankrollSZN NHL tools: today's NHL DFS projections, the NHL lineup optimizer, NHL line combinations and PP1 stacks, today's NHL starting goalies, and NHL odds and player props.