This article is part of our DraftKings NHL series.
Here on the last Monday of November, we have four NHL games. We're at the quarter mark of the season, as almost every team has played 20 times. With that information in the books, here are some DFS recommendations based on what I've seen thus far.
SLATE PREVIEW
Only one team, the Canucks, are on the second leg of a back-to-back. This could also be a day of low-scoring action. Three of the bottom-five teams in terms of goals per game are in action. So are the expansion Kraken and also the Sabres, who I don't believe in offensively. Could this be a good day for goalies?
GOALIES
Connor Hellebuyck, WPG vs. ARI ($8,200): Hellebuyck had a brutal start on the road against the Wild recently, which is why he has a 2.70 GAA and .917 save percentage. I'm not worried, given that he has a 2.11 GAA and .934 save percentage in his last nine starts. Also, given that the Coyotes are last in both goals and shots on net per game.
Jake Allen, MON vs. VAN ($7,800): If you want to take a bit of a gamble, Allen is the way to go. His numbers aren't good this season, as he has a .902 save percentage. Having said that, this matchup is enticing. The Canucks are in the bottom five in goals per game and are on the road for the second leg of a back-to-back. Allen does have a career .911 save percentage. Maybe he'll have a good outing, or at least pick up a win.
VALUE PLAYS
Jordan Eberle, SEA at BUF ($6,000): It was always going to be interesting to see the lineup usage for the Kraken early in the year, and so far it's working out well for Eberle. He's started 59.2 percent of his shifts in the offensive zone, highest on the team. That's helped the 31-year-old notch 16 points in 21 games, tied for most for the Kraken. The Sabres have a 3.33 GAA and have allowed 33.6 shots on net per contest, so even though Eberle and company are far from home this matchup looks good to me.
Tage Thompson, BUF vs. SEA ($5,200): The Sabres decided to see what they have in Thompson this season, and it's paying off. After being a tertiary part of the team, this year Thompson has averaged 17:29 in ice time, an increase in over three minutes from last season. He's tallied 10 goals on 60 shots on net in 21 games, while the expansion Kraken have a 3.48 GAA.
LINE STACKS TO CONSIDER
Jets vs. Coyotes: Mark Scheifele (C - $6,400), Kyle Connor (W - $7,600), Blake Wheeler (W - $4,800)
This line will cost you a pretty penny in salary, but I believe it will be worth it. The Coyotes have a 3.57 GAA, have allowed 33.0 shots on net per contest, and are in the bottom five on the penalty kill as well. That's with Scott Wedgewood currently having a .918 save percentage, far above his career number of .905. This is a stack worth ponying up for.
Scheifele only has eight points, but that's in 15 games. Also, he has five points in his last eight contests and his 6.5 shooting percentage is going to improve. Connor has had much better puck luck than his linemate. He's already tallied 14 goals and has put a staggering 95 shots on net in 21 games. However, his 14.7 shooting percentage is not even his career high. Wheeler has had the worst puck luck of all, as he has zero goals on 35 shots on net, but he has seven assists. Also, he had 46 points in 50 games last season, so we know what he can do.
Canadiens vs. Canucks: Jake Evans (C - $3,200), Brendan Gallagher (W - $4,500), Jonathan Drouin (W- $3,900)
The Canucks aren't only the only team on the road for the second game of a back-to-back Monday. They also have the league's worst penalty kill. Due to line shifting recently, I couldn't grab a line with three members of the top power-play unit for the Canadiens, but I have two of them here at least.
Evans has four goals and two assists in 19 games, but if he's skating on Montreal's top line that helps lift his upside. Gallagher has often been a prolific shooter, and he has 54 shots on goal in 22 games. His 7.4 shooting percentage should improve, and it's worth noting that three of his four goals have come with the extra man. Drouin has four points in his last four contests and has three power-play points in 17 games.
DEFENSE
Nate Schmidt, WPG vs. ARI ($5,500): Schmidt had three 30-point seasons with the Golden Knights before being dealt to Vancouver prior to last season. That didn't go well, but his move to the Jets is working out. Schmidt already has 12 points in 21 games, and that's with a 2.9 shooting percentage below his 5.3 career average. He's also notched seven points with the extra man, and the Coyotes have a bottom-five penalty kill.
Rasmus Dahlin, BUF vs. SEA ($5,200): Dahlin is bouncing back from his tough campaign last season and looking more like a first-overall pick again. He's tallied 13 points and 42 shots on goal in 21 games. Also, for what it's worth, he's a minus-1 after being a woeful minus-36 last year. Seattle, of course, didn't exist as a team last year, and the expansion squad has a 3.48 GAA.
