Thanksgiving week, which I should call American Thanksgiving week in deference to the heavy Canadian influence on the NHL, features an unusual schedule. Monday doesn't see much disruption, though. There are seven games on the slate, with the first starting at 7 p.m. EST. Here are my NHL DFS lineup recommendations.
Try our DraftKings NHL Lineup Optimizer to discover more expert recommendations, customize the player pool, set exposure percentage and mass-enter DFS lineups.
SLATE PREVIEW
The atypicality of the schedule this week does make for a straightforward circumstance in one way. No team is on either the second leg or the first leg of a back-to-back. Plus, the Panthers even did us a solid by announcing Daniil Tarasov will be grabbing a start in net early. Thanks, guys!
GOALIES
Daniil Tarasov, FLA at NAS ($8,300): Well, Paul Maurice and company gave us an early heads up on Tarasov, and I think he's worth spotting into your lineup as well. While his .910 save percentage is in only six appearances, and past performance doesn't indicate that level of play was to be expected, we should remember he was in Columbus prior to this. Moving from the Jackets to the Panthers brings structure and stability to the table for Tarasov. More to the point, the Predators are terrible, especially offensively. They have averaged 2.29 goals per game, and seem primed to be the only team to compete with the Flames for last in that category.
Igor Shesterkin, NYR vs. STL ($8,000): Shesterkin's .909 save percentage doesn't wow, especially compared to his Vezina peak, but in the modern NHL that's a number most would be happy with. Plus, the Russian netminder has a 2.52 GAA. Both of these teams have struggled offensively, but while the Blues have averaged more goals per game, the Rangers have averaged more shots on net per game. Also, the Rangers are at home and have good goalies as opposed to bad goalies. Thus, I'm going with Shesterkin.
VALUE PLAYS/ONE-OFFS
Kevin Fiala, LOS vs. OTT ($6,400): Fiala's job is to deliver on the power play, and that he does. In each of the prior three seasons with the Kings he's had at least 24 power-play points. This year he's averaged a whopping 3:46 per contest with the extra man and has delivered seven points on that front. I have turned my attention to the Kings' power play as the Senators have a bottom-five penalty kill.
Tom Wilson, WAS vs. CLM ($5,100): Last season Wilson had his first 30-goal season, and he added 32 assists. Fittingly, through 22 games this year he has 11 goals and 10 helpers. Wilson has also put 50 shots on target. While the Blue Jackets have seemingly turned to Jet Greaves as their No. 1 goalie (a wise move in my opinion), he's had to face a tremendous workload. Columbus has given up 31.5 shots on net per game.
FORWARD LINE STACKS TO CONSIDER
Rangers vs. Blues
Mika Zibanejad (C - $5,500), Will Cuylle (W - $4,300), Alexis Lafreniere (W - $3,800)
Technically, this is the likely layout of the second line for the Rangers if J.T. Miller returns after missing one game. However, if he doesn't, Jonny Brodzinski will likely be on the second line as a substitute, and that's not a route one tends to want to go down for DFS purposes. Miller is considered day-to-day, so let us assume that he returns for these purposes. However it shakes out, the Blues have a 3.64 GAA, which is bottom three in the NHL. That's what the focus should be on.
Zibanejad started cold but has heated up and helped the Rangers improve on the goals-per-game front. He has nine points in his last nine games, but even in those games he's only managed 10.7 percent shooting. On the season he has a 9.9 percent mark, well below his career 12.9 percent. Cuylle emerged with 20 goals and 25 assists last season, but he too started slow. However, 11 of his 12 points have come over his last 14 games. Lafreniere is the coldest of this trio, but also the most snakebit. He has 12 points on the season, but on 8.5 percent shooting that is primed to climb.
Panthers at Predators
Anton Lundell (C - $5,400), Brad Marchand (W - $6,800), Mackie Samoskevich (W - $3,500)
I mentioned the woefulness of the Predators, particularly on offense. Indeed, offensively things are direr, but the defense is no great shakes. Nashville has a 3.48 GAA, which is bottom eight in the NHL. While Roman Josi is back, Juuse Saros has an .896 save percentage, and he had an .895 save percentage last year. This was certainly not expected to be the top line for the Panthers this season, but here we are.
Lundell had a goal on five shots on net and added an assist in Florida's last game, and he has stepped into the first-line center role well. The Finn has 18 points in 21 contests shouldering the biggest load of his career. Even if Marchand's 22.4 percent shooting will likely regress, he's been rejuvenated with the Panthers. He has 24 points in 20 games, and in five of his last eight outings he's put at least three shots on net. Samoskevich is the most-recent addition to this line, and it's already paid off. He had a goal, an assist, and four shots on target in his last game.
DEFENSEMEN
Jakob Chychrun, WAS vs. CLM ($6,000): Well, if I am going to note just how many shots the Blue Jackets have allowed, I would be remiss not to recommend Chychrun. He's put a staggering 71 shots on net. While Chychrun has had a 200-shot season in the past, it seems like he's gunning for a Brent Burns-level of shots on goal this year. Plus, he's on a seven-game point streak.
J.J. Moser, TAM vs. PHI ($2,700): Victor Hedman has been out, and Moser has stepped up. Over his last eight games he has five assists, 10 shots on net, and 15 blocked shots. I have steadfastly remained skeptical of Dan Vladar's start to the season. He's a 28-year-old netminder who came into this year with a career .894 save percentage in 105 appearances. Reality may have checked in as of late. Over his last seven games Vladar has a 3.07 GAA and .887 save percentage.
