Written by LineStar Fantasy Life Coach @ZeroInDenver.

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Welcome to the NHL Hat Trick.

ICYMI - The NHL Season Preview & Strategy guide goes over the basics of NHL DFS and what I look for when researching players.

My apologies for no newsletter yesterday. My day job has been keeping me busy to the point where I had to work through lunch yesterday, which left me no time to get a newsletter out. I know a lot of you rely on my insight to build lineups (or to build differently) so again, I apologize.

That said, we have a small slate tonight. Colorado is on a roll and is an obvious choice. Vegas is another option as well. Again, I wouldn't fault you for playing them and I'm not trying to say to fade them. Instead, I like to focus my efforts on these kinds of slates to point out other teams and players in good spots.

LETSSSSSSSSSSGOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!!!!!!!!!!!

Tonight's Slate

Here's numbers on the teams from their past 10 games. Generally, I start my research by looking for teams in good spots. For example, teams that score goals (GF60) that are facing teams that give up goals (GA60). I also look at teams that shoot a lot (CF60) that are facing teams that give up a lot of shots (CA60).

Line Stacks

So weird having SJS1 as my top stack outside of Vegas and Colorado today, but hear me out. Minnesota is allowing a lot of shot attempts and is allowing 3.2 goals a game over their last 10 games.

I've got a lot of interest in the Islanders tonight. My favorite is the top line for NYI, but I wouldn't talk you out of the second or third line iether.

I'm going to go out on a limb and make a recommendation for MIN3 tonight. Again, they're dirt cheap, and I really feel like the move tonight is to try to pair a cheap line with a top-tier line like COL1, BOS1, or one of the top two Vegas lines.

Biscuit Stack

This may be the first time this season that I've touted a Ducks line, but I have a lot of interest in the top line for Anaheim tonight. They're dirt cheap and should allow you to stack a VGK or COL line alongside them.

Goaltender Rankings

How to Read This: 

I'm giving you a comparison of LineStar projections vs the average fantasy points scored over their last 10 games. I've also given you their save percentage (over 0.910 is ideal), goals allowed (lower is better), saves per game (more is better), GAA (Goals Saved Above Average), and my projected upside for each goalie.

Generally, if I'm stacking a team, I'll correlate a goalie if I can. In GPPs, I may not have the salary to make this work. In this case, I usually spend down on someone that I expect will take a lot of shots and could pick up the W.

As always - double-check that your goalie is starting before the game starts.

My Favorites:

CASH: Robin Lehner - VGK (DK: $8300, FD: $8300)

GPP: John Gibson - ANH (DK: $7200, FD: $7000)

Forwards and Defensemen Rankings

How to Interpret C/D/W charts: In NHL DFS, I think it's most important to look at peripheral stats instead of goals which is why I put so much emphasis on shots. This includes shot attempts, high danger shot attempts (those shot attempts closest to the net with the highest probability of going into the net), shots on goal, and scoring chances. I've included projections and average fantasy points to see how each compares so you can more easily find value.

Center

My Favorite

Mathew Barzal - NYI - DK: $6100 | FD: $7100

I love the top line for the Islanders tonight, and my one-off play from that line would be Barzal.

Wing

My Favorite:

Kevin Fiala - MIN - DK: $5500 | FD: $5700

I think a lot of people will look past Fiala tonight since he's on the third line. However, he will see PP1 minutes and he's averaging over 17 minutes of ice time over his last 5 games.

Defensemen

My Favorite

Brent Burns - SJS - DK: $5900 | FD: $6000

Looking at the defensemen in my rankings, I would expect that most would go Theodore or Pietrangelo over Burns or just spend down entirely and pick up Pulock or even Karlsson. For me, this is the perfect spot to pick up Burns for tonight.

Bottom of the Barrel

Here are my cheap calls for a skater to pick up a goal or assist.

Dylan Gambrell: SJS - C - DK: $2800 | FD: $3300

Oliver Wahlstrom: NYI - W - DK: $2800 | FD: $3200

Mike Reilly: BOS - D - DK: $3300 | FD: $3900

Disclaimer: Keep in mind, plays and thoughts listed are my own. You should all do your own research and you might (and probably should) disagree with me in some spots. Don't be afraid to go your own way.

Good luck today! Tag me in the LineStar Chat @ZeroInDenver if you have any questions or feedback. Follow me on Twitter @ZeroInDenver.

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