Written by LineStar Fantasy Life Coach @ZeroInDenver.

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Welcome back 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.

I'm seeing more new people to LineStar chat and the platform, and something that doesn't get talked about enough is contest selection. I'm going to give my take on it after going over the slate, but I'd be interested in what everyone else thinks.

Let me know what you think in LineStar chat!

Tonight's Slate

Here's numbers on the teams so far this season. 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).

Legend: CF% = Corsi For Percentage, CF60 = Corsi For Per60 min, CA = Corsi Allowed Per 60 Min, HDCF60 = High Danger Corsi For Per 60 Min, HDCA60 = High Danger Corsi Allowed Per 60 Min, SF60 = Shots on Goal For Per 60 Min, SA60 = Shots on Goal Allowed Per 60 Min, SOT = % of Shot Attempts On Goal, Sh% = % of Shots on Goal That Are Goals, SCF60 = Scoring Chances For Per 60 Min, SCA60 = Scoring Chances Allowed Per 60 Min, GF60 = Goals For Per 60 Min, GA60 = Goals Allowed Per 60.

Goaltender Rankings

How to Interpret This: I've added LineStar Projected Ownership, LineStar Projected Fantasy Points, and Goalie GAA (Goals Saved Above Average), and Saves/60, along with my projected upside for each goalie. Generally, I'm looking for goalies that I think will get a win with a positive (green) GSAA and a high saves number.

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

My Favorite:

Joonas Korpisalo - CLS (DK: $7600, FD: $7100) *CONFIRMED STARTER*

Looking at the goaltenders on the slate reminds me of playing MLB DFS last summer and picking pitchers. I kind of don't want any of them, but we have to pick one. I've said before, I like to correlate a goalie with my stacks, but I've been leaning towards Korpisalo for one-offs.

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), and shots on goal. I've included projections and average fantasy points to see how each compares so you can more easily find value.

Center

My Favorite

Auston Matthews - TOR (DK: $8800, FD: $8800)

With Matthews and McDavid on the slate tonight, I'm hoping that it will keep each at more reasonable ownership levels as both were north of 40% when alone on the slate last night. Either can break the slate, but I'm leaning Matthews simply for his recent shot volume.

Winger

My Favorite:

Mike Hoffman - STL (DK: $4700, FD: $5400)

If you're picking Matthews or McDavid for your lineup, you're going to need to dip down in other positions. I love Hoffman, but I'm not liking an STL3 stack. I think he makes for a good one-off and gets exposure to the top St Louis power play unit.

Defensemen

My Favorite

Thomas Chabot - OTT (DK: $6200, FD: $5000)

When Edmonton is on the slate, their top two lines get a lot of attention, but what I think gets missed is their goaltending is terrible. They're allowing 3.7 goals a game, and I think Ottawa makes for an interesting angle tonight.

Bottom of the Barrel

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

Jordan Staal: CAR - C (DK: $4.3K, FD: $3.6K)

Nino Niederreiter: CAR - W (DK: $4.3K, FD: $4.4K)

Mattias Ekholm: NSH - D (DK: $3.4K, FD: $3.9K)

Line Stacks

Here are my ranked stacks for tonight:

Favorite Stacks Tonight:

Risk-It-For-The-Biscuit Stacks:

DFS Strategy - Contest Selection

Again, I think contest selection is overlooked in DFS. There's plenty of philosophies on bankroll management, but contest selection has made the biggest difference in my success in DFS.

To be more specific, some of the best advice I received in DFS is to play the same contests every day. The theory behind this is that you can do a lot of damage to your bankroll by playing more one day (and losing) and dropping down entry fees the next day (and winning - but still down from the day before) and playing more the next day (and losing, again).

This means you might have to take a very honest look at how well you are doing and come up with a plan that will allow you to play as long as possible without depositing.

DFS is very fickle. What wins one day won't necessarily win the next, but by playing the same contests, you can still be rewarded when you do well, and not be hurt as badly when you don't do as well.

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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