Next weekend will be the end of November. The hockey season has been fun so far, and hopefully this Sunday will be fun and positive for your NHL DFS contests. There are five games on the slate for DFS purposes starting at 4 p.m. EST or later. Here are my recommendations.
SLATE PREVIEW
Four of these matchups feature a rested team facing one that played on Saturday. The Sharks are at home against the Bruins, while the Avs and Flames are visiting the Blackhawks and Canucks, respectively. And finally, the Kraken and Islanders face each other.
GOALIES
Kevin Lankinen, VAN vs. CGY ($7,700): This is entirely about the matchup. The Flames aren't just on the road for the second leg of a back-to-back, but rank last in goals per game. Lankinen should have a solid outing and pick up a win.
Jeremy Swayman, BOS at SAN ($7,600): After a disastrous start against the Sens, Swayman has managed a .927 save percentage and 2.25 GAA across his last seven outings. The Sharks have a couple exciting young players, yet aren't a good overall offense. In addition to being below-average in goals, they're bottom-5 in shots allowed.
VALUE PLAYS
Mats Zuccarello, MIN at WPG ($5,500): Zuccarello has made up for lost time with seven points over seven outings with at least two during two of his last three. We'll have to treat the Jets a little different for a few weeks as Connor Hellebuyck is out and Eric Comrie carries a career .898 save percentage.
Tanner Jeannot, BOS at SAN ($4,000): Jeannot has posted four points - all assists - in his last eight games. He's also put three shots on net in each of his last two with a 6.5 shooting percentage that should improve. As previously mentioned, San Jose's bottom-5 in shots allowed while in action for a second straight day.
FORWARD LINE STACK
Canucks vs. Flames
Elias Pettersson (C - $6,800), Kiefer Sherwood (W - $5,600), Evander Kane (W - $5,200)
The Flames saved Dustin Wolf for Sunday, which is odd as he's produced a 2.23 GAA and .921 save percentage at home with a 4.03/.861 on the road. Maybe they should've started him in Calgary on Saturday. Anyways, this situation could benefit the Canucks' top line.
It turns out that Pettersson can still excel with 20 points and at least two points from four of his last five outings. He's also tallied eight points on the power play with the Flames listing an average penalty kill on the road for the tail end of a back-to-back. Sherwood has been as puck lucky as it gets with a 30.0 shooting percentage that will obviously regress, though he does have a point in six of his last seven games. Kane has only reached 11 points, but has been quite unfortunate directing 63 pucks on net paired with a 4.8 shooting percentage.
DEFENSEMEN
Matthew Schaefer, NYI vs. SEA ($6,200): One assumes an 18-year-old rookie has more juice in his legs for the second leg of a back-to-back than most. And Schaefer has impressed so far with 15 points, including seven with the extra man. His power-play success is particularly encouraging as the Kraken enter with the 31st-ranked penalty kill.
Artyom Levshunov, CHI vs. COL ($4,600): Levshunov started off a bit slow, but has nine points over his last 12 games - all assists - while remarkably recording no goals from 38 NHL appearances. The 2024 second overall pick has also been boosted by a move to the top power play, where he's averaged 3:07 during his last seven outings. Both of Colorado's goalies have played well while the team maintains a solid penalty kill, though they'll be on the road for a second straight night.
