NHL DFS: DraftKings Plays and Strategy for Wednesday, October 22

Catch NHL action tonight with DraftKings NHL DFS lineup tips! Dive in with picks like Sam Montembeault and Alex DeBrincat. Game starts at 7 p.m. ET.
NHL DFS: DraftKings Plays and Strategy for Wednesday, October 22
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It's your typical light night of NHL action for a Wednesday, but the Red Wings are playing on national TV so I'm cool with the schedule. Plus, three games of NHL action still means you get to play some NHL DFS if you so desire. If you are reading this, I presume your desire is indeed to do just that. First game starts at 7 p.m. ET. Here are my NHL DFS lineup recommendations.

SLATE PREVIEW

One team, the Devils, is on the second night of a back-to-back. They are at home against the Wild. Also, after using last year's per-game averages for teams, and then tacking on this season's numbers to last season's, I'm going to pivot to looking at this season. Yes, the sample sizes are slim. We're talking six-to-eight games played. That being said, since teams do inherently change season to season, some notably so, I figured the time had come for the switch.

GOALIES

Sam Montembeault, MON at CGY ($8,000): Usually I'm a Montembeault naysayer, but not Wednesday. It's not that I suddenly believe in the overarching quality of Montembeault's game. This offseason, there weren't many murmurings about the Flames being the worst team in the NHL, but early on they are definitely heavily in the running. Not only have they managed a mere 1.57 goals per game offensively, but they have a 3.86 GAA as well.

Filip Gustavsson, MIN at NJD ($7,200): After a few iffy starts, Gustavsson made 23 saves on 24 shots in a win over the Rangers. He's been inconsistent throughout his career, which is certainly concerning, but he has a career .912 save percentage as well. The Devils do have a good offense, but they are also on the second leg of a back-to-back, so taking a shot on Gustavsson is worth it.

VALUE PLAY/ONE-OFF

Alex DeBrincat, DET at BUF ($7,100): DeBrincat is tied with Dylan Larkin with 20 shots on net through six games to lead the Red Wings. However, DeBrincat has yet to score a goal. Now there's some puck luck bound to turn around and then some! Guys in their prime with multiple 40-goal seasons to their names rarely go all that long without lighting the lamp. Plus, the Michigan native hasn't been checked out, as he has six assists. Alex Lyon has faced at least 30 shots in every game he's played this season, and he has a career .903 save percentage.

FORWARD LINE STACK TO CONSIDER

Wild at Devils

Ryan Hartman (C - $4,100), Vladimir Tarasenko (W - $3,600), Marcus Johansson (W - $2,900)

The health of Marco Rossi (who didn't play Monday) will play a role in shaking up lines for the Wild. That being said, I opted to go for the current second line for Minnesota since the top line, while highly productive, also carries hefty salaries. The Devils, as noted, are on the second leg of a back-to-back. Also, Jacob Markstrom is injured. New Jersey had to tap Nico Daws to come up from the AHL to start Wednesday. Daws played well in six games last season, but the reason why he only played in six games (and the reason why he started the season at AHL Utica) is because prior to last year he had a career .894 save percentage.

Hartman scored two goals in Minnesota's opener, and he picked up an assist in its last game. Those may be his only points, but in four games this season he's put at least three shots on target. Tarasenko continues to hop around the NHL like a Russian Olli Jokinen. He has five points in seven games, though four of them have come on the power play. Perhaps with tired legs, and a third-string goalie in net, New Jersey's penalty kill won't be up to its usual standards. Johansson is a guy traditionally good for double-digit goals and 30ish points. This year, though, he's started the season with four points, and he's had a point in every other game.

DEFENSEMEN

Simon Edvinsson, DET at BUF ($4,200): Edvinsson saw his first real NHL action last season, and he looked up to the task. The Swede had 31 points with 86 shots on net and 144 blocked shots. Now 22, Edvinsson's up to 22:06 per game in ice time, and though he only has one point he's managed seven shots on net and 15 blocked shots. Getting on the score sheet could happen Wednesday, given that the Sabres have allowed 33.5 shots on net per contest and employ a veteran goalie with a career .903 save percentage.

Mike Matheson, MON at CGY ($4,100): Lane Hutson gets the power-play minutes, but Matheson is the guy grabbing the most minutes overall. He's averaged 24:05 per game in ice time, and he's tallied four points, eight shots on net and 15 blocked shots. All that ice time against the Flames could turn out well for Matheson, as the Flames have a 3.86 GAA.

The author(s) of this article may play in daily fantasy contests including – but not limited to – games that they have provided recommendations or advice on in this article. In the course of playing in these games using their personal accounts, it's possible that they will use players in their lineups or other strategies that differ from the recommendations they have provided above. The recommendations in this article do not necessarily reflect the views of RotoWire. Chris Morgan plays in daily fantasy contests using the following accounts: FanDuel: cmorgan3, DraftKings: cmorgan3.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Chris Morgan is a writer of sports, pop culture, and humor articles, a book author, a podcaster, and a fan of all Detroit sports teams.
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