NHL DFS Picks: DraftKings Top Plays and Strategy for Tuesday, October 21

Tuesday's top NHL DFS options on DraftKings include Bo Horvat as the New York Islanders offer some stacking possibilities as they host the San Jose Sharks.
NHL DFS Picks: DraftKings Top Plays and Strategy for Tuesday, October 21
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Tuesday has 10 games scheduled, including six starting in the 7:00-7:30 p.m. EDT window, three getting underway at 8:00 p.m. and one beginning at 10:00 p.m. All game lines and odds used below come courtesy of the DraftKings Sportsbook.

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 

Washington (vs. Seattle), NY Islanders (vs. San Jose), Dallas (vs. Columbus) and Florida (at Boston) are the biggest favorites on the Moneyline. The over/under for the Sharks-Islanders, Canucks-Penguins, Blue Jackets-Stars and Avalanche-Mammoth is 6.5 goals. The Oilers-Senators, Devils-Maple Leafs and Ducks-Predators matchups project 6.0 goals to be scored, and the other games anticipate 5.5 goals. 

GOALIES 

Anthony Stolarz, TOR vs. NJD ($7,900): Stolarz is a solid rebound candidate after a rough overtime loss to Seattle on Saturday. There's plenty of motivation to get back on track. Stolarz also made 38 saves in a 2-1 overtime win over his hometown team last campaign. 

Jeremy Swayman, BOS vs. FLA ($7,200): Swayman has lost his past two outings, but he has bounce-back appeal in his return to home ice. In his last start at TD Garden, he stopped 21 shots in a 3-1 win over Buffalo. Swayman emerged victorious in two of three appearances versus Florida in 2024-25 while stopping 88 of 97 shots. He has plenty of upside as a value play against a Panthers team that has lost four straight games. 

VALUE PLAYS/ONE-OFFS 

David Pastrnak, BOS vs. FLA ($8,500): Pastrnak has three goals, one assist and 14 shots in four games going into Tuesday night's action. He has reached the scoresheet in five of his last six appearances versus the Panthers, accumulating five goals and four helpers in the process. 

William Nylander, TOR  vs. NJD ($7,700): Nylander has amassed one goal and six assists during his three-game point spree. He has earned a multi-point effort in each appearance while recording two power-play helpers and eight shots. Nylander had two goals and an assist in three games versus New Jersey last season. 

Kirill Marchenko, CBJ at DAL ($6,300): Marchenko has notched five goals on 14 shots and one assist during his four-game point streak. He generated two goals, four points and five shots in two meetings with Dallas last season. 

Shane Pinto, OTT vs. EDM ($4,900): Pinto has been held without a point on only one occasion through his first six appearances. He has registered seven goals on 21 shots and one assist during that span. 

FORWARD LINE STACKS 

Islanders vs. Sharks 

Bo Horvat (C - $6,900), Jonathan Drouin (W - $4,700), Emil Heineman (W - $3,200) 

Horvat has supplied four goals on 13 shots and two assists in his last four outings. He has one power-play tally and a shorthanded marker over that span. Drouin has one goal, seven shots and three helpers across four appearances this season. Heineman has contributed two goals, one assist and six shots during a three-game point streak. 

The trio has been rolling offensively, and that trend is expected to continue in Tuesday's matchup against the Sharks. San Jose is tied for the league lead in goals against per game (5.00) and has surrendered the most shots per game (35.8). 

Stars vs. Blue Jackets 

Jason Robertson (W - $6,500), Wyatt Johnston (C - $6,200), Mavrik Bourque (W - $2,800) 

Robertson's four-game point streak came to an end in Saturday's 3-1 loss to St. Louis, but he has racked up two goals, four assists and 23 shots through five appearances this season. He also has one goal and two helpers on the power play. Johnston has registered four goals, including two with the man advantage, and two assists over his five-game point spree. Bourque has chipped in one goal, one helper and four shots in his last three outings. 

The Dallas trio has been productive to begin the 2025-26 campaign. Columbus has allowed the second-most shots per game (34.4) and has the worst penalty kill percentage (55.6) in the league. 

DEFENSEMEN 

Evan Bouchard, EDM at OTT ($6,800): Bouchard hasn't earned a point through six games this season, but Tuesday's game seems like a good spot for him to get on the board. Ottawa has allowed a league-high 30 goals over six games this campaign. Bouchard also has one goal, eight shots and eight assists in his past four appearances versus the Senators. 

Roman Josi, NSH vs ANA ($6,500): Josi has one goal, 13 shots, two assists and five blocks over his last four contests. His three-game point streak ended in Saturday's 4-1 loss to Winnipeg, but he is a good bet to return to form in Tuesday's game. Josi has reached the scoresheet in eight of his last nine appearances versus the Ducks, collecting five goals and five assists during that stretch. 

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. Corey Abbott plays in daily fantasy contests using the following accounts: FanDuel: armchair_gm, DraftKings: thenext1, Yahoo: Why.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Corey Abbott is an avid sports fan who has been writing fantasy hockey for 15-plus years.
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