Scorching Saturday – 5 DFS Options

I hope you’re wearing a poppy! The date before Remembrance Day brings us a little afternoon action followed by a wild main slate. Seven of the eight main slate games begin right at 7pm EST. The Los Angeles Kings then host the Calgary Flames to complete the main slate later on in the evening. The Nashville Predators and Tampa Bay Lightning, the two top teams in the NHL standings, will look to keep their four-game winning streaks alive on Saturday while the Chicago Blackhawks will try to end a four-game skid. The aforementioned Predators along with the Toronto Maple Leafs will both try to remain the only two, perfect road teams in the NHL. With the leader in the Art Ross Trophy race having the day off (and recovering from a crazy night out in the lovely city of Winnipeg?), perhaps Connor McDavid or Thomas Chabot, who are both in action on Saturday, can pass Mikko Rantanen for the point scoring lead. Let’s take a look at five, red-hot players who are DFS options this Saturday.

C – Sean Couturier (DK $5,700, FD $6,100)

Couturier has averaged a point per game over his last five games. The Phoenix, Arizona product has only played under 20 minutes in a game three times this season. Out of every forward that plays this afternoon, Couts has averaged the most ice time per game by over half a minute. The Flyers have been using their second power play unit more frequently in their last few games, but Couturier’s unit still receives the lion’s share of ice time. The Chicago Blackhawks have been a bottom third team in shots against and scoring chances against so far this season. Couturier along with his linemate Claude Giroux and each of their team-leading 0.36 goals per game are in play Saturday afternoon.

W – Evgenii Dadonov (DK $6,900, FD $6,700)

The skilled Russian began the season at $5.3K on DraftKings and $6.3K on FanDuel, and his price has been gradually increasing ever since (and for good reason). He’s fourth and seventh among all NHL players in fantasy points per game over the past two weeks on DraftKings and FanDuel. He’s potted a goal in four of past five games. Dadonov has the highest goals per 60 minutes and points per 60 minutes on the Panthers this season. He also ranks fourth on the Panthers in shot attempts per game. It doesn’t matter how you spell his name, whether it’s Evgenii (NHL.com), Evgeny (hockeyDB), Evgeni (Hockey-Reference), or Yevgeni (eliteprospects), Dadonov is a viable DFS option on Saturday.

W – Josh Bailey (DK $5,800, FD $5,800)

Josh Bailey and his line have been on a roll. Bailey has failed to record a point only once in his past ten games. His line consisting of Anders Lee, Brock Nelson, and himself have combined for nine goals this year while not being on the ice for a goal against when on the ice together at even strength. No forward line that’s played at least 50 minutes together this NHL season has a better goal differential than that. The ninth overall pick in the 2008 NHL Entry Draft is trying to best what was his highest point total in a single season last year where he obtained 71 points. Bailey has never recorded over a point per game in an entire season in his NHL career—he currently has 17 points in 15 games this season.

D – Thomas Chabot (DK $6,200, FD $4,700)

I wrote about him last week, and I’ll write about him again. Thomas Chabot has simply been unstoppable this year. Chabot currently sits third in the entire NHL in points (one point behind McDavid). He has points in five straight games, three of those games being multi-point games. He’s recorded a total of 25 shots in just his last five games including nine(!) shots against the Devils this past Tuesday. No other player on DraftKings or FanDuel has acquired more fantasy points in the last two weeks than Thomas Chabot. The Tampa Bay Lightning have been good on the kill this season, but they’re near the top of the league in minor penalties taken. The 21-year-old has an opportunity to take over the lead-league in points Saturday night in The Sunshine State.

D – Mark Giordano (DK $5,900, FD $5,800)

No defenseman over the past two weeks has averaged more fantasy points per game than Mark Giordano. The lefty has also managed the third most fantasy points per game among all NHL players in that same time span. This season, Giordano leads the Flames in blocks per game while occupying third spot in shots per game. The Calgary Flames get a date with the last-place Los Angeles Kings on Saturday night. Giordano and his 4.05 power play minutes per game over the past month will try to quarterback his way into remaining a fantastic fantasy option for days to come.