Between the Pipes: NHL goalie plays for DFS March 7

Hockey season is in full swing. We will be focusing this article around a very important piece in hockey and NHL DFS — the goaltender. With each set of games, one of us on the FTN hockey team will break down the day’s goalie slate for DFS.

While it’s obviously important for your DFS choice at goalie to get a win, it’s not a dealbreaker. It’s not always the best strategy to just pay up at the top for a goalie on a strong team expected to win. For cash, sure, but if we’re talking GPP we want to reach our extreme potential, so I tend to target goalies who will likely see a lot of shots and have a chance to win the game.

Sunday’s main slate starts at 5 p.m. ET and has six games. Some goalies have been confirmed already but our team has a good idea who is likely to get the start in net in the other contests. It’s important to follow along closely and to keep checking Daily Faceoff for confirmation. Or better yet, reach out in our Discord chat or to @chrismeaney, @jprellezodfs or @russ1prentice on Twitter.

Jake Oettinger, Dallas Stars vs. NSH

($7.7k DK/$7.4k FD)

Oettinger is making back-to-back starts after blanking the Blue Jackets Saturday with 21 saves to improve his numbers to an impressive 2.02 GAA and .922 SV% on the season. While the back-to-back start may be a little worrying, Nashville is playing a back-to-back as well and is the one that had to travel while Dallas is playing two in a row at home. The Predators provide an ideal target for opposing goalies as they are 28th in the league in goals scored yet fifth in shots, resulting in the third-most saves for opposing goalies.

Tuukka Rask, Boston Bruins vs. NJ

($8.4k DK/$7.9k FD)

Last time I suggested Rask as a play, he gave up six goals. That is not going to happen again Sunday with a home date against a young and offensively challenged Devils team. Since that six-goal game, Rask has rebounded with a pair of one-goal allowed games while recording 47 saves on 49 shots against the Rangers and Capitals, both of whom are much better offensive teams than New Jersey.

Others: James Reimer, CAR vs. FLA ($8.1k DK/$7.8k FD); David Rittich, CGY vs. OTT ($8.3k DK/$7.7k FD)

Tournament flier: Chris Driedger, FLA at CAR ($7.0k DK/$7.8k FD) – Carolina peppers the net with the sixth-most shots in the league, while Driedger has played phenomenal hockey in his two seasons with Florida; there is big risk/reward here, but that is what makes him a good tournament option.