NHL first look: Game-by-game DFS breakdown for Feb. 9

There are eight games in the NHL Tuesday, but the Philadelphia-Washington contest beginning at 6 p.m. ET might not be included in all the featured DFS contests. The Golden Knights, Panthers and Oilers are the largest favorites on the docket with the Lightning and Stars also receiving significant chalk.

Here’s a quick-hit primer to help with your fantasy and DFS lineup assembly.

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Philadelphia Flyers (-120) at Washington Capitals

Philadelphia scored three third-period goals to top Washington 7-4 Sunday and snap a two-game losing streak. The Flyers are tied for first in the Eastern Division, and No. 1 center Sean Couturier returned to the lineup with two goals and an assist in Sunday’s win. The major mismatch in this contest is Philadelphia 28th-ranked 70.5% penalty-kill percentage will be tested by Washington’s top-ranked power play. The Capitals did score with the man advantage in Sunday’s loss, too.

Washington has surrendered 16 goals during its three-game losing streak, and the Capitals have surrendered the sixth most goals per 60 minutes at five-on-five in the league. While Evgeny Kuznetsov may return from the COVID-19 protocol list for Tuesday’s game, Jakub Vrana will probably still be on the protocol list, and T.J. Oshie (upper body) is questionable. This has the potential to be another high-scoring game and has a 6.5 over/under total.

Detroit Red Wings at Florida Panthers (-215)

Look for a rebound showing from the Panthers Tuesday. Detroit pulled off a 4-1 road upset Sunday. Florida is healthy and allowing just 1.91 goals and 8.44 high-danger scoring chances per 60 minutes at five-on-five this season, which both rank sixth fewest in the league. It’s also worth noting that Aleksander Barkov, Anthony Duclair and Carter Verhaeghe combined for 19 shots attempts and four high-danger scoring chances through just 9:55 of five-on-five ice time Sunday, so look for puck luck to turn in their favor Tuesday. Detroit is the second largest favorite on the docket, after all.

The big news for Detroit is Givani Smith’s solid play. He recorded a Gordie Howe hat trick in Sunday’s win and has four points — one goal — through six games this season. His offensive pedigree leaves a lot to be desired, so expectations should be kept in check moving forward. Additionally, Sunday was Thomas Greiss’ best showing since making 40 saves opening night — it was also the veteran’s first win of the season. Expect the Panthers to be popular targets in daily contests Tuesday.

Edmonton Oilers (-200) at Ottawa Senators

Leon Draisaitl collected a goal and an assist during Monday’s 3-1 win over Ottawa, and the Oilers are significant road favorites again Tuesday. Connor McDavid also picked up a helper, as he and Draisaitl were in on all three Edmonton goals. With one or both of them on the ice, Edmonton has scored 43 goals this season, and the Oilers have only scored six times while they’ve both been on the bench. McDavid and Draisaitl each had two individual high-danger scoring chances Monday, and the Oilers totaled a healthy 16. Tyson Barrie also stood out and was on the ice for eight high-danger opportunities, something that should continue with his quarterback role on the No. 1 power-play unit.

Edmonton played tidy Monday and held Ottawa to just six high-danger scoring chances at five-on-five while driving possession with a 44.0 Corsi For percentage. Ottawa has also been held to two goals or fewer in six of its past eight contests for an underwhelming 1.88 goals per game. It’s worth noting their five-on-five team shooting percentage is a league-low 4.95 during the noted stretch, so the Senators probably have positive offensive regression ahead.

Tampa Bay Lightning (-167) at Nashville Predators

This is another rematch from Monday’s action, as Tampa Bay topped Nashville 4-1 to extend its winning streak to five games. The Lightning have a plus-13 goal differential during the surge while also allowing just three goals through the past three games. Tampa No. 1 netminder Andrei Vasilevskiy should also start Tuesday, and he brings a high-end 7-1-1 record, .931 save percentage and 1.89 GAA to the table.

The Predators will be without center Ryan Johansen (upper body) for the foreseeable future, as the 28-year-old veteran was placed on injured reserve Monday. It’s a significant blow for Nashville, as the team already lacked scoring depth. Plus, Tampa Bay has limited Nashville to just 23 high-danger scoring chances at five-on-five through three games this year, including just three Monday.

Chicago Blackhawks at Dallas Stars (-165)

Surprisingly, the Blackhawks have only been beaten once in regulation over their past 10 games to improve to a 5-4-4 record for the campaign. They also topped Dallas 2-1 in overtime Sunday. One of the main reasons for the improved play has been Kevin Lankinen. The rookie owns a .928 save percentage and 2.32 GAA through his eight appearances, and he should start Tuesday. Just note, the Blackhawks have scored the second fewest goals and generated the 10th-fewest high-danger scoring chances per 60 minutes at five-on-five in the league this season, so they’re likely punching above their weight class right now.

The Stars are also in need of a bounceback showing with just a single win through their past five contests. Dallas has been solid defensively with just 1.78 goals against per hour and a rock-solid .928 team save percentage at five-on-five this season. Alexander Radulov (lower body) will be out again for the Stars, but Joel Kiviranta (lower body) skated with Jamie Benn and Joe Pavelski atop the depth chart in practice Monday, so the 24-year-old Finn could be a sneaky, low-priced target in DFS.

Winnipeg Jets at Calgary Flames (-132)

The Jets are expected to have Pierre-Luc Dubois in the lineup for his Winnipeg debut Tuesday. He’s been in quarantine for the past 14 days since being acquired from the Blue Jackets and last played Jan. 21. While Winnipeg has balanced its lines out at even strength, Dubois is projected to have Kyle Connor and Trevor Lewis on his flanks. Connor has scored 30 goals in each of the past three seasons, so it should be a solid setup for Dubois. Additionally, the addition of Dubois makes the Jets extremely difficult to linematch against. The club now has four two-way centers.

Calgary lost two of three to the Jets in their recent three-game series, and Tuesday’s matchup is just a one-off before the Flames face Vancouver four times beginning Thursday. Through 11 contests this season, Calgary is a difficult team to handicap. No. 1 goalie Jacob Markstrom has been inconsistent, and the offense has been scarce behind Johnny Gaudreau, Elias Lindholm, Sean Monahan and Matthew Tkachuk, and it could be argued that Calgary needs even more from both Monahan and Tkachuk to climb the standings.

Anaheim Ducks at Vegas Golden Knights (-220)

Vegas is the largest favorite on the docket and has only lost once in regulation through nine games this season. Additionally, the Golden Knights have scored an impressive 3.11 goals per hour while allowing just 2.12 at five-on-five for the campaign and are coming off consecutive wins. Mark Stone and Max Pacioretty are leading the way offensively, but the scoring is coming throughout the lineup, and Shea Theodore could be the most underrated point producer in the league from the blueline.

Turning to the Ducks, Ryan Getzlaf remains questionable with a lower-body injury and could miss his third consecutive game. It would be a big blow for Anaheim. The Ducks have only scored 20 five-on-five goals through 13 games, and their 6.7 power-play percentage ranks last in the league. As a result, loading up the Vegas starting netminder with confidence is advised. Both Robin Lehner and Marc-Andre Fleury are positioned to reward.

San Jose Sharks (-115) at Los Angeles Kings

The Kings have lost four straight and surrendered 17 goals in the process to drop to 3-6-2 for the campaign and into the basement of the West Division. San Jose is one point ahead of Los Angeles with a game in hand. The Sharks have had their own struggles, especially at five-on-five with just 17 goals for and 25 against through 10 games. Both clubs also rank bottom-10 in Corsi For percentage for the campaign and bottom five in team save percentage at five-on-five.

It all adds up to a lackluster game between a pair of lottery-draft teams. There could be some sneaky fantasy upside, though. Anze Kopitar logs huge minutes for the Kings and has collected 14 points through 11 games — albeit with just two goals. The Sharks, on the other hand, have Logan Couture, Evander Kane, Brent Burns, Tomas Hertl, Timo Meier, Kevin Labanc and Ryan Donato who are all capable of moving the needle. It’s just likely best to consider them against-the-grain fliers more than lineup staples.