Predicting the Top 5 NHL Fantasy Line Combinations This Week
Grant White
Host · Writer
Vegas Golden Knights: Ivan Barbashev - Jack Eichel - Mark Stone
Schedule: at Los Angeles Kings (Oct. 30) vs Utah Hockey Club (Nov. 2)
Offense is the name of the game for the Vegas Golden Knights, and their top line continues to wield their power unmercifully. We anticipate another strong showing from the Knights' top trio this week.
Led by Jack Eichel, Mark Stone, and Ivan Barbashev, the Golden Knights continue to put up crooked offensive numbers. Through ten games, the first line has accounted for 14 goals together, with all but one coming at five-on-five. As expected, that scoring is validated with elite production, with Eichel and company contributing 57 scoring and 25 high-danger chances across all strengths.
Cumulatively, Vegas' first line has an on-ice shooting percentage of 23.7%. It's unlikely they will maintain that standard throughout the regular season. Still, they should have no problem continuing that torrid pace against the Los Angeles Kings and Utah Hockey Club this week.
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Seattle Kraken: Jared McCann - Matty Beniers - Jordan Eberle
Schedule: at Montreal Canadiens (Oct. 29), at Ottawa Senators (Oct. 31), at Toronto Maple Leafs (Nov. 2), at Boston Bruins (Nov. 3)
Fantasy punters holding onto any Seattle Kraken players in season-long leagues can expect maximum value from their top line this week. The Kraken embark on a four-game road trip, with several intriguing opportunities to maintain their current form.
The Kraken's first-line combination of Jared McCann, Matty Beniers, and Jordan Eberle is one of the most effective trios. This combo has a scorching on-ice shooting percentage of 18.2% while producing a mind-numbing 70.7% expected goals-for rating across all strengths.
Seattle may be on the road this week, but fantasy punters should have faith in Seattle's top line. They will continue to be overlooked in DFS formats, but all three possess slate-changing performances that bettors can take advantage of.
Pittsburgh Penguins: Michael Bunting - Evgeni Malkin - Rickard Rakell
Schedule: vs Minnesota Wild (Oct. 29), vs Anaheim Ducks (Oct. 31), vs Montreal Canadiens (Nov. 2)
Playing just three games on home ice so far this season has limited the Pittsburgh Penguins' fantasy contributions early this season. Now settling into a brief three-game homestand, we expect a boon in production and scoring from the playoff hopefuls.
Always a team to mix up their lines, the Penguins should dedicate more ice time to Evgeni Malkin, Michael Bunting, and Rickard Rakell. The Pens' second line has been effective when skating together, posting 54.4% Corsi and 52.9% expected goals-for ratings. Their best work has come at five-on-five, giving Pittsburgh a pronounced advantage at home. Mike Sullivan can deploy his trio under more favorable circumstances while taking on some of the worst teams in the NHL this week.
Malkin has finessed his way to 14 points this season, with three coming in his most recent outing. That puts him seven clear of Sidney Crosby for the team lead and indicates that Malkin and his linemates are players worth targeting in fantasy this week.
New York Rangers: Artemi Panarin - Vincent Trocheck - Alex Lafreniere
Schedule: at Washington Capitals (Oct. 29), vs Ottawa Senators (Nov. 1), vs New York Islanders (Nov. 3)
Artemi Panarin doesn't command the same respect as some other NHL superstars, but it's time to start paying attention to what he's accomplishing with his New York Rangers teammates this season.
Panarin remains one of the top-scoring threats in the league. The Russian forward has tallied at least 92 points in three straight seasons, and he's well on his way to maintaining that streak into 2024-25. Flanked by Vincent Trocheck and Alex Lafreniere, Panarin has already recorded 15 points through his first eight games of the season. He's elevated Trocheck and Lafreniere with him, with the Rangers' forwards recording seven and eight points, respectively.
There is an analytics component propping up ongoing success. The Rangers' first line drives possession every time they are on the ice, accumulating a 55.9% Corsi rating across all strengths. Likewise, they've produced 66 scoring and 22 high-danger chances while starting 64.0% of their shifts in the attacking zone.
Three games against inferior competition, two of which come at MSG, support Panarin's scoring pace for at least another week.
Toronto Maple Leafs: Matthew Knies - Auston Matthews - Mitch Marner
Schedule: vs Seattle Kraken (Oct. 31), at St. Louis Blues (Nov. 2), at Minnesota Wild (Nov. 3)
Arguably, no line has underachieved more than the Toronto Maple Leafs top line of Matthew Knies, Auston Matthews, and Mitch Marner. However, production and output have jumped over their recent schedule, and that upward trajectory should continue this week.
The Leafs' top line finally broke through at the end of last week. Matthews, Knies, and Marner combined for nine points across Toronto's past two games, and that momentum should continue against three less-than-stellar opponents this week. More importantly, some of the best analytics support their uptick in scoring. This season, the Leafs' first line has accounted for 103 scoring and 42 high-danger chances and produced a spectacular 64.7% expected goals-for rating.
The Leafs are still getting used to Craig Berube's systems. However, as we can see, Matthews has been given free rein to continue to drive the scoring. Expect that recent onslaught to continue, prioritizing the top line in DFS formats when available.
Vegas Golden Knights: Ivan Barbashev - Jack Eichel - Mark Stone
Schedule: at Los Angeles Kings (Oct. 30) vs Utah Hockey Club (Nov. 2)
Offense is the name of the game for the Vegas Golden Knights, and their top line continues to wield their power unmercifully. We anticipate another strong showing from the Knights' top trio this week.
Led by Jack Eichel, Mark Stone, and Ivan Barbashev, the Golden Knights continue to put up crooked offensive numbers. Through ten games, the first line has accounted for 14 goals together, with all but one coming at five-on-five. As expected, that scoring is validated with elite production, with Eichel and company contributing 57 scoring and 25 high-danger chances across all strengths.
Cumulatively, Vegas' first line has an on-ice shooting percentage of 23.7%. It's unlikely they will maintain that standard throughout the regular season. Still, they should have no problem continuing that torrid pace against the Los Angeles Kings and Utah Hockey Club this week.
Stay ahead of the game and elevate your sports betting experience with SportsGrid.
Seattle Kraken: Jared McCann - Matty Beniers - Jordan Eberle
Schedule: at Montreal Canadiens (Oct. 29), at Ottawa Senators (Oct. 31), at Toronto Maple Leafs (Nov. 2), at Boston Bruins (Nov. 3)
Fantasy punters holding onto any Seattle Kraken players in season-long leagues can expect maximum value from their top line this week. The Kraken embark on a four-game road trip, with several intriguing opportunities to maintain their current form.
The Kraken's first-line combination of Jared McCann, Matty Beniers, and Jordan Eberle is one of the most effective trios. This combo has a scorching on-ice shooting percentage of 18.2% while producing a mind-numbing 70.7% expected goals-for rating across all strengths.
Seattle may be on the road this week, but fantasy punters should have faith in Seattle's top line. They will continue to be overlooked in DFS formats, but all three possess slate-changing performances that bettors can take advantage of.
