Ranking This Week’s Top 5 NHL DFS Line Combinations
Grant White
Host · Writer
1. Pittsburgh Penguins: Evgeni Malkin - Sidney Crosby - Rickard Rakell
Schedule: vs Dallas Stars (Nov. 11), vs Detroit Red Wings (Nov. 13), at Columbus Blue Jackets (Nov. 15), vs San Jose Sharks (Nov. 16)
Things are getting desperate in the Steel City. The Pittsburgh Penguins have just six wins through their first 16 games. We saw that emotion start to boil over last week. Amid a 5-1 loss, Sidney Crosby was trying to light a fire under his team. Now, we expect his play on the ice to do the talking.
Crosby has been reunited with Evgeni Malkin on the Pens' top line, and they're finding success with Rickard Rakell as a linemate. As a unit, they are up to a 63.2% expected goals-for rating across all strengths, with a comfortable 94 scoring and 38 high-danger chances.
This is an ideal streaming week for the Penguins. Pittsburgh is on the ice four times this week, three of those contests against sub-par opponents. If they don't get it together this week, it could all be blown up next. We expect Crosby, Malkin, and Rakell to deliver.
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5. Utah Hockey Club: Matias Maccelli - Logan Cooley - Dylan Guenther
Schedule: vs Carolina Hurricanes (Nov. 13), vs Vegas Golden Knights (Nov. 15)
They may only have two games this week, but we expect the Utah Hockey Club to make them count. Prioritizing their second line could be the key to unlocking DFS glory this week.
Logan Cooley and Dylan Guenther have spent most of the season together, but including Matias Maccelli with them has elevated their effectiveness. When Cooley and Guenther are on the ice without Maccelli, they have a sub-bar 44.3% expected goals-for rating. But once Maccelli is added to the mix, that benchmark jumps nearly 30 points, up to 73.4%. Predictably, that correlates with elite production and possession metrics. In limited action together, Utah's second line combined for 68.8% scoring and 80.0% high-danger chance ratings.
Granted, these are two tough matchups for the Hockey Club, but we still expect this grouping to deliver. When available, rostering Maccelli, Cooley, and Guenther could be the combination to set your DFS roster apart.
4. Columbus Blue Jackets: Zach Aston-Reese - Sean Kuraly - Kevin Labanc
Schedule: at Seattle Kraken (Nov. 12), vs Pittsburgh Penguins (Nov. 15), at Montreal Canadiens (Nov. 16)
You will find the Columbus Blue Jackets' fourth line at the bottom of the DFS salary charts, but you should start to see them on top of the scoresheet.
As a team, the Jackets are underperforming relative to expected metrics. Their anticipated progression is best encapsulated in their fourth line's forecasted performance. As it stands, Zach Aston-Reese, Sean Kuraly, and Kevin Labanc have combined for a stunning 66.1% expected goals-for rating. They are dictating tempo and pace when on the ice, posting 62.7% Corsi and 63.6% shots-for ratings. However, the trio has yet to find the back of the net.
With a career 9.6% shooting percentage, Aston-Reese is the most accomplished scorer on the line. Still, Labanc is close behind at 9.2%, and Kuraly has a respectable 7.5% mark. Whether you're rostering them individually or going for a low-cost stack, expect the Jackets' line to deliver this week.
3. Ottawa Senators: Claude Giroux - Josh Norris - Drake Batherson
Schedule: at Toronto Maple Leafs (Nov. 12), vs Philadelphia Flyers (Nov. 14), at Carolina Hurricanes (Nov. 16)
As usual, the Ottawa Senators' top line continues to command most of the fantasy banter, but keep an eye on what their second line has in store this week.
While Claude Giroux, Josh Norris, and Drake Batherson don't get their fair share of starts in the attacking zone, they've been more than capable of making the trek down the ice to create chances. The Sens' second line is up to 40 scoring and 19 high-danger chances at five-on-five. As expected, those marks jump when we factor in their production across all strengths. Those opportunities jump to 51 and 24, respectively, precipitating increased scoring and shooting percentages.
Giroux is the quintessential breakout candidate this week without a point in five straight. Flanked by Norris and Batherson, this line should see a substantive increase in scoring in the short term.
2. Colorado Avalanche: Artturi Lehkonen - Nathan MacKinnon - Mikko Rantanen
Schedule: vs Nashville Predators (Nov. 11), vs Los Angeles Kings (Nov. 13), vs Washington Capitals (Nov. 15)
After weeks of underachieving to start the 2024-25 campaign, the Colorado Avalanche are finally showing signs of breaking out. Their recent upward trajectory carries them into a home-friendly schedule this week.
Colorado continues to build an avalanche of momentum offensively, which is starting to pay off. The Avs have recorded six goals in two of their past three. We should see renewed success this week, led by Nathan MacKinnon, Mikko Rantanen, and Artturi Lehkonen. Colorado's top line has accounted for seven of their past 12 goals, and their analytics support ongoing scoring.
MacKinnon and company have registered a 73.3% expected goals-for rating across all strengths. Still, they're operating below their expected goals for total. With three home games against defensively lax teams, we anticipate a sustained scoring surge this week.
1. Pittsburgh Penguins: Evgeni Malkin - Sidney Crosby - Rickard Rakell
Schedule: vs Dallas Stars (Nov. 11), vs Detroit Red Wings (Nov. 13), at Columbus Blue Jackets (Nov. 15), vs San Jose Sharks (Nov. 16)
Things are getting desperate in the Steel City. The Pittsburgh Penguins have just six wins through their first 16 games. We saw that emotion start to boil over last week. Amid a 5-1 loss, Sidney Crosby was trying to light a fire under his team. Now, we expect his play on the ice to do the talking.
Crosby has been reunited with Evgeni Malkin on the Pens' top line, and they're finding success with Rickard Rakell as a linemate. As a unit, they are up to a 63.2% expected goals-for rating across all strengths, with a comfortable 94 scoring and 38 high-danger chances.
This is an ideal streaming week for the Penguins. Pittsburgh is on the ice four times this week, three of those contests against sub-par opponents. If they don't get it together this week, it could all be blown up next. We expect Crosby, Malkin, and Rakell to deliver.
Stay ahead of the game and elevate your sports betting experience with SportsGrid.
5. Utah Hockey Club: Matias Maccelli - Logan Cooley - Dylan Guenther
Schedule: vs Carolina Hurricanes (Nov. 13), vs Vegas Golden Knights (Nov. 15)
They may only have two games this week, but we expect the Utah Hockey Club to make them count. Prioritizing their second line could be the key to unlocking DFS glory this week.
Logan Cooley and Dylan Guenther have spent most of the season together, but including Matias Maccelli with them has elevated their effectiveness. When Cooley and Guenther are on the ice without Maccelli, they have a sub-bar 44.3% expected goals-for rating. But once Maccelli is added to the mix, that benchmark jumps nearly 30 points, up to 73.4%. Predictably, that correlates with elite production and possession metrics. In limited action together, Utah's second line combined for 68.8% scoring and 80.0% high-danger chance ratings.
Granted, these are two tough matchups for the Hockey Club, but we still expect this grouping to deliver. When available, rostering Maccelli, Cooley, and Guenther could be the combination to set your DFS roster apart.
