When it comes to setting a lineup, there's no sport quite like hockey. Every minute or so, new players are coming in and out of the game with the intensity of the sport necessitating these shifts to ensure fresh legs on the ice at all times.
Given this hyper-fluid nature of substitutions, do starting lineups even matter for the NHL? The answer is generally yes, but in a very different way than you might see in other sports. Let's talk about how lineups work in hockey, and their effect on daily and single-year fantasy contests, as well as wagering on the best NHL betting apps.
What Is a Starting Lineup in Hockey?
While a starting lineup in other sports might be the group you expect to see compete for most or all of the game, that is not remotely the case in hockey.
Even during the playoffs, stars still only see about 20 minutes of ice time at most in a 60-minute contest. That being said, there is still important gameday team news. It just comes in the form of that day's line combinations.
Of course, a coach can tinker with the lines throughout the match, but the team sheet you'll see before faceoff should give you a solid general idea of who will be sharing the ice with one another. You'll be able to see a list of three-man attacking lines, as well as defensive pairings, the latter of which stay on the ice for slightly longer periods.
This is one reason that an attacking line won't generally be tied to a specific defensive pair, so the most important information you'll learn is which forwards will be linking up to try to score goals.
Seeing the order of the lines can also be helpful. The first line is likely to see the most ice time, or at least the most important minutes of the game. Not always, but often, these top attackers will also be part of the team's power play unit, so they could have an even greater chance of putting up points in these hyper-offensive situations.
The Basics
The most basic stats you'll want to be monitoring for skaters are goals, assists, shots and blocks. When it comes to goalkeepers, saves and goals against will be the biggest ones, as well as team success metrics from when he's in net, namely wins and shutouts.
In today's era of the NHL, there are some more advanced stats you can leverage as well. Expected goals, or xG, quantifies the amount of goals a player should be scoring based on the chances he receives. High-danger metrics accomplish something similar, as they evaluate the quality of shots and scoring opportunities.
One way to categorize players ahead of a draft can be to place them in tiers of players who are generally of the same caliber as one another. This can help you strategize which group of players you intend to target with each pick. This is a more realistic approach than planning on any one individual, who could very easily be off the board.
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How to Use the NHL Starting Lineups
In terms of betting on NHL odds and making fantasy hockey lineups,these line sheets can be very valuable information, as opportunities to score are arguably just as important as player ability.
Another key way this can help fantasy managers is creating stacks. This is when you pull together two line-mates onto your roster in the hopes of cashing in on both a goal and assist when the pair link up.
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Why the NHL Starting Lineup Is Important for DFS Play
Lineups can help you identify which players are in for a big matchup, which can directly translate to daily fantasy success (as can our NHL lineup NHL LineupHQ Optimizer). For skaters, goals will be the most valuable action, followed by assists. In some competitions, you can earn smaller point sums for shots on goal and blocks, and even bonuses for special teams performances.
Knowing the starting goalies for a game is also very important, as netminders are also involved in DFS. You can earn big points for wins and shutouts, small values for each save, but lose points with each goal allowed.
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Using NHL Starting Lineups in Fantasy Hockey
In fantasy hockey, stacking linemates like Connor McDavid and Leon Draisaitl from the Edmonton Oilers can supercharge your Daily Fantasy Sports (DFS) lineup. Lineup announcements before games reveal these pairings, letting you target trios with chemistry, such as Tampa Bay’s Nikita Kucherov, Brayden Point, and Jake Guentzel, who can pile up goals, assists, and shots against weak defenses. Smart stacking based on linemates can net you 10-15 DFS points in a single game, especially with a favorable matchup.
The order of lines and special teams, plus starting goalies, are key to maximizing points. Top-line and power-play unit (PP1) players like Auston Matthews or Cale Makar get more ice time (20+ minutes) and bonus power-play points, while lower lines see less action (12-15 minutes). Elite special teams players like Nathan MacKinnon thrive against bad penalty kills, and goalies like Connor Hellebuyck can deliver big with wins (3-4 points), shutouts (2-3 points), and saves (0.2 points each), making pre-game updates essential for success.
NHL Starting Lineup Picks Overview
Let's talk about a few key approaches and concepts to keep in mind when setting up your DFS plays.
- Contest selection: Every different DFS competition has its own parameters, in terms of scoring, buy-in, and payout structure. Be sure to identify ones that fit your own personal needs and means.
- Low-risk lineup construction: Prioritize centers and high-volume shooters to ensure a general baseline of production.
- Divesting from defensemen: It's often hard to find top-tier production from this position even when paying top dollar. Think about finding low-cost defensemen who play significant minutes in order to make a value buy and prioritize attacking positions with the bulk of your funds.
- Stacking: Consider picking two players from the same line, so you can double-dip on points if one assists the other's goal.
NHL DFS Game Analysis Tips
Here are some ways to draft and perform game analysis.
- Research/create a mock draft: This is an opener for you to get acquainted with the skills and stats of top league players and to practice draft mechanics.
- Monitor goalies: Goalies can be more unpredictable than other players and that can have an effect on picks.
- Know how to pick your spots: Picks can be based on various factors, such as stats, matchups, or production trends.
- Remember to fill in the gaps: Everyone on the team should have a specific useful talent, even if all they do is support the first-round pick.
- Choose solid projections: Pay attention to a team's basic construction, and the defense should correlate to one of your line stacks.
- Get ideas from the experts: Seek out expert analysis on picks to become as informed as possible.
How Power Plays Boost DFS Points
Power plays can significantly boost Daily Fantasy Sports (DFS) points in NHL betting because they create prime scoring opportunities for players, which directly translate into higher fantasy point totals. Here’s how they work and why they matter for DFS:
- Increased Scoring Chances: Teams use their top offensive players, including forwards and a skilled defenseman, during power plays to boost scoring, with 20-25% of NHL goals occurring in these situations despite less ice time than even-strength play. In DFS, players on the top power-play unit (PP1) are key, as they often earn goals and assists, valued at 2-3 points each in most formats.
- Higher Shot Volume: Power-play units focus on generating shots, often doubling or tripling their shot rate compared to even-strength play. A player who averages 2 shots per game might take 4-5 during power-play time alone. Shots on goal usually earn 0.5-1 point each in DFS, so this adds up quickly, even if they don’t score.
- Power-Play Points (PPP) Bonuses: Many DFS platforms (like DraftKings or FanDuel) offer bonus points for goals or assists scored on the power play—sometimes an extra 0.5-1 point per event. This makes players who excel in these situations (e.g., Nikita Kucherov or Nathan MacKinnon) especially valuable, as their PPP can push their totals well above their even-strength production.
How to Find the Best NHL Daily Lineups
In order to participate in Daily Fantasy Hockey, you'll have to join a league and stick with whatever team you've selected, sometimes for a good period of time. So, the process of getting started can be a significant one.
Let's talk about how you can do it.
Opening an account with a DFS operator is fairly simple. All you'll need to do is navigate to the website of your choice, start the registration process, and submit your personal identification and contact information. This enables a unique account to be created.
Once you've done that, you can pick a contest that fits your competitive needs and financial means, and begin to pick a lineup. You'll be given an in-game budget and a list of players along with their corresponding costs.
From there, you'll select however many players at each position are required by the operator and competition of your choice, making sure not to crack that budget, and confirm your submissions.
Why Should I Play Hockey DFS Contests?
If you're an NHL fan who wants to get even more engaged with the game, NHL Daily Fantasy Contests can be a great way to do just that. Conversely, for newcomers to the game looking to learn more, diving into the statistics and trivia associated with these leagues can be a great introduction.
For hockey experts who believe that they can turn their insight and accurate predictions into a profit, Daily Fantasy offers a platform. The challenge of building the best possible team is also a great way to push yourself and see just how much you've learned about the sport and its stars.
NHL Starting Lineups FAQ
Want to learn more about NHL starting lineups and ways to play? Read these common questions and answers we've compiled below.
When are gameday NHL line combinations released?
There's no official time the lines have to be released. It can happen anytime on game day, but usually a good bit of time in advance.
What are the stats to watch when looking up NHL starting lineups?
Seeing which teammates often link up for goals and assists can be very valuable, as well as knowing who is likely to have power play opportunities.
Where do you find the best NHL starting lineups rankings?
You can find great information on NHL line combinations right here on RotoGrinders.
How do NHL starting lineups stacks work?
If you have two linemates in your own lineup, and one assists the other's goal, you'll receive points for both categories. This is what is known as a stack. If you choose to roster an entire line, you can even stack all three players if two of them assist the third.
What positions are on a hockey line?
A hockey line consists of a center, a left wing, and a right wing.
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