DFS: Basic NHL Strategy - The Linemates Combo Play

Many times, strategies for cash games and guaranteed prize pool events run counter to one another.

Taking a shot on a linemates combo play is not one of those times.

Doubling down by selecting two players from a prolific scoring trio is sound thinking. For cash game players, the option creates a higher floor than most - since at least two players almost always benefit from a goal scored by their line - while GPP participants also benefit with the appeal of a higher ceiling than simply picking individual players.

So how do you identify the best value in a linemate combination? Here are some tips:

Aim high: First-line players will always represent the best choices, since they see the most ice time and tend to generate the most scoring chances. These players obviously cost more, so you’ll need to find places to save elsewhere in order to make room for both.

Always snag the center: No matter how you decide on a combo, you should always make sure to include the center. As the primary playmaker on the majority of No. 1 lines, the center is the engine that makes the trio go - and in some cases, is the line’s best shooter, too.

Power through: Linemates that appear on their team’s top power-play unit are especially valuable. It’s not a catastrophe if linemates are split up on special teams - especially if that results in a slight salary reduction - but there’s more value in taking a power-play pairing.

Punish the weak: Matchups play can greatly reduce what you spend on a pairing. Even mid-tier forwards can feast on poor opposing defenses and goaltenders, making them good speculative plays in tournaments and high-floor options in cash games.

The strategy may lead to some players asking, “Why not take all three members of a top line?”

The short answer is, you can. But the risk factor is much greater if you do - and that makes it a less desirable play in cash games, where you’re looking to take as few chances as possible. GPP players may want to consider it, but only under one of these circumstances:

• The third linemate comes at a discount

• All three linemates are on the same power-play unit

• The opponent’s defense/goaltending are particularly terrible

The drawbacks are plentiful, particularly if you’re selecting an elite top line:

• Those three selections can eat up more than a third of your total salary allocation in a 9-man game - and you still need to save money for a goaltender, which is traditionally the priciest position to fill.

• Sometimes, lines are broken up during the game - so if you take the plunge and the third member of your triumvirate is demoted to the second or third line, you lose most of the value attached to him.

• Teams aren’t guaranteed power-play time, so if you select a trio that excels with the man advantage and they never get the chance, their value diminishes significantly.

• If the entire line goes busto, that’s an awful lot of salary flushed - leaving you with little or no chance of succeeding. With a two-man pairing, the player you select with your third choice may yet keep your team afloat.