RADIO
Welcome, RotoBallers! If you do not know me, my name is Brandon and I write both The First-Serve and The Kick-Off for tennis and soccer, respectively. If you have not checked those out, make sure you do! It is the return of the NHL season, which means it's time to sharpen our skills and partake in NHL DFS! As always, I'll give you the best tools to succeed and the info you need to build the best lineups possible for your GPP and cash game NHL contests on both DraftKings and FanDuel.
Today, I'll be bringing you my NHL lineup picks, analysis, and advice for NHL DFS contests on DraftKings and FanDuel for Tuesday, January 16, 2024, at 7:00 PM EDT. Be sure to also check out our awesome NHL tools, including our Lineup Optimizer, Research Station, Projections, and DFS Cheat Sheets!
If you have any questions on today's slate, bankroll management, GPP strategy, cash game strategy, or anything else, don’t hesitate to email me at [email protected], via Twitter/X @df_solutions, or in our premium Slack chat. Good luck, RotoBallers!
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NHL DFS Analysis and Picks for 1/16/24
We have finally made it! The 2023-2024 season is just about halfway done as the holiday season closes. There have been some surprises, both good and bad, and generational talent Connor Bedard has not disappointed. With teams still in flux and many unwritten stories yet to take fold, the race to the Stanley Cup is heating up!
Tonight we have an eight-game slate and six teams playing on a back-to-back: Colorado, Seattle, Anaheim, New York Islanders, Los Angeles, and San Jose. The current top-3 highest implied team totals are Edmonton with 3.9, Colorado with 3.8, and Washington with 3.5. I will do my best to guide you through this eight-game slate on DraftKings and FanDuel starting at 7:00 p.m. EDT.
DISCLOSURE: Make sure to monitor the NHL news feeds for the latest player status and injury news.
DraftKings and FanDuel Goalies - NHL DFS Picks
Chris Driedger - DK $6.8K || FD $7.6K
Opponent - New York Rangers
Driedger may have the best value on the slate. The netminder has played just once this season, winning 2-1 against Calgary, while making 37 saves. In the 2021-2022 season, in 27 games, Driedger had a -0.065 Goals Saved Above Expected Per 60. He would rank 26th out of 48 goalies in the last 10 games this season. The Rangers sit just outside the top 10 in Shots For Per 60 and just made the top 10 in Goals For Per 60. Teammate, Joey Daccord made value yesterday in Pittsburgh despite conceding three goals. For less salary against another high-powered offense, Driedger is set up to be the top-value goalie on the slate.
Others To Consider (Cash/GPP):
- Hellebuyck (DK $8.2K || FD $8.9K)
- Ingram (DK $7.1K || FD $7.7K)
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— 🇺🇦Shockmain (@Shockmain) January 6, 2023
DraftKings and FanDuel Centers - NHL DFS Picks
Nathan MacKinnon - DK $9.9K || FD $10.7K
Opponent - Ottawa Senators
MacKinnon is coming off a mediocre loss at home against a bad Montreal team. With Colorado’s offense further depleted after the announcement that teammate and winger Valeri Nichushkin would be heading back to the NHL Player Assistance Program, MacKinnon and the top line of Colorado is all they have. This has pros and cons. They will see more chances with the puck, but they will also be shut down more by the opposition. In the center’s last five appearances, he has three goals, five assists, 26 shots, and seven blocked shots. Ottawa is in the bottom five in all meaningful metrics, and the expected starter, Joonas Korpisalo, is the worst goalie in Goals Saved Above Expected Per 60 in the last 10 games. Even if MacKinnon sees the pairing of Jake Sanderson and Artem Zub, he will still have numerous opportunities.
Philipp Kurashev - DK $4.4K || FD $5.3K
Opponent - San Jose Sharks
There are two ways to attack this matchup. One, play either goalie and expect a low-scoring affair with both clubs possessing a poor offense, or two, run either team in hopes they have a blow-up game in a good matchup. For the sake of the article, the hosts will be highlighted and, more specifically, top-line center Philipp Kurashev. In his last five outings, he has one goal, 10 shots, and six blocked shots. Although his production is nowhere near what it should be for top-line minutes, San Jose offers the perfect chance to do just that. The visitors are still the worst club in all meaningful metrics over the season and their last 10 games. Furthermore, they are being outscored 31 to 70 in their last 10 away games. This sets up Kurashev and company for a potential ceiling performance.
Others To Consider (CASH/GPP):
- McDavid (DK $9.8K || FD $10.4K)
- Bjugstad (DK $4.2K || FD $4.9K)
DraftKings and FanDuel Wings - NHL DFS Picks
Alex Ovechkin - DK $6.4K || FD $7.1K
Opponent - Anaheim Ducks
Ovechkin has not been this low in salary since his earliest days in the league. It seems as though the winger’s age has caught up to him, along with a lack of playmakers on the Capitals compared to recent years. Over the season, Ovechkin has just eight goals and 19 assists. He is also shooting at a record low this season – 5.8 percent – compared to his average of 12.5 percent. Luckily, he is playing a Ducks team that loves conceding chances. In Per 60 stats, the visitors are in the bottom 10 in Shots Against and Scoring Chances Against, as well as the bottom five in High Danger Chances Against and Goals Against. They are also playing in the second half of a back-to-back, after pulling off a 5-4 comeback victory in Florida. All signs point to Ovechkin having a respectable night tonight and for his caliber, he could easily shatter value.
Logan O’Connor - DK $3.1K || FD $4.1K
Opponent - Ottawa Senators
As mentioned above, Colorado winger Valeri Nichushkin has re-entered the NHL Player Assistance Program, leaving a massive gap in Colorado’s offense. Insert Logan O’Connor. For the time being, the Avalanche will have to replace Nichushkin’s production in-house. O’Connor surely deserves it though with two goals, two assists, eight shots, and one blocked shot throughout his last five performances. One would have to imagine that O’Connor will get an extended look in the newly made second line before the Avalanche look elsewhere. This is the perfect scenario for him. Coming off a dud night, he had a six-game point streak prior and Ottawa’s poor defense offers the chance to get back in the point column.
Others To Consider (CASH/GPP):
- Nugent-Hopkins (DK $6.1K || FD $7.3K)
- Raddysh (DK $3.3K || FD $3.7K)
DraftKings and FanDuel Defensemen - NHL DFS Picks
Seth Jones - DK $5.4K || FD $5.5K
Opponent - San Jose Sharks
Typically, defensemen north of $5K on DraftKings do not get highlighted. However, Jones is in the perfect situation. The Blackhawks are playing at home and, as mentioned, the Sharks are on the second half of a back-to-back and are conceding seven Goals Against Per 60 over their last 10 away games. Furthermore, Jones is now one of the primary producers with teammates Connor Bedard, Nick Foligno, and Tyler Johnson all out. Expect him to be during tonight's game as well.
Ryker Evans - DK $2.5K || FD $K
Opponent - New York Rangers
Evans is nothing but a speculative play. After Vince Dunn did not play in Pittsburgh yesterday and with the Kraken playing their second game in as many days, it is fair to rule out Dunn for another game. In his place, Ryker Evans came in, taking over both first pairing and top power-play unit responsibilities. During the performance, Evans put together two shots and two blocked shots. Over his previous five outings, he has one assist, seven shots, and three blocked shots. At minimum salary on DraftKings, if Evans continues his new role, he is THE value play of the slate.
Others To Consider (CASH/GPP):
- Romanov (DK $3.8K || FD $4.9K)
- Bear (DK $3.2K || FD $3.9K)
NHL DFS Top Power Plays and Stacks
- COL1
- OTT1
- EDM1
- TOR1
NHL DFS Stacks of the Day
Brandon's Stack
- CHI: Reichel-Kurashev-Raddysh
Chalk Stack
- COL: Drouin-MacKinnon-Rantanen
Sneaky Stack
- COL: Kiviranta-Colton-O’Connor
NHL DFS News and Injury Alerts
More DFS Lineup Picks and Analysis
