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 on Tuesday, January, 2, 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 1/2/24
We have finally made it! The 2023-2024 season is just about halfway done as the holiday season closes. There have been some surprises in the good and the 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 a thirteen-game slate and no teams playing on a back-to-back. The currently live top-3 highest implied team totals are: Nashville with 4.2, Dallas with 4.2 and Boston with 4.1. I will do my best to guide you through this thirteen-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
Connor Ingram - DK $7.4K || FD $7.2K
Opponent - Florida Panthers
The Florida Panthers have been struggling for goal production lately and over their last ten games – excluding splits –, they are the fourth-best in Shots For Per 60, but the seventh-worst in Goals For Per 60. Furthermore, they provide the best value when analyzing their Shots Per Goal Per 60, 17 shots. Arizona is also performing admirably over their last ten home games, outscoring opponents 26 to 13. As one of the more ‘affordable’ goalies on the slate, Ingram may provide the best floor. In his last five starts, he has a 2-2-0 record – one appearance off the bench –, a 2.38 Goals Against Average and a 0.919 Save Percentage. Ingram is also in the top 15 in Goals Saved Above Expected Per 60 for all goalies who have played 120 or more minutes over the season.
Others To Consider (Cash/GPP):
- Fleury (DK $8K || FD $7.6K)
- Blackwood (DK $7.3K || FD $7K)
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— 🇺🇦Shockmain (@Shockmain) January 6, 2023
DraftKings and FanDuel Centers - NHL DFS Picks
Georgii Merkulov - DK $2.6K || FD $K
Opponent - Columbus Blue Jackets
DraftKings has finally put Merky into the player pool, however, FanDuel has yet to follow suit and probably won’t for another handful of games. The rookie has ascended the North American hockey ranks quickly, playing just one year in the NCAA – Ohio State – and then two years – including this year – in the AHL. In all three instances, Merkulov has either played at a point-per-game pace or just below it. This season alone in the AHL, in 31 games played, he had 14 goals and 16 assists before his callup, courtesy of eliteprospects.com. Out of the 13 games on the slate tonight, Merkulov and the third line for Boston have one of the best matchups. He will see even time against the top nine of Columbus who are collectively averaging 31 Scoring Chances Against Per 60 and 13 High Danger Chances Against Per 60 – both over the season –. Furthermore, the Blue Jackets in their last ten games – excluding splits –, are in the bottom five in Shots Against, Scoring Chances Against, High Danger Chances Against and Goals Against – all Per 60 –. In two games for Merkulov, he has 2 shots and 3 blocked shots. Going up against one of the worst teams in the league, despite it being away, Merkulov does not need much to maintain and exceed value.
Sidney Crosby - DK $7.9K || FD $9K
Opponent - Washington Capitals
The Capitals continue to struggle in many areas on the ice with an emphasis in net and it looks like Darcy Kuemper may start this match with Charlie Lindgren on IR. Over the season, Kuemper is in the bottom 20 in Goals Saved Above Expected Per 60 for all goalies playing at least 120 minutes and in his last ten starts, he is in the bottom ten. To include, Washington is also being outscored 13 to 26 in their last ten away games. Crosby has cooled off since his surge, posting 2 goals, 1 assist, 13 shots and 3 blocked shots in his last five games. However, it only takes one good matchup for him to get out of his funk and this is the spot to do it.
Others To Consider (CASH/GPP):
- MacKinnon (DK $9.8K || FD $10.3K)
- O’Reilly (DK $5.5K || FD $6.6K)
DraftKings and FanDuel Wings - NHL DFS Picks
Rickard Rakell - DK $4K || FD $5.1K
Opponent - Washington Capitals
It is hard to ignore Rakell as long as he is on the top line and the top power-play unit for Pittsburgh. The winger as mentioned has been much better since returning from his lengthy injury, posting 2 goals, 3 assists, 14 shots and 3 blocked shots in his last five games. As mentioned, Washington is crumbling under the Metropolitan pressure right now and they are traveling into Pittsburgh. Rakell is a viable option in both stacks and as an ‘affordable’ one-off.
Filip Forsberg - DK $7.6K || FD $9.5K
Opponent - Chicago Blackhawks
It is a matter of time until Nashville sees positive regression at home. Per NaturalStatTrick, the Predators have outscored opponents 24 to 21 in their last ten away games, but have been outscored 14 to 22 in their last ten home games. Luckily, Chicago has been outscored 14 to 37 in their last ten games and remains the second-worst team in the league in the last ten games – excluding splits –. Expected starter, Petr Mrazek is also in the bottom 10 in Goals Saved Above Expected Per 60 in the last ten games. Forsberg remains the focal point of Nashville’s attack, producing 2 goals, 3 assists, 26 shots and 4 blocked shots in his last five outings.
Others To Consider (CASH/GPP):
- Eklund (DK $3.6K || FD $4.2K)
- Drouin (DK $3.5K || FD $4.6K)
DraftKings and FanDuel Defensemen - NHL DFS Picks
Calen Addison - DK $2.8K || FD $4K
Opponent - Detroit Red Wings
Addison is nothing more than a speculation play and a long shot. Originally drafted by the Penguins as the heir to Kris Letang, Addison has failed every step of the way with each team he has played for. In his last five games, he has 1 assist, 1 shot and 10 blocked shots. Despite his failed production, he remains on the top power-play unit for the Sharks and has one of the better matchups of the night. In the last ten games, expected starter James Reimer is the second-worst in Goals Saved Above Expected Per 60 and he is the fourth-worst over the season. Addison only needs a few shots to make value and he is expected to do much more than that tonight.
Darren Raddysh - DK $3K || FD $3.7K
Opponent - Winnipeg Jets
Mikhail Sergachev looks to be out for yet another game tonight, leaving his duties in the hands of Darren Raddysh. The two-way defenseman quarterbacks the second power-play unit and most recently has been promoted to the top pairing with teammate Victor Hedman. In Raddysh’s last five appearances, he has 1 assist, 9 shots and 2 blocked shots.
Others To Consider (CASH/GPP):
- Chabot (DK $5.1K || FD $4K)
- Pettersson (DK $3.6K || FD $5K)
NHL DFS Top Power Plays and Stacks
- PIT1
- BOS1
- NSH1
- COL1
- WPG1
- VAN1
NHL DFS Stacks of the Day
Brandon's Stack
- PIT: Guentzel-Crosby-Rakell
Chalk Stack
- DET: DeBrincat-Compher-Kane
Sneaky Stack
- SJ: Eklund-Hertl-Duclair
NHL DFS News and Injury Alerts
More DFS Lineup Picks and Analysis
