DraftKings, FanDuel Daily Fantasy Hockey Picks (1/6/24): Today's Top NHL DFS Lineups

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 Saturday, January, 6, 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!

NHL DFS Analysis and Picks for 1/6/24

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 ten-game slate and no teams playing on a back-to-back. The currently live top-3 highest implied team totals are: Edmonton with 4.1, Toronto with 3.9 and Carolina with 3.8. I will do my best to guide you through this ten-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

Ilya Sorokin - DK $7.4K || FD $7.1K

Opponent - Vegas Golden Knights

Value is not the easiest to come by with goalies tonight, however, the Vegas Golden Knights are helping out. The hosts possess the third-best Shots Per Goal Per 60 on the slate. Furthermore, in the last ten games – excluding splits –, the Knights are in the top ten in Shots For Per 60, but in the bottom half of the league in Goals For Per 60. Sorokin is the furthest thing from a ‘safe play’ in net, however, his potential save volume alone could make value. In his last five starts, he has a 2-2-1 record with a 3.17 Goals Against Average and a 0.901 Save Percentage.                                                                    Others To Consider (Cash/GPP): 

• Merzlikins (DK $7.4K || FD $7.3K)
• Kahkonen (DK $6.7K || FD $6.6K)

Want more NHL DFS tools and content? Our NHL Premium package includes our daily DFS Cheat Sheets, Research Station, Lineup Optimizer and access to our VIP Discord Chatrooms. Doug Shain (@BanksterDFS) joins the NHL team in 2023 with his proven track record - join in on the winning!

Back to back @DraftKings Fantasy Hockey World Championship trips! Let’s get the main prize this year! Thank you to @banksterdfs for the amazing daily fantasy content! @NHL pic.twitter.com/dONSvJMtIR

— 🇺🇦Shockmain (@Shockmain) January 6, 2023

DraftKings and FanDuel Centers - NHL DFS Picks

John Tavares - DK $7.1K || FD $8.9K

Opponent - San Jose Sharks

Unlike the Winnipeg Jets in San Jose, the Maple Leafs will put a beating in. In the last five games, the visitors are averaging shy of three goals per game and in Tavares’s last five appearances, he has 2 goals, 1 assist, 22 shots and 3 blocked shots. He and the second line of Toronto also happen to have the best possible line matchup tonight. Considering his teammate, Austin Matthews is another $3K more salary on DraftKings, Tavares looks to be a pretty viable option against the league’s worst defense.        

Dmitri Voronkov - DK $3.3K || FD $4K

Opponent - Minnesota Wild

Since conducting research, Minnesota’s fortunes have changed with the news that Matt Zuccarello is back and will play in Columbus. Does this ultimately change the defensive structure though? I think not. In the last five games, Minnesota has been outscored 12 to 17 and in their last two games, they have been outscored 2 to 7. Voronkov may be one of the most viable value options at the center position on the slate, thanks to the second line of Columbus being one of the more in-form lines in the entire league. Through Voronkov’s last five games, he has 1 goal, 2 assists, 6 shots and 3 blocked shots.                                                              Others To Consider (CASH/GPP): 

• McDavid (DK $9.5K || FD $10.3K)
• Domi (DK $3K || FD $4.5K)

DraftKings and FanDuel Wings - NHL DFS Picks

Rickard Rakell - DK $4.4K || FD $5.5K

Opponent - Buffalo Sabres

Rakell continues to dominate on the top line next to Sidney Crosby and yet his salary continues to not budge. The winger has 2 goals, 4 assists, 13 shots and 3 blocked shots in his last five outings and now gets a Buffalo team who are coming in on a high note after trampling over Montreal on Tuesday. Despite Buffalo’s turn in form, they are still playing poorly defensively, ranking in the bottom ten in High Danger Chances Against and Goals Against – both Per 60 and in the last ten –.     

Ryan Nugent-Hopkins - DK $5.7K || FD $7.4K

Opponent - Ottawa Senators

Along the same storyline as Rickard Rakell, RNH, has a similar case. Although, Nugent-Hopkins has an even better matchup at home against Ottawa. In Ottawa’s first two games to start their road trip, they have been outscored 4 to 10 – games against Vancouver and Seattle –. In RNH’s last five games, he has 3 goals, 2 assists, 9 shots and 4 blocked shots. Playing alongside one of the most dominant players to ever play the game and in a premium matchup, sets up RNH to be one of the highest-owned players on the slate.                                                      

Others To Consider (CASH/GPP): 

• Nylander (DK $8.5K || FD $10K)
• Svechnikov (DK $5.5K || FD $6.1K)

DraftKings and FanDuel Defensemen - NHL DFS Picks

Brock Faber - DK $4.2K || FD $4.6K

Opponent - Columbus Blue Jackets

At this point, the IR is a rotating carousel in Minnesota and its latest victim is Jared Spurgeon for the second time this season. This sets up Brock Faber to return to top power-play and penalty-kill duties. Throughout his last five outings, he has 11 ghost and 11 blocked shots. Surprisingly, he does not have as many points as some would have thought, with his pedigree and responsibility on the team. However, his peripherals are at least maintaining value on most nights. In what will be an expected back-and-forth game with the Blue Jackets, Faber will have ample chances to make value and some.     

Marcus Pettersson - DK $3.5K || FD $4.6K

Opponent - Buffalo Sabres

Pettersson did not disappoint on a big night, helping upset the Boston Bruins in a 6-5 thriller at TD Garden. The two-way defenseman had 2 shots and 4 blocked shots and over his last five performances, he has 4 assists, 5 shots and 10 blocked shots. Pettersson is expected to see a fair amount of Thompson and company in this meeting with Buffalo, resulting in a plethora of opportunities to make value from blocked shots alone.                                   

Others To Consider (CASH/GPP): 

• Chabot (DK $5.4K || FD $6.6K)
• Pesce (DK $3.2K || FD $3.8K)

NHL DFS Top Power Plays and Stacks

• TOR1
• EDM1
• PIT1
• CAR1
• CBJ1

NHL DFS Stacks of the Day

Brandon's Stack

• EDM: Nugent-Hopkins-McDavid-Hyman

Chalk Stack

• TOR: Knies-Matthews-Marner

Sneaky Stack

• PIT: Smith-Malkin-Rust

NHL DFS News and Injury Alerts

More DFS Lineup Picks and Analysis