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The top daily fantasy hockey lineup picks for DraftKings and FanDuel on January 14, 2025. Brandon's NHL DFS goalies, value plays, stacks, and power play picks.
Welcome, RotoBallers! My name is Brandon, and I'll be writing both The First-Serve and The Kick-Off for tennis and soccer. 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 14, 2025, at 7:00 p.m. EST. Be sure also to check out RotoBaller's 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 X @df_solutions or in our premium Slack chat. Best of luck, and also, Happy New Year!
NHL DFS Analysis and Picks for 1/14/25
Tonight, we have a thirteen-game slate and three teams playing on a back-to-back: Philadelphia, Florida, and Calgary. Tonight’s slate offers value across the board, offering creativity when building lineups.
The currently live top three highest implied team totals are Colorado with 3.9, Detroit with 3.9, and Pittsburgh with 3.6. I will do my best to guide you through this thirteen-game slate on DraftKings and FanDuel starting at 7:00 p.m. EST.
DISCLOSURE: Make sure to monitor the NHL news feeds for the latest player status and injury news.
DraftKings and FanDuel Goalies - NHL DFS Picks
Jacob Markstrom - DK $7.9K || FD $8K
Opponent - Florida Panthers
Value at the goalie position is not cut and dry tonight, however, there are plenty of promising options. Jacob Markstrom is on that list, playing a traveling Florida Panthers team playing on a back-to-back. Over the last ten games without splits, the Florida Panthers are the top team in value when assessing Shots Per Goal Per 60 with 23 shots.
In their last ten away games, in Per 60 metrics, they are a top-ten team in both Shots and Goals. If Markstrom can get locked in early, he has the potential to catch a tired Panthers team in their tracks with a low-scoring game and a high save count.
Others To Consider (Cash/GPP):
- Hellebuyck (DK $8.2K || FD $8.4K)
- Montembeault (DK $7.3K || FD $7.5K)
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DraftKings and FanDuel Centers - NHL DFS Picks
Sidney Crosby - DK $7.7K || FD $8K
Opponent - Seattle Kraken
Welcome to the ‘Crosby Show’...well, a different one, at least. Second-line center Evgeni Malkin is on the IR, and it is up to Sid and the Kids to keep the Pittsburgh Penguins alive. In the four games without Malkin, Sidney Crosby has one goal, five assists, 13 shots, and three blocked shots.
Over Seattle’s last ten away games in Per 60 metrics against, they are a bottom-ten team in Shots, Expected Goals, Scoring Chances, and High Danger Chances, and they are the second-worst in Goals. Furthermore, expected starter Philipp Grubauer (DK $7.2K || FD $7.7K) is the worst goalie on the slate. Throughout his last ten away performances he has a 5.47 Goals Against Per 60, a 0.836 Save Percentage, and a -2.53 Goals Saved Above Expected Per 60. Expect Crosby to produce three shots and one point.
Pierre-Luc Dubois - DK $4K || FD $6.1K
Opponent - Anaheim Ducks
Pierre-Luc Dubois or PLD may become one of the highest-owned players in any position on the slate. The center has been promoted to the top line for the Washington Capitals, and he is in a prime matchup at home against the Anaheim Ducks. In Dubois’s last five appearances, he has two goals, two assists, nine shots, and four blocked shots. Remember that teammate and winger Alex Ovechkin–mentioned below–is still chasing a legendary achievement. This may lead to fewer shots from Dubois, limiting his floor and forcing fantasy players to rely on him to produce points.
In Anaheim’s last ten away games in Per 60 metrics against, they are the fifth-worst in Goals, the second-worst in Shots, and the worst in Expected Goals, Scoring Chances, and High Danger Chances. At $4K on DraftKings, Dubois does not need much to maintain value, and a ceiling performance is not out of the question.
Others To Consider (CASH/GPP):
- MacKinnon (DK $10K || FD $9.2K)
- Cooley (DK $4.7K || FD $6.2K)
DraftKings and FanDuel Wings - NHL DFS Picks
Alex Ovechkin - DK $8.9K || FD $8.4K
Opponent - Anaheim Ducks
As mentioned above, Alex Ovechkin remains on the goal hunt to break the ‘Great One’s’ record of 894 goals in a career. Ovechkin's potential for a ceiling performance is high in a matchup against a Ducks team that concedes chance after chance. In the veteran’s last five outings, he has two goals, two assists, 18 shots, and two blocked shots. With 39 games left and only 22 goals needed to break the goal record, his chances are looking high.
The Ducks will rely on goaltending to shut down #8, and even if he were not to produce any points tonight, his shot volume would help him maintain value.
Marco Kasper - DK $2.6K || FD $4.2K
Opponent - San Jose Sharks
In 35 games before his promotion to the top line, Marco Kasper had two goals, five assists, and 52 shots. In the two games since his promotion, the center/winger hybrid has two goals, two assists, five shots, and two blocked shots. Since Kasper moved to the top line, Detroit has improved their play, too.
It remains to be seen exactly who will start for the San Jose Sharks tomorrow. However, they are still bad defensively, which leads to chances against. Over their last ten away games in Per 60 metrics against, they are the third-worst in Goals, the second-worst in both Expected Goals and Scoring Chances, and the worst in Shots. There are plenty of more prominent names on the slate that Kasper could help unlock in roster construction, thanks to his bottom-bin salary.
Others To Consider (CASH/GPP):
- Rakell (DK $7K || FD $7.1K)
- Voronkov (DK $5.8K || FD $6.9K)
DraftKings and FanDuel Defensemen - NHL DFS Picks
Jakub Chychrun - DK $5.7K || FD $6.2K
Opponent - Anaheim Ducks
It is never wise to pay up at defense when there are as many high-salaried players on the slate as there are tonight. However, Jakub Chychrun is an exception. The two-way defenseman is playing exceptionally well for the Capitals right now. He has one goal, three assists, 13 shots, and seven blocked shots throughout his last five outings.
As mentioned twice, the Anaheim Ducks are far from a strong, defensive, sound hockey club. This will lead to many chances. Considering how much Chychrun is joining the rush right now and how far he is pinching up into the attack, he can produce a big game.
Cam York - DK $2.9K || FD $4.6K
Opponent - Columbus Blue Jackets
Cam York’s salary makes playing Jakub Chychrun possible. The two-way defender doesn’t produce points regularly, however, he does produce peripherals, and that is all that is needed for a defender under $3K on DraftKings. In York’s most recent five outings, he has one assist, seven shots, and eight blocked shots. Philadelphia is playing on a back-to-back, which is not ideal. Although this is a Metro rivalry, it should stay close for most of the game.
As long as York can produce a few shots and blocked shots, he will instantly make value.
Others To Consider (CASH/GPP):
- Karlsson (DK $5.5K || FD $6.5K)
- Lindgren (DK $2.7K || FD $4.3K)
NHL DFS Top Power Plays and Stacks
- WAS1
- PIT1
- COL1
- UTA1
- DET1
- CBJ1
NHL DFS Stacks of the Day
Brandon's Stack
- PIT: Rust-Crosby-Rakell
Chalk Stack
- WAS: Ovechkin-Dubois-Protas
Sneaky Stack
- PHI: Foerster-Cates-Brink
NHL DFS News and Injury Alerts
More DFS Lineup Picks and Analysis
