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 Thursday, January 30, 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!
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NHL DFS Analysis and Picks for 1/30/25
Tonight, we have a 10-game slate and one team playing on a back-to-back, Philadelphia and Minnesota. Tonight’s slate offers value across the board, offering creativity when building lineups.
The currently live top-3 highest implied team totals are Carolina with 4.2, Edmonton with 4.1, and Vegas with 4.1. I will do my best to guide you through this 10-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
Logan Thompson - DK $7.9K || FD $8.5K
Opponent - Ottawa Senators
Logan Thompson continues to dazzle and now is 5-0 in his last five starts. He also has a 0.79 Goals Against Average and a 0.969 Save Percentage.
When looking at his last 10 away starts, he has a 1.45 Goals Against Average, a 0.952 Save Percentage, and a 1.65 Goals Saved Above Expected Per 60. There are only two other projected starting goalies on the slate who have a Goals Saved Above Expected Per 60 higher than 1.00, Jeremy Swayman (DK $7.6K || FD $7.5K) and Joey Daccord (DK $8.3K || FD $7.8K).
In Calgary’s last 10 home games, they are in the bottom half of the league in Goals Per 60 and Scoring Chances Per 60. Analyzing the rest of the metrics Per 60, they are a bottom-10 team. Thompson is not the most ‘affordable’ goalie on the slate tonight; however, he does have the chance to be a top goalie due to matchup and form.
Others To Consider (Cash/GPP):
- Vasilevskiy (DK $8K || FD $7.7K)
- Merzlikins (DK $7K || FD $7K)
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DraftKings and FanDuel Centers - NHL DFS Picks
Nazem Kadri - DK $6.2K || FD $6.7K
Opponent - Anaheim Ducks
Nazem Kadri is heating up. The center has two goals, three assists, and 10 shots in his last five games. He also happens to be lining up against Anaheim’s worst defensive line tonight.
In Anaheim’s last 10 away games, in Per 60 metrics against, they are a bottom-10 team in Goals, the second-worst in Shots, and the worst in Expected Goals, Scoring Chances, and High-Danger Chances. At $6.2K on DraftKings, gaining form, and in a prime matchup, Kadri ticks all of the boxes
Joel Eriksson Ek - DK $5.9K || FD $6.4K
Opponent - Montreal Canadiens
The Minnesota Wild are struggling, and the league is taking notice after their GM, Bill Guerin, called them out within the past week for their poor play. Center Joel Eriksson Ek remains among the few bright spots on the Wild’s roster.
He has two goals, 17 shots, and four blocked shots within his last five outings. His point production is concerning, and his shot volume is keeping his value alive. Luckily, he and the rest of the top line for the Wild will match up against Montreal’s worst defensive line.
The Montreal Canadiens, in Per 60 metrics against, within their last ten home game,s are a bottom-ten team in Shots and a bottom-5 team in every other meaningful metric. If Eriksson Ek is not able to register a point tonight, his shot production alone will help him maintain value.
Others To Consider (CASH/GPP):
- Beniers (DK $5.3K || FD $5.4K)
- Kotkaniemi (DK $3.4K || FD $4.9K)
DraftKings and FanDuel Wings - NHL DFS Picks
Leon Draisaitl - DK $9K || FD $8.9K
Opponent - Detroit Red Wings
The Edmonton Oilers have gone back to the three-headed dragon and in Leon Draisaitl’s first game back on the top line, he produced one assist and three shots. In the five games prior, he had four goals, five assists, 14 shots, and one blocked shot. Keep in mind that this production was without center Connor McDavid (DK $9.5K || FD $8.7K).
The defense of the Detroit Red Wings has improved over the past 10 away games; however, their goaltending continues to hurt them.
In expected starter Cam Talbot’s last 10 away starts, he has a 2.97 Goals Against Average, a 0.91 Save Percentage, and a -0.38 Goals Saved Above Expected Per 60. This matchup will not be easy for the Oilers. Although, when Draisaitl and McDavid are paired together, they become matchup-proof.
Jackson Blake - DK $3.8K || FD $4K
Opponent - Chicago Blackhawks
It would be astonishing for most if Jackson Blake were not the top-value play of the slate tonight. The young winger continues to cement his role on the top line for the Carolina Hurricanes and now has one goal, two assists, 10 shots, and five blocked shots in his last five appearances.
Like Detroit, Chicago has also improved its defense, but its goaltending remains a problem. Expected starter Petr Mrazek has a 4.71 Goals Against Average, a 0.847 Save Percentage, and a -2.21 Goals Saved Above Expected Per 60 in his last ten away starts. A prime matchup, a matchup against Chicago’s worst defensive line, and only $3.8K on DraftKings set up Blake to hit value and more.
Others To Consider (CASH/GPP):
- Boldy (DK $7.5K || FD $7.5K)
- Huberdeau (DK $5K || FD $6.6K)
DraftKings and FanDuel Defensemen - NHL DFS Picks
Vince Dunn - DK $5.8K || FD $6.4K
Opponent - San Jose Sharks
Vince Dunn is firing on all cylinders…literally. The defenseman has two goals, one assist, 19 shots, and six blocked shots throughout his last five appearances.
In his last three games, he has averaged just above five shots per game. His blocked shots are a bit worrisome, considering he has played Buffalo, Washington, Pittsburgh, and Edmonton in his last five games. Luckily, he is shooting enough to make up for the lack of blocked shots.
The San Jose Sharks, in Per 60 metrics against, in their last 10 away games, continue to be a bottom-5, if not worse, defense. Seattle itself does not take many shots, leaving plenty of peripherals for Dunn. Expect him to produce four shots, one blocked shot, and one point tonight.
Rasmus Andersson - DK $4.4K || FD $5.6K
Opponent - Anaheim Ducks
Rasmus Andersson is thriving in the shadows. He has one goal, 10 shots, and 12 blocked shots in his last five games. Considering he is not on the top power-play unit and he is not the first defenseman that is flocked to when stacking Calgary, he could see sub-ten percent ownership.
As mentioned, Anaheim continues to struggle defensively, especially on the road. At less than 10 percent projected ownership, in a prime matchup, for under $5K on DraftKings, Andersson will make a strong case for ‘Defender of the Slate’.
Others To Consider (CASH/GPP):
- Gostisbehere (DK $4.1K || FD $5.8K)
- DeAngelo (DK $4K || FD $4.6K)
NHL DFS Top Power Plays and Stacks
- CAR1
- CGY1
- SEA1
- EDM1
- MIN1
NHL DFS Stacks of the Day
Brandon's Stack
- CGY: Huberdeau-Kadri-Pelletier
Chalk Stack
- CAR: Rantanen-Aho-Blake
Sneaky Stack
- SJ: Eklund-Celebrini-Toffoli
NHL DFS News and Injury Alerts
More DFS Lineup Picks and Analysis