Today's NHL DFS Lineup Picks for DraftKings, FanDuel (2/9/23): Daily Fantasy Hockey

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 MLB 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 Thursday, 9th, 2023 at 7:00 PM EST. 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] or via Twitter @df_solutions or in our premium slack chat. Good luck, RotoBallers!

NHL DFS Analysis and Picks for 2/9/23

We officially had our first big trade domino fall during the All-Star Break and there should be many more as we get closer to the trade deadline – March 3rd –. Tonight we have a 7-game slate and two teams playing on a back-to-back: Vancouver and Minnesota. The currently live top-3 highest implied team totals are: Florida with 4, New York with 4 and Edmonton with 3.8 goals. I will do my best in guiding you through this seven-game slate on DraftKings and FanDuel starting at 7:00 p.m. EST.

DISCLOSURE: Make sure to monitor the news feed and play at your own risk

Vegas Odds for the Day

Goalies

Logan Thompson- DK $7.5K || FD $8.2K

Opponent - Minnesota Wild

This slate is rather difficult to find a viable goalie and Thompson is the closest thing to it. Thompson and the Golden Knights are headed to Minnesota after the Wild lost 4-1 last night in Dallas. Neither netminder has been great for Vegas and the entire team has dropped form. However, despite the lack of form and the number of losses – 4 out of the last 5 for Thompson –, he has produced double-digit fantasy points in 4 of the 5 appearances. Minnesota is a strong offense that produces many shots, although, they are struggling to find the back of the net. This is an ideal spot for Thompson to rebound and his salary is more than manageable.                                               

Others To Consider (Cash/GPP): Campbell (DK $8.1K || FD $7.7K), Markstrom (DK $7.9K || FD $7.3K)

Centers

Leon Draisaitl-DK $8.3K || FD $10.1K

Opponent - Philadelphia Flyers

Teammate Connor McDavid and Colorado Avalanche Nathan MacKinnon will be garnering the majority of eyes on the slate tonight, however, we will zig with Draisaitl. Over his last five appearances, he has 3 goals, 3 assists and 7 shots. The production is less than ideal for someone of Draisaitl’s talent and expected production level. This is a great spot for him to return to form though. The Flyers are just outside the bottom ten in the league in Shots Against Per 60, Scoring Chances Against Per 60 and Goals Against Per 60 and Draisailt’s line will be playing mostly against Philadelphia’s first-line who are notoriously bad at defense – 12.27 Relative Fenwick Against Per 60 –.                                                         

Bo Horvat- DK $7.2K || FD $8.4K

Opponent - Vancouver Canucks

All aboard the narrative train! This isn’t the true cinderella story quite yet, but it is close. Horvat will play against the Canucks for the first time tonight since being traded and the visitors lost 4-3 to the New York Rangers last night in New York. The ex-Canuck has felt right at home in his first two games with the Islanders. He has posted 1 goal, 6 shots and 3 blocked shots, centering the top-line. Against a weak Canucks defense playing on the second-half of their back-to-back, this is a premium spot.                                        

Others To Consider (CASH/GPP): MacKinnon (DK $9.4K || FD $10.2K), Bennett (DK $5K || FD $6.1K)

Wings

Jakob Pelletier- DK $2.5K || FD $4K

Opponent - Detroit Red Wings

In order to pay for all of the studs on the slate, you have to punt somewhere right? Bring in Jakob Pelletier. The winger has bounced around the lineup this season, however, he has been a mainstay over the last week. Furthermore, he has done well enough to garner a chance in the top-six playing alongside Nazem Kadri and Jonathan Huberdeau and he is also on the second power-play unit too. For minimum salary, we only need a few shots to hit value and the rest is an added bonus.                        

Matthew Tkachuk- DK $8K || FD $9.8K

Opponent - San Jose Sharks

I think it is safe to say, that Tkachuk is playing like a madman right now. Over his last five appearances, Tkachuk has 3 goals, 9 assists and 25 shots. That is good enough for him to average a shot bonus on DraftKings per game. You cannot beat that sort of value, especially in such a premium matchup. The Sharks are the ninth-worst team in Shots Against Per 60 – 32.69 –, the sixth-worst in Scoring Chances Against Per 60 – 32.82 – and the eighth-worst in Goals Against Per 60 – 3.02 –. Furthermore, Kaapo Kahkonen is the expected starter and he is the fourth-worst goalie in all goalies starting 5 or more games in Goals Saved Above Expected Per 60 – -0.927 –. This is one of the best spots on the slate.              

Others To Consider (CASH/GPP): Kane (DK $6.7K || FD $7.5K), Barzal (DK $5.6K || FD $6.4K)

Defense

Bowen Byram- DK $3.6K || FD $5K

Opponent - Tampa Bay Lightning

This is an ideal spot for Byram tonight. He is playing against the offensively-talented Lightning who take a plethora of shots each game, providing ample opportunities for Byram to block shots. Furthermore, they are also conceding a questionable amount of shots and goals as of late, leading to a possible ceiling game tonight from the defenseman. He has only started one game since returning from injury thus far and in that game he had 1 assist, 1 shot and 3 blocked shots. If we can at least get the blocked shot bonus – 3 or more blocks –, Byram will maintain value.              

Matt Benning- DK $3.1K || FD $K4.2

Opponent - Florida Panthers

Benning is back! If you are not aware of the defenseman yet, he is one of the most consistent fantasy providers for the San Jose Sharks. However, it is not in points, but peripherals. Benning is known for his shot-blocking ability and over the last five games, he has 1 assist, 4 shots and 10 blocked shots. His peripherals have dropped as of late, however, against the Florida Panthers he should easily reach the blocked shot bonus – 3 or more – on DraftKings.                  

Others To Consider (CASH/GPP): Dobson (DK $5.5K || FD $6.7K), Severson (DK $3.7K || FD $4.2K)

NHL DFS Top Power Plays and Stacks

• FLA1
• EDM1
• NYI1

Brandon's Stack of the Day

• NYI: Dobson-Horvat-Barzal

Chalk Stack

• FLA: Verhaeghe-Bennett-Tkachuk

Sneaky Stack

• COL: Nichushkin-MacKinnon-Lehkonen