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Brandon Wampler's top DraftKings and FanDuel NHL DFS value plays and research for January 21st, 2023 including DFS analysis for goalies, power plays and stacks.
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 Saturday, 21st, 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!
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NHL DFS Analysis and Picks for 1/21/23
We are officially at the time of the year when each game is of its utmost importance as teams gauge whether they are a playoff contender, a seller or on the bubble. Tonight we have a large 11-game slate and three teams playing on a back-to-back: Ottawa, Vancouver and Colorado. The currently live top-3 highest implied team totals are: Toronto with 4.2, Dallas with 4 and Edmonton with 4 goals. I will do my best in guiding you through this eleven-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
Goalies
Connor Hellebuyck- DK $7.9K || FD $8.1K
Opponent - Ottawa Senators
There is no time like the present for Hellebuyck and the Jets. Both are coming off a rather embarrassing 4-1 loss to the Maple Leafs on Thursday and they are both on a bad run of form after exploding once Nikolaj Ehlers returned from injury. Luckily for them, Ottawa is playing on the second-half of a back-to-back after losing to the Pittsburgh Penguins 4-1. Furthermore, over the last 10 games, the Senators are the seventh-best team in Shots For Per 60 – 32.86 –, however, they are the worst in Goals For Per 60 – 1.54 –. This provides the perfect opportunity for Hellebuyck to not only bounce back but to also have a potential ceiling game.
Others To Consider (Cash/GPP): Samsonov (DK $8.4K || FD $6.5K), Sorokin (DK $7.2K || FD $7.2K)
Centers
Tyler Seguin-DK $4.6K || FD $6.6K
Opponent - Arizona Coyotes
It seems it only took for Seguin to get legitimate talent on his line for him to start returning to his prime. The center has 5 goals, 2 assists and 18 shots over his last five games. It remains to be seen if Roope Hintz will return Saturday or not, but if he manages to sit out again, Seguin is a ‘lock’. The Coyotes are finally starting to revert back to their season norms after having a good run of form. Over their last 10 games, they are the fifth-worst team in Shots Against Per 60 – 33.19 –, the fourth-worst in Scoring Chances Against Per 60 – 31.16 – and they are the sixth-worst in Goals Against Per 60 – 3.12 –. For the ceiling potential that Seguin offers and the salary he costs, he is going to garner mass amounts of ownership.
Austin Matthews- DK $8.7K || FD $9.9K
Opponent - Montreal Canadiens
This all comes down to preference as both Matthews’ line and Tavares’ line will see each line of Montreal evenly. We will be siding with Matthews and company however thanks to their excellent run of form. Over his last five games, he has 5 goals, 21 shots and 9 blocked shots. Montreal has yet to improve and has stayed stagnant in all important categories. They are the third-worst in Shots Against Per 60 – 34.58 –, the second-worst in Scoring Chances Against – 35.99 – and they are the tenth-worst in Goals Against Per 60 – 2.95 –. Matthews by far has one of the better matchups at the higher end of the salary range for centers tonight and based off recent performances, he will be a favorite to roster.
Others To Consider (CASH/GPP): McDavid (DK $9.7K || FD $10.7K), Hertl (DK $5.5K || FD $7.4K)
Wings
Michael Bunting- DK $4.7K || FD $5.8K
Opponent - Montreal Canadiens
Many will be on teammate William Nylander as a stack with center Austin Matthews, but to save salary for other players, we will jump to Bunting instead who should see less ownership. Bunting has recently been sent down to the second power-play unit after Morgan Rielly got promoted to the first and Bunting has seen a slight decrease in production because of it. However, he is still on the top line with Matthews and Nylander and he will see a plethora of opportunities in the meeting with Montreal this weekend. As aforementioned, their defense is atrocious. Through Bunting’s last five games, he has 1 goal, 3 assists and 8 shots.
Jason Robertson- DK $8.5K || FD $10.1K
Opponent - Arizona Coyotes
Robertson is picking up form again after going a few games without points. The winger has 2 goals, 3 assists and 17 shots through his last five games and now he gets one of the worst defenses in the league. Expected start Connor Ingram isn’t an elite goaltender, but he is also not very good, sporting a -0.188 Goals Saved Above Expected Per 60 – 17th worst goalie in the league with 5 or more starts –. Over Ingram’s last five games, he is averaging 3.5 Goals Against Per 60 and Robertson is expected to add to that here.
Others To Consider (CASH/GPP): Kyrou (DK $7.6K || FD $6.7K), Fabbri (DK $4.K || FD $5.3K)
Defense
Morgan Rielly- DK $4.8K || FD $5.9K
Opponent - Montreal Canadiens
Morgan Rielly has yet to explode onto the scene this season. The defender though is putting together quality outings. In his last five games, he has 2 assists, 8 shots and 9 blocked shots. With the promotion to the top power-play, it is only a matter of time until Rielly finally scores his first goal of the season. For his salary and a great matchup, it is hard to pass on him, when considering the other defensemen at this salary range.
Matt Benning- DK $3.1K || FD $4.1K
Opponent - Columbus Blue Jackets
Benning is by far one of the most consistent and underrated defensemen in fantasy outlets. He produces on both ends of the ice each game and he is a crucial part of their success. Through Benning’s last five appearances, he has 2 assists, 5 shots and 8 blocked shots. Columbus just got trounced by Anaheim and conceded goals to players like Simon Benoit on the blueline. Benning will be a longshot to produce a ceiling game, however, he will have every chance to do it, while saving salary for other areas of the roster.
Others To Consider (CASH/GPP): Heiskanen (DK $5.9K || FD $7K), Toews (DK $4.9K || FD $6K)
NHL DFS Top Power Plays and Stacks
- DAL1
- TOR1
- STL1
- CBJ1
- SJ1
Brandon's Stack of the Day
- STL: Buchnevich-Schenn-Kyrou
Chalk Stack
- DAL: Robertson-Seguin-Heiskanen
Sneaky Stack
- WPG: Connor-Scheifele-Ehlers
