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The top daily fantasy hockey lineup picks for DraftKings and FanDuel on January 28, 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 28, 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 1/28/25
Tonight, we have an eight-game slate and one team playing on a back-to-back, Seattle. Tonight’s slate offers value across the board, offering creativity when building lineups.
The currently live top-3 highest implied team totals are Tampa Bay with 4.3, Winnipeg with 3.1, and Colorado with 3.1. I will do my best to guide you through this eight-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
Jake Oettinger - DK $7.6K || FD $7.7K
Opponent - Vegas Golden Knights
Over the last 10 games played for all goalies who have played 80 or more minutes without splits, Jake Oettinger is the second-best goalie on the slate, and it isn’t a competition.
Throughout his last five starts, he has a 3-2 record with a 1.83 Goals Against Average and a 0.928 Save Percentage. When assessing his previous ten home games, he has a 1.25 Goals Against Average, a 0.954 Save Percentage, and a 1.08 Goals Saved Above Expected Per 60.
The Vegas Golden Knights are the best team when referencing value in Shots Per Goal Per 60, and they are the third-worst in Goals Per 60 in their last 10 games without splits. At $7.6K on DraftKings and in a potential high-paced matchup, expect Oettinger to make at least 30 saves.
Others To Consider (Cash/GPP):
- Thompson (DK $8.3K || FD $8.4K)
- Luukkonen (DK $7.5K || FD $6.9K)
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DraftKings and FanDuel Centers - NHL DFS Picks
Mark Scheifele - DK $6.3K || FD $7.9K
Opponent - Montreal Canadiens
Mark Scheifele has been steadily shooting the puck over the last 10 games, and in his most recent five, he has one goal, two assists, 15 shots, and five blocked shots.
In Montreal’s last 10 games, without splits at a Per 60 metrics against viewpoint, they are a bottom-10 team in Goals and a bottom-5 team in every other meaningful metric. Diving deeper into their last ten home games, and they are a bottom-ten team in Shots and a bottom-five team in every other metric.
Scheifele and the top line for Winnipeg are expected to see the bulk of their time against Montreal’s top line, who happens to be their worst defensive line and one of the worst in the league. Expect the center to produce three shots and one point.
Chandler Stephenson - DK $3.7K || FD $5.2K
Opponent - Anaheim Ducks
Chandler Stephenson is the furthest player from consistency; however, he is starting to gain form quickly. The center has two goals, three assists, five shots, and five blocked shots in his last five appearances. His lack of peripherals is concerning, although that could change tonight.
The Anaheim Ducks remain a bottom-2 team defensively, and Stephenson’s line is expected to draw against their worst defensive line. In Anaheim’s last ten away games in Per 60 against metrics, they are the worst team defensively. Against one of the worst defensive lines and defensive pairings in the league, expect Stephenson to produce at least one point.
Others To Consider (CASH/GPP):
- Aho (DK $7K || FD $7.5K)
- Cirelli (DK $5.8K || FD $7.2K)
DraftKings and FanDuel Wings - NHL DFS Picks
Nikita Kucherov - DK $9K || FD $9K
Opponent - Chicago Blackhawks
Nikita Kucherov is playing possessed right now for the Tampa Bay Lightning. The star winger has three goals, five assists, and 20 shots over his last five games. Before his last game, he was also on an 11-game point streak where he produced six goals, 13 assists, 39 shots, and two blocked shots.
The Chicago Blackhawks are playing better hockey defensively in their last ten away games, but goaltending remains an issue. In expected starter Petr Mrazek’s last 10 away starts, he has a 4.71 Goals Against Average, a 0.847 Save Percentage, and a -2.21 Goals Saved Above Expected Per 60. Kucherov is projected to score at least once tonight on five shots.
Jackson Blake - DK $3.5K || FD $4K
Opponent - New York Rangers
Jackson Blake is one of the primary beneficiaries of the Mikko Rantanen blockbuster. With Carolina shipping out Martin Necas and Jack Drury, Blake has been thrust into a ‘permanent’ role on the top line for the Hurricanes. Throughout his last five games, he has two goals, one assist, 11 shots, and three blocked shots.
In the New York Rangers’ last 10 home games, from a Per 60 viewpoint, they are a bottom half of the league team defensively, relying on goaltending to win them games. In a big Metropolitan matchup at Madison Square Garden, this meeting has the potential to turn into a goal fest. Considering Blake’s salary and role with the new-look Hurricanes, he will have every opportunity to exceed value.
Others To Consider (CASH/GPP):
- Necas (DK $6.8K || FD $7.8K)
- Bjorkstrand (DK $4.7K || FD $5.5K)
DraftKings and FanDuel Defensemen - NHL DFS Picks
Shayne Gostisbehere - DK $3.8K || FD $5.9K
Opponent - New York Rangers
Shayne Gostisbehere, otherwise known as "Ghost," has quite literally been a ghost since his return from injury. In seven games, he has one assist, 13 shots, and nine blocked shots. Due to his drop in form, his salary has also decreased, making him more "palatable." Luckily, he does have a big matchup tonight against the New York Rangers in what could become a shootout.
With plenty of big names to pay up for on the slate, Ghost becomes an ‘optimal’ ‘punt’ play to help fit the higher-salaried players into lineups.
Tony DeAngelo - DK $3.5K || FD $4K
Opponent - Colorado Avalanche
After getting his contract terminated with SKA St. Petersburg of the KHL or Kontinental Hockey League, Tony DeAngelo has signed a one-year deal with the New York Islanders. The deal couldn’t have been better timing on either side too. The Islanders lost their go-to defenseman, Noah Dobson, and DeAngelo was immediately thrust into a big role in his debut.
The two-way defenseman recorded two shots and two blocked shots and his salary has barely risen.
The Colorado Avalanche will not be an easy matchup. However, DeAngelo is on the second pairing and quarterbacks the Islanders' top power-play unit. At his salary, floor, and potential ceiling, DeAngelo could make a case as the "Top Value Play of the Night."
Others To Consider (CASH/GPP):
- Montour (DK $6K || FD $5.8K)
- Lohrei (DK $3.5K || FD $4.7K)
NHL DFS Top Power Plays and Stacks
- TB1
- WPG1
- CAR1
- COL1
NHL DFS Stacks of the Day
Brandon's Stack
- WPG: Connor-Scheifele-Vilardi
Chalk Stack
- TB: Guentzel-Point-Kucherov
Sneaky Stack
- SEA: Burakovsky-Stephenson-Bjorkstrand
NHL DFS News and Injury Alerts
More DFS Lineup Picks and Analysis
