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Welcome to the Daily Fantasy Hockey (NHL DFS) lineup picks article for January 20th of the 2015/2016 NHL season. Each day we'll be providing you with a handful of forward, defensemen, and goaltender picks for DraftKings and FanDuel GPP and cash games.
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NHL DFS Picks for Wednesday, January 20th
As January continues to fly by, we rapidly approach the NHL All-Star weekend at the end of the month. Tonight's card consists of a very small slate, three games, all of which include two teams separated by seven points. For updated goalie confirmations, visit www.leftwinglock.com.
As per my colleague and fellow hockey DFS writer, Chris:
A couple strategy notes. For cash game construction look for players who can contribute to your score when they are not providing offense. Examples are guys who take a ton of shots, defensemen who block a lot of shots(DraftKings). Also, look for guys who get powerplay time and especially Top 6 forwards. You can find value in players who join a new line due to an injury or just get a promotion and more ice time.
For large field tournaments (GPP's) you want to find payers who have multi point upside and can grab double digit fantasy points. To stack the most upside in your forwards a common strategy is to punt the defense position. This doesn't mean just grab anyone. Try and look for a D man who will be playing more PP time or might get a boost in overall playing time due to an injury.
Let's take a look at some solid plays for Wednesday's action.
Devan Dubnyk - Goaltender, Wild (DraftKings - $7,700 FanDuel - $8,000)
It's really difficult to ever stay away from the goalie facing the Anaheim Ducks on any given night. The Ducks score the least amount of goals in the NHL, 1.95 per game and 86 total through 44 games played. Dubnyk is on a three game losing streak, however, he averaged only 2 goals against per contest, as the Wild only scored two goals in that span, both coming in one game. The 29-year-old net minder has been hot and cold all season, bouncing from winning streak to losing streak, but we can expect Dubnyk to get back to his winning ways against a team that struggles to find the back of the net.
Semyon Varlamov - Goaltender, Avalanche (DraftKings - $7,800 FanDuel - $8,700)
The Colorado Avalanche host the Buffalo Sabres, a team, like the aforementioned Ducks, that have had trouble lighting the lamp this season. The Sabres score the fourth fewest goals a night with 2.30. They have picked up the scoring a bit of late, but Varlamov's play has also improved, winning four of his last six contests. Even if he lets up a few goals, the Avalanche are capable of scoring as well. They've tallied 131 so far this season, fourth most in the league, which could help Varlamov and DFS players scoop up a win.
Pavel Datsyuk - Center, Red Wings (DraftKings - $5,900 FanDuel - $6,700)
Datsyuk enters Wednesday's game against the St. Louis Blues on a three game point scoring streak, tallying six total (one goal, five assists) in that span. In those three games, Datsyuk averaged over 20 minutes of ice time, three hits and a little over three shots a game, while also collecting two points via the power play. Although requiring ankle surgery on the offseason, Datsyuk has not missed a beat, posting 22 points in 30 games so far in the 2015-2016 campaign. Of course not scoring at a rate that he once was, Datsyuk is still a lot cheaper than the top two centers on the card, Colorado's Nathan MacKinnon and Matt Duchene.
Patrik Berglund - Center, Blues (DraftKings - $3,900 FanDuel - $4,000)
After a shoulder surgery that kept him out of all action of the 2015 segment of the NHL season, Berglund has returned in the beginning of the new year and is starting to return to consistent form. He has picked up six points (three goals, three assists) in nine games since lacing up his skates again. Berglund has never been a top-scorer in the league but he has always been an important member of the Blues, logging in over 15 minutes of ice team a night, playing on both the power play and penalty kill, taking and winning plenty of face-offs, while tallying stats in other areas. Berglund should be considered more so in DraftKings than in FanDuel.
Ryan O'Reilly - Winger, Sabres (DraftKings - $6,000 FanDuel - $5,100)
O'Reilly visits his former team, the Colorado Avalanche, of whom he came into the league with and played for the past six season. I'm always a huge fan of players facing their old teams. He leads the offensively struggling Sabres in goals, points, and power play points. O'Reilly is on a two game point streak and tallies enough stats in other categories, hits, blocks, shots on goal, to reach value for his affordable price. O'Reilly hasn't blown anyone away with his performances over the last ten games, but has posted three or more fantasy points in seven during that span. O'Reilly is always a welcoming play for both DFS site, but provides a little more for DraftKings when he isn't scoring or posting helpers.
Blake Comeau - Winger, Avalanche (DraftKings - $3,600 FanDuel - $3,700)
Comeau has been an inconsistent fantasy option, but when picked on the right night, he can break out and boost your lineup for his low price. Comeau breached the five fantasy point mark twice in ten games, but is capable of providing more value for DraftKings with shots on goal and hits. To exceed projection and really leave a dent in a lineup, Comeau has to score or assist, which could very well happen against the Sabres.
Ryan Suter - Defense, Wild (DraftKings - $6,300 FanDuel - $4,400)
Suter should always be considered for both DraftKings and FanDuel, as he is one of the top defensemen in the league, but has proven to have more value for DraftKings, especially of late. Suter has posted three or more fantasy points in five straight games and seven of his last ten, including three performances of six or more. Suter has only six points in that span (one goal, five assists) but also does just enough to be valuable, as he shot the puck on net eight times against the Florida Panthers earlier in the month. He plays around, if not more than, 30 minutes a night.
Hampus Lindholm - Defense, Ducks (DraftKings - $4,000 FanDuel - $3,500)
Lindholm is another defensemen that doesn't need to light the lamp or tally helpers to reach value. This of course once again applies to DraftKings, but Lindholm has picked up two points in three games, one of which was a power play goal. Lindholm is a blocked-shots machine, getting in the way of 18 pucks in ten games. He also sees plenty of ice time, over 20 minutes a game, and is part of Anaheim's top defensive lines, while a part of the Ducks second power play unit as well.
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