RADIO
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, 28th, 2023Â 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 1/28/23
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 modest 9-game slate and seven teams playing on a back-to-back: Vegas, San Jose, Los Angeles, New York Islanders, Ottawa, Seattle and Columbus. The currently live top-3 highest implied team totals are: Edmonton with 4.5, Seattle with 4.2 and Pittsburgh with 4.1 goals. I will do my best in guiding you through this nine-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
Andrei Vasilevskiy- DK $8.1K || FD $7.7K
Opponent - Los Angeles Kings
Vasilevskiy is a steal tonight. The netminder is in a prime position to have a ceiling game against the Kings who are playing on the second-half of a back-to-back after winning 4-2 in Florida last night. Over the last 10 games, the Kings sit in the middle of the pack in Shots For Per 60 – 31.54 –, however, they are the fifth-worst team in Goals For Per 60 – 2.12 –. This offers Vasilevskiy a great opportunity to rack up saves without the constant goal threat that other teams possess. Over his last five games, he has 3 wins and has only not reached double-digit fantasy points once.                                         Â
Others To Consider (Cash/GPP): Thompson (DK $7.6K || FD $7.4K), Montembeault (DK $7.4K || FD $7K)
Centers
Connor McDavid-DK $9.8K || FD $10.6K
Opponent - Chicago Blackhawks
McDavid is on the slate and in a relatively good matchup against the Blackhawks at home. The center over his last five games has 3 goals, 4 assists and 28 shots. Over the last 10 games, the Blackhawks are the fourth-worst in Shots Against Per 60 – 34.4 –, the eight-worst in Scoring Chances Against Per 60 – 31.79 – and the twelfth-worst in Goals Against Per 60 – 2.73 –. There is little doubt that McDavid won’t see ample chances against the Blackhawks and with teammate Evander Kane back from his small stint away from the ice, it will only further boost McDavid’s production.                                                    Â
Trevor Zegras- DK $5.3K || FD $6.6K
Opponent - Arizona Coyotes
The Coyotes are not the most appealing team to stack against tonight and Zegras may be better off as a one-off play due to the lack of talent his linemates provide. Over the last five games, he has 3 goals, 4 assists and 13 shots. Through the last 10 games, the Coyotes are the second-worst in Shots Against Per 60 – 34.51 –, the seventh-worst in Scoring Chances Against Per 60 – 31.83 – and they are in the top-third of the best in Goals Against Per 60 – 2.32 –. Just like the Canadiens, the Coyotes give up plenty of chances, however, their goaltenders do a good job majority of the time stopping them. This leaves a ‘good’ floor for Zegras and an even better potential ceiling.                                  Â
Others To Consider (CASH/GPP): Dubois (DK $6.5K || FD $7.9K), Malkin (DK $6.2K || FD $7.4K)
Wings
Evander Kane- DK $7K || FD $7.5K
Opponent - Chicago Blackhawks
As aforementioned, Kane is back after his stint away from the team this week for personal matters. The winger has been playing with McDavid and in his 3 games since returning from his injury, he has 13 shots. That is just shy of the 5 or more shot bonus on DraftKings. Going against one of the more giving defenses, Kane should be able to easily achieve the shot bonus here, providing a floor at the very minimum.                         Â
Patrik Laine- DK $7.3K || FD $8.3K
Opponent - Seattle Kraken
Laine and the Blue Jackets were just decimated by the Canucks, losing 5-2 in Vancouver and the Blue Jackets, unfortunately, will not be returning home but instead continuing their road trip in Seattle to play the second-half of their back-to-back. Luckily, Seattle also just played and lost 5-2 to the Flames. Top-line center Matty Beniers was out for the game and he will also not be playing here, giving a major boost to the Blue Jackets. Over Laine’s last five appearances, he has 2 goals, 5 assists and 26 shots. He is also on a 4-game point streak as well. If Columbus can get Laine the puck early, he could explode against a Kraken defense who are starting to crack under pressure.           Â
Others To Consider (CASH/GPP): Rakell (DK $6.2K || FD $7.1K), Perfetti (DK $3.9K || FD $5K)
Defense
Cam Fowler- DK $3.9K || FD $5.1K
Opponent - Arizona Coyotes
Fowler is one of the hottest defenders in the league right now, amassing 3 goals, 4 assists, 12 shots and 6 blocked shots over his last five games and he is now on a 2-game point streak. Ever since the defender went back to top-pairing minutes and the first power-play unit, he has been reborn, doubling his then production. The Coyotes' defense does not concede many goals, however, they do give numerous chances per game, offering a great floor for Fowler who has been a shooting machine as of late.          Â
Kris Letang- DK $5.5K || FD $6.2K
Opponent - San Jose Sharks
The Sharks just lost in overtime to the Hurricanes 5-4 last night and the Penguins have the opportunity to hand them a similar fate thanks to Letang. In Letang’s two games since coming back to the team, he has 2 goals, 2 assists, 9 shots and 6 blocked shots. Although this is a small sample size, we are currently witnessing prime Letang and against a defense like San Jose, this is hard to pass on. The Sharks are in the bottom-ten of the league in both Shots Against Per 60 – 30.89 – and Scoring Chances Against Per 90 – 28.94 –, as well as, the fifth-worst team in Goals Against Per 90 – 3.28 –, all over the last 10 games.               Â
Others To Consider (CASH/GPP): Dunn (DK $5.2K || FD $6.4K), Moser (DK $3K || FD $4.5K)
NHL DFS Top Power Plays and Stacks
- PIT1
- TB1
- EDM1
- ANA1
Brandon's Stack of the Day
- PIT: Guentzel-Malkin-Rakell
Chalk Stack
- EDM: Draisaitl-McDavid-Kane
Sneaky Stack
- CBJ: Gaudreau-Jenner-Laine
