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The top daily fantasy hockey lineup picks for DraftKings and FanDuel on February 4, 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, February 4, 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 2/4/25
Tonight, we have a 10-game slate and one team playing on a back-to-back, Ottawa. Tonight’s slate offers value across the board, offering creativity when building lineups.
The currently live top-3 highest implied team totals are Edmonton with 3.7, Buffalo with 3.6, and New Jersey with 3.4. I will do my best to guide you through this 10-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
Alex Nedeljkovic - DK $7.2K || FD $6.8K
Opponent - New Jersey Devils
Value and security are a rarity tonight when assessing the goalkeeper position. There are two options, pay up for the projected win, or ‘punt’ for value. The latter will be covered here. Alex Nedeljkovic has a 3-2 record in his last five starts, with a 1.81 Goals Against Average and a 0.936 Save Percentage. Furthermore, in his last ten home starts, he has a 1.7 Goals Against Average, a 0.943 Save Percentage, and a 1.3 Goals Saved Above Expected Per 60.
The New Jersey Devils, in their respective last ten away games, are a mixed bag. Their offense is noticeably hurting without center Nico Hischier, relying on Jack Hughes (DK $8.3K || FD $7.8K). If the Penguins can find a way to shut Hughes down, Nedeljkovic could make a case for the top value goalie of the slate.
Others To Consider (Cash/GPP):
- Vasilevskiy (DK $8.3K || FD $8.4K)
- Woll (DK $8K || FD $8.3K)
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DraftKings and FanDuel Centers - NHL DFS Picks
Brock Nelson - DK $5.7K || FD $6.1K
Opponent - Vegas Golden Knights
Brock Nelson is the rumor mill, and it is no secret at this point. The two-way center has proven his worth year after year for the New York Islanders. Throughout his last five games, he has one goal, one assist, 14 shots, and six blocked shots.
The Vegas Golden Knights are again struggling to keep pucks out of their net, with their most recent loss coming at the hands of the new-look Rangers in a 4-2 loss at Madison Square Garden on Sunday. Their struggles remain in the net, and it is a toss-up whether Adin Hill or Ilya Samsonov starts tonight. The former is projected. In Hill’s last ten away starts, he has a 3.83 Goals Against Average, a 0.866 Save Percentage, and a -1.33 Goals Saved Above Expected Per 60. Expect Nelson to produce three shots and one point.
Juri Kulich - DK $4.7K || FD $5.5K
Opponent - Columbus Blue Jackets
Jiri Kulich continues to impress after being moved from the wing to center and thrust into the top line center role. He has three goals, one assist, 13 shots, and four blocked shots in his last five outings.
This matchup against the Columbus Blue Jackets all comes down to their expected starter, Elvis Merzlikins. In his last ten away games, he has a 2.12 Goals Against Average, a 0.919 Save Percentage, and a 0.36 Goals Saved Above Expected Per 60. Despite his excellent play, the team in front of him continues to throw him to the wolves. Columbus, in their last ten away games, in Per 60 metrics against, is a bottom-ten team in Shots and Expected Goals, the third-worst in High-Danger Chances Against, and the second-worst in Scoring Chances Against. Kulich’s value tonight will come from his peripherals, and any point production will be an added bonus.
Others To Consider (CASH/GPP):
- McDavid (DK $9K || FD $8.7K)
- N. Cates (DK $3.8K || FD $5.1K)
DraftKings and FanDuel Wings - NHL DFS Picks
Tage Thompson - DK $7.9K || FD $7.6K
Opponent - Columbus Blue Jackets
Tage Thompson’s status is yet to be determined and is worth monitoring as the clock ticks closer to puck drop. Injury aside, the center and now converted winger is on a tear in his last five games. He has five goals, four assists, 15 shots, and five blocked shots. That includes an impressive hat trick against the Boston Bruins. Since being moved to the wing, a new part of Thompson has been unlocked, and he does not look like he is slowing down anytime soon.
As mentioned, the Blue Jackets continue to struggle defensively and rely on their goaltending to bail them out each night. If Thompson and company can get going, there is a chance Buffalo will register four or more goals.
Corey Perry - DK $2.8K || FD $3.3K
Opponent - St. Louis Blues
There is a strong possibility that Corey Perry will be one of the highest-owned players at any position tonight. The veteran has been promoted to the top of the pecking order once again for the Edmonton Oilers and is also on the second power-play unit. Barely sitting above minimum salary on DraftKings in a prime spot screams chalk. Throughout his most recent five outings, he has two goals, one assist, and nine shots. That includes one goal and three shots in his return to the top line in the 4-3 loss at home to the Toronto Maple Leafs on Sunday.
The St. Louis Blues are the furthest thing from an attackable team, however, the combination of Leon Draisaitl (DK $8.5K || FD $9K) and Connor McDavid has been proven to be matchup-proof. Slot Corey Perry in as a complimentary piece, and the sky is the limit.
Others To Consider (CASH/GPP):
- Bratt (DK $6.3K || FD $7.3K)
- Duclair (DK $3.8K || FD $4.2K)
DraftKings and FanDuel Defensemen - NHL DFS Picks
Darnell Nurse - DK $4.4K || FD $5.5K
Opponent - St. Louis Blues
Darnell Nurse, Edmonton’s favorite defenseman–joking–is picking up steam. He now has two assists, 11 shots, and seven blocked shots in his last five games. He has also been elevated to the top pairing for the Edmonton Oilers, giving him exposure to teammate Connor McDavid.
As mentioned, the Blues are not going to be a walk in the park, and they will make the Oilers earn their win. It will force Nurse to be active on both sides of the puck, providing the possibility to reach both peripheral bonuses on DraftKings. Expect the defenseman to produce four shots and three blocked shots.
Ivan Provorov - DK $3.6K || FD $4.7K
Opponent - Buffalo Sabres
Teammate and fellow defender Dante Fabbro exited Sunday’s loss with an upper-body injury and will not be in the lineup at least until after 4 Nations. With that in mind, Ivan Provorov will be forced to carry more weight than normal. There is a strong chance that Provorov gets elevated to the top pairing for the Blue Jackets. In his last five games, he has one goal, one assist, nine shots, and 11 blocked shots.
The Buffalo Sabres will not be an easy matchup, and Provorov will be relied on for his peripherals to maintain value. Considering that Buffalo is expected to control the majority of the game, Provorov will have every opportunity to reach the Blocked Shots Bonus on DraftKings–three or more–providing instant value.
Others To Consider (CASH/GPP):
- DeAngelo (DK $5.5K || FD $5.2K)
- Ristolainen (DK $3.2K || FD $4.3K)
NHL DFS Top Power Plays and Stacks
- BUF1
- EDM1
- NJ1
- NYI1
- TOR1
NHL DFS Stacks of the Day
Brandon's Stack
- NYI: Lee-Horvat-Duclair
Chalk Stack
- BUF: Peterka-Kulich-Thompson
Sneaky Stack
- PHI: Foerster-N. Cates-Konecny
NHL DFS News and Injury Alerts
More DFS Lineup Picks and Analysis
