NHL Daily Fantasy Helper: Friday 1/6/23
NHL DFS is similar to MLB in terms of how you build lineups, how you view stacking, and how to value players.
Two main points to always focus on in NHL DFS are what lines the players are on and making sure the goalies you are rostering are confirmed as the starters. Two of the best resources for that are LeftWingLock.com and DailyFaceOff.com. That is where you can find updated forward and power-play lines for each team, along with which goalies are confirmed as the starters.
Let's jump in and take a look at today's slate and some players to consider for your lineups.
Goalie to Target
Charlie Lindgren ($8,000): The Washington Capitals are -170 home favorites and in a favorable matchup against the Nashville Predators. Despite coming away with the win last night, the Predators are still a below-average offensive team, scoring only 2.28 goals per 60 minutes in five-on-five situations, which is the eighth-worst in the league.
Lindgren has been surprisingly strong for the Capitals this season and has allowed two goals or fewer in 8 of his last 10 starts. He comes in with a solid .914 save percentage with 2.20 goals allowed per game.
High-Salaried Skaters
Aleksander Barkov ($7,900): The Florida Panthers have a juicy 3.49 implied goal total against the Detroit Red Wings, making them the ideal option in all formats. The Panthers continue to be an elite offensive team, coming in with a 63.79 Corsi For and 2.99 goals scored per 60 minutes in five-on-five situations, both of which are in the top three of the league.
The Red Wings are struggling on defense this season and find themselves in the bottom 12 in Corsi Against (58.69) and goals allowed (2.59), both per 60 minutes in five-on-five situations. This puts the Panthers in a spot to have a ceiling performance, and that means exposure to them in all formats.
Over his last four games, Barkov has 6 NHL points and 10 shots on goal while maintaining a role on the top forward line and the top power-play unit.
Timo Meier ($9,400): Meier and the San Jose Sharks have a 3.45 implied goal total against the Anaheim Ducks in what could be a wild, high-scoring game. Both the Sharks and Ducks are bad teams and have their eyes looking toward the draft. These two teams are allowing the second-most (3.30) and the third-most (3.18) goals per 60 minutes in five-on-five situations this season. Zero defense being played puts a pure offensive player like Meier in a great spot.
The Sharks are scoring the 11th-most goals (2.67) this season, which gives them some clear potential in this matchup. Meier is on the first forward line and the first power-play unit, coming in with 13 NHL points and a whopping 42 shots on goal over his last 10 games. He's an elite play in all formats tonight.
Value Skaters
Frank Vatrano ($5,800): The Ducks also have some options we can be considering tonight, and most of them are value plays. I mentioned how bad both teams are on defense, so while this game is a coin-flip in terms of who will win, there is fantasy value to be had on both sides. Vatrano is on the second forward line and the second power-play unit, which has him posting 5 NHL points, 25 shots on goal, and 10 blocked shots in his last 10 games.
Seth Jones ($5,600): Jones is the defender on the first power-play unit for the Chicago Blackhawks, and while they are weak on offense, it's a valuable fantasy role. He is certainly racking up some fantasy points with 31 shots on goal, 16 blocked shots, and 4 NHL points over his last 10 games. Chicago is taking on the Arizona Coyotes, who are allowing 2.90 goals per 60 minutes in five-on-five situations, which is the seventh-worst in the league.
