NHL Daily Fantasy Helper: Friday 1/27/23
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
Antti Raanta ($8,800): The Carolina Hurricanes are big -295 home favorites against the San Jose Sharks tonight, putting Raanta in a spot for the win. The Canes remain one of the best defensive teams in the league while also possessing an elite offense. This combination is a golden combination for picking up wins.
Over the last two weeks, the Canes are allowing the fifth-fewest (1.78) goals per 60 minutes in five-on-five situations while scoring the ninth-most (3.06) goals. During that same time, the Sharks are allowing 3.23 goals per 60 minutes in five-on-five situations, which is the seventh-worst in the league. All of this is a recipe for success with Raanta in net.
High-Salaried Skaters
John Tavares ($8,600): With Auston Matthews out of the Toronto Maple Leafs' lineup for a few weeks, Tavares will slot into the center role on the first forward line. This isn't a massive change for Tavares, who is normally on the second forward line, but it's a change nonetheless. He will still be on the first power-play unit, which will continue to put him in a spot for a high fantasy ceiling, especially against a team like the Ottawa Senators.
The Leafs have a 3.72 implied goal total tonight, and even with Matthews out, they can still push past that total. Over the last two weeks, the Senators are allowing 3.69 goals per 60 minutes in five-on-five situations, which is the second-worst in the league. Their defense is getting worse as the season has gone on and will continue to make a team we should be looking to attack.
In the last 10 games, Tavares has racked up 13 NHL points, 51 shots on goal, and 7 blocked shots, putting him among the most productive players on the slate. He's an elite option in all formats and should be a very popular one tonight.
Sebastian Aho ($8,300): On top of the Canes being a big -295 home favorite, they have a 3.68 implied goal total, which should make them an elite fantasy option tonight. As noted, they are scoring 3.06 goals per 60 minutes in five-on-five situations over the last two weeks, along with a 63.21 Corsi For (Total Shot Attempts Created), which is the fifth-best in the league.
This is nothing new for the Canes. They have been one of the best offensive teams over the last few seasons and constantly push the pace on offense. This gives their players tremendous offensive upside and is something you should look to capture in your lineups.
Aho is the first forward line and the first power-play unit, coming in with 11 NHL points, 28 shots on goal, and 7 blocked shots in his last 10 games. Look to stack him with Teuvo Teravainen ($5,300), as they have shared ice time on the forward line and power-play.
Value Skaters
Kirill Marchenko ($5,000): The Columbus Blue Jackets have a favorable matchup against the Vancouver Canucks tonight in a game that features a 6.5 over/under. Both of these teams are in the bottom 10 of the league for the most goals allowed per 60 minutes in five-on-five situations over the last two weeks. This sets things up for a sloppy, back-and-forth game with no defense. But that's great for fantasy production. Marchenko is on the third forward line and the first power-play unit for the Blue Jackets, which has allowed him to grab 3 goals, 18 shots on goal, and 8 blocked shots in the last 10 games.
Anton Lundell ($4,900): Lundell and the Florida Panthers have a 3.50 implied goal total against the Los Angeles Kings, who have forgotten how to play defense in recent games. For the season, the Kings are allowing 2.60 goals per 60 minutes in five-on-five situations, which is the 13th-worst in the league. It's not amazing, it's not horrible -- just kind of average. However, over the last two weeks, the Kings are allowing 3.74 goals, which is dead last in the league. This is very enticing for a team like the Panthers, who are scoring the 11th-most (2.94) goals over the last two weeks.
Lundell is on the first forward line and the second power-play unit, coming in with a surprising 35 shots on goal, 7 NHL points, and 3 blocked shots in his last 10 games.
