NHL DFS Playbook January 16th: Top DraftKings and FanDuel Picks

Welcome to Tuesday’s eight-game NHL Slate. We have a massive slate with a ton of good options to choose from. There are quite a few teams playing on back-to-backs, so there is value to exploit. We also have Connor McDavid and Auston Matthews facing off, so we’ll have to figure out which one is worth paying up for. You can build daily fantasy hockey lineups on DraftKings, FanDuel, and Yahoo Fantasy for Tuesday, January 9th, but before you build those NHL daily fantasy lineups, don’t forget to check out our NHL DFS projections, the NHL Value Finder, and the NHL DFS lineup generator. Let's look closer at the daily fantasy hockey top plays for tonight's NHL DFS Showdown slate.

NHL DFS Playbook January 16th

DFS Lineup Construction Thoughts

These eight-game slates just feel like the perfect size. There are more than enough games to target and make different lineup, but not too many that it becomes an impossible task. With so many teams on back-to-back, we need to make sure we are finding value and picking the correct goalie. We also have to make sure that we are targeting those forgotten teams *cough* San Jose/Chicago *cough* because there is still a good amount of value there. Let’s take a look at which players we need to be focusing on.

Recommended DFS Starting Goalies

Top Options for Saves

Mads Sogaard Vs. Colorado Avalanche

Martin Jones Vs. Edmonton Oilers

Stuart Skinner Vs. Toronto Maple Leafs

Best Odds for a Win

Darcy Kuemper Vs. Anaheim Ducks

Igot Shesterkin Vs. Seattle Kraken

Connor Hellebuyck Vs. New York Islanders

Favorite Goalies to Use for DFS Lineups

Connor Hellebuyck, G, Winnipeg Jets

If you’re going to pay up for a goalie it has to be Connor Hellebuyck. The Islanders are paying he tail end of a back-to-back and could manage to score a goal against the Minnesota Wild. Hellebuyck hasn’t allowed more than two goals in his last five games, so he is by far the best goalie option on the slate.

Stuart Skinner, G, Edmonton Oilers

The Oilers have a tough date with the Toronto Maple Leafs but don’t let that distract you from how good Stuart Skinner has been in the last month. He has allowed a total of seven goals in the last five games and is a big reason why the Oilers are on a ten game winning streak. It’s not an easy matchup, but he’s been good and he’s also going to see a healthy amount of shots. I love the upside here.

Petr Mrazek, G, Chicago Blackhawks

I don’t love paying $7800 for Petr Mrazek, but the truth is, he isn’t the problem. Chicago has an AHL lineup but are still keeping games close. Mrazek has also been elite on home ice, posting a 2.39 GAA and a .927 SV%. The Sharks aren’t a very good hockey team and the veteran netminder is more than capable of keeping his team in the game.

Connor Ingram, G, Arizona Coyotes

I do not trust the Calgary Flames to come out and be a decent hockey team, so I’ll gladly take my chances with Connor Ingram. The Arizona netminder posted a shutout in his last game and will get the start in this one. His numbers on the road have been very good, so there’s no reason to believe he can’t have a strong game.

Igor Shesterkin, G, New York Rangers

Let me start off by saying that I do not trust Igor Shesterkin or the New York Rangers, but we can’t ignore the fact that Seattle is playing their second game in as many nights and three in the last four. They might run out of gas at some point, so the Rangers SHOULD be able to come away with a win here. Shesterkin hasn’t been elite this season and his game has looked  
“Meh” at time, but again, it’s a good spot for him. If you’re chasing the win and willing t pay up for him, I can’t fault you.

Recommended DFS Skaters

Highest Expected Goal Totals 

Edmonton Oilers Vs Martin Jones (3.9)

Colorado Avalanche Vs. Mads Sogaard (3.8)

Washington Capitals Vs. Lukas Dostal (3.,5)

Favorite Skaters to Use for DFS Lineups

Connor McDavid, C, Edmonton Oilers

Connor McDavid is elite but it’s hard for him to hit value at his $9K+ price tag. He needs a ton of shots and points to hit value, which he could very well do tonight. The Leafs are a good team, but I do not trust Martin Jones to be good or for them to figure out how to be a good defensive team. Toronto will have their hands full and they won’t be able to show down McDavid. 

Ross Colton, C, Colorado Avalanche

I’m not saying that Nathan MacKinnon isn’t a good option tonight, but let’s not sleep on Ross Colton. He finished with a goal and four shots against Montreal and has just as good of a matchup tonight against Ottawa. Colorado's top line will continue to see a heavy amount of ice time, but they can’t be out there all game. On top of it, Colton joins the big boys on the top power play unit. There is a ton fo value to love here for only $3400.

Zach Hyman, W, Edmonton Oilers

You don’t think Zach Hyman is going to be extra motivated to face his former team again? I know it’s not the first time, but still, he’s going to want to stick it tot hem every time. He’s an elite forward who can rack up shots on goal and points. 

Max Pacioretty, W, Washington Capitals

I don’t believe the Capitals are scoring a ton of goals tonight, but I do think if Alex Ovechkin can’t go, Max Pacioretty is in a good spot to do some damage. He has three points in six games and is seeing time on the top power play unit. I don’t love his price tag, but I do think it’s fair.

Cale Makar, D, Colorado Avalanche

I usually don’t love paying up for defenseman, but we are making an exception tonight. Cale Makar is built different and he continues to remind us every time he’s in action. He played just short of 30-minutes against Montreal and finished with two points and six shots on goal. I don’t think we see him play as many minutes tonight, but he will still have a chance to exceed value. 

T.J. Brodie, D, Toronto Maple Leafs

Someone is going to have to block shots tonight for the Leafs and it’s probably going to be T.J. Brodie. He’s seeing over 20 minutes a night and is going to be asked to kill penalties and do his best to not let McDavid score on every shift. He’s cheap and offers a ton of upside.

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Player Pool

• FanDuel
• DraftKings

$ Tier	F	C	W	D
High	Nathan MacKinnon $9,900			Cale Makar $8,400
	Connor McDavid $9,800			Evan Bouchard $7,000
	Mikko Rantanen $8,500
	Zach Hyman $8,200
Medium		Mika Zibanejad $6,200	Ryan Nugent-Hopkins $6,100	Darnell Nurse $5,100
		Mason McTavish $5,800	Cole Perfetti $5,000	Seth Jones $5,400
Low		Adam Lowry $3,600	T.J. Oshie $3,500	Devon Toews $4,400
		Ross Colton $3,400	Jonathan Drouin $4,000	Jackson LaCombe $2,700

Stacks

Avalanche	Cale Makar	Mikko Rantanen	Jonathan Drouin	Nathan MacKinnon
DraftKings	8400	8500	4000	9900
Fanduel	8900	9900	5200	10700

Oilers	Connor McDavid	Evan Bouchard	Zach Hyman	Darnell Nurse
DraftKings	9800	7000	8200	5100
Fanduel	10400	8400	9700	6300

Capitals	T.J. Oshie	Max Pacioretty	John Carlson
DraftKings	3500	5100	5900
Fanduel	3800	4500	6600

Jets	Kyle Connor	Josh Morrissey	Adam Lowry
DraftKings	8100	6100	3600
Fanduel	8500	7500	4800

Avalanche	Cale Makar	Mikko Rantanen	Jonathan Drouin	Nathan MacKinnon
DraftKings	8400	8500	4000	9900
Fanduel	8900	9900	5200	10700

Oilers	Connor McDavid	Evan Bouchard	Zach Hyman	Darnell Nurse
DraftKings	9800	7000	8200	5100
Fanduel	10400	8400	9700	6300

Capitals	T.J. Oshie	Max Pacioretty	John Carlson
DraftKings	3500	5100	5900
Fanduel	3800	4500	6600

Jets	Kyle Connor	Josh Morrissey	Adam Lowry
DraftKings	8100	6100	3600
Fanduel	8500	7500	4800