NHL DFS Playbook January 22nd: Top DraftKings and FanDuel Picks
Published: Jan 22, 2024
Monday's 6-game NHL slate is loaded with top-tier scorers featuring a great matchup as J.T. Miller and the Vancouver Canucks face Seth Jones and the Chicago Blackhawks. We should expect lots of tight games with some great matchups out there, but expect some of the top scorers to shine through still. So, be sure to check in with our NHL DFS Tools, with the daily NHL projections, and our NHL lineup generator when building those lineups today to help you decide which players you should be targeting!
NHL DFS Playbook January 22nd
DFS Lineup Construction Thoughts
The matchups are going to push ownership up for Vancouver and Los Angeles today, with them both having soft matchups. In cash games loading up on those teams will make a lot of sense. Players like J.T. Miller, Elias Pettersson, Quinn Hughes, Anze Kopitar, Trevor Moore and Drew Doughty will make a lot of sense. In GPP's I would be looking to Florida and Boston as teams that could have big nights to mix in with the Vancouver and Los Angeles players.
Recommended DFS Starting Goalies,
Top Options for Saves
Juuse Saros vs Florida Panthers
Anthony Stolarz vs Nashville Predators
Connor Ingram vs Pittsburgh Penguins
Best Odds for a Win
Thatcher Demko vs Chicago Blackhawks
David Rittich vs San Jose Sharks
Tristan Jarry vs Arizona Coyotes
Favorite Goalies to Use for DFS Lineups
Connor Hellebuyck G, Winnipeg Jets
Hellebuyck at this price is some serious disrespect from DraftKings. He has a 0.931 save percentage on the road this season, and the Jets are one of the best teams in the league. I am happy to buy in at this price.
Logan Thompson G, Vegas Golden Knights
Over the last two weeks, Vegas has given up less than two goals per game. Thompson has won four of his last five games, and he hasn't given up more than two goals in any of those wins. I think he is a solid choice for GPP's today, as he doesn't come at a high price, and I don't expect him to see a lot of ownership against the Devils in New Jersey.
Thatcher Demko G, Vancouver Canucks
While I would have expected Demko to have gotten the night off, it looks like he will get the start against a Chicago team that has averaged 1.33 goals per game over the last two weeks. Wins are never safe in the NHL, but the odds of Vancouver winning this game are going to be very high.
Recommended DFS Skaters
Highest Expected Goal Totals
Vancouver Canucks vs Petr Mrazek (4.2)
Los Angeles Kings vs Mackenzie Blackwood (4.1)
Pittsburgh Penguins vs Connor Ingram (3.2)
Favorite Skaters to Use for DFS Lineups
J.T. Miller, C, Vancouver Canucks
Miller continues to be a stud for Vancouver. He has points in four of his last five games and six points in that span. His ownership is likely going to be high, facing Chicago, but I wouldn't let that deter you from using him today in either cash or GPP games.
Phillip Danault D, Los Angeles Kings
It is never a bad idea to play the second-line players when the game might be lopsided as the top line often gets a rest. Danault has four points in his last four games, and he should be in a good spot to have a solid night tonight against the Sharks.
Trevor Moore, W, Los Angeles Kings
The floor for Moore is among the best in the league, as he shoots a lot. In a great matchup against the Sharks, those shots could be goals and that would mean a big night.
Alexandre Carrier, D, Nashville Predators
The Panthers are one of the teams that shoots the most in the NHL. Carrier leads the Preds in blocked shots this season and presents a reasonably priced blocked shots option with him blocking three shots or more in two of his last four games.
Player Pool
| $ Tier | C | W | D | G |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| High |  J.T. Miller  $9,500 |  Matthew Tkachuk $8,400 |  Quinn Hughes $8,000 | Thatcher Demko $8,700 |
| Medium |  Anze Kopitar $7,200 | Trevor Moore $7,000 | Drew Doughty $6,100 |  Connor Hellebuyck $8,400 |
| Low | Phillip Danault $5,900 |  Pavel Dorofeyev $4,800 |  Alec Martinez $5,800 |  Logan Thompson $8,200 |
Stacks
| Canucks | Elias Pettersson | J.T. Miller | Filip Hronek |
 DraftKings | 8500 | 8000 | 4900 |
| Fanduel | 10000 | 9500 | 5700 |
| Kings | Trevor Moore | Drew Doughty | Phillip Danault |
| DraftKings | 6000 | 5400 | 4600 |
| Fanduel | 7000 | 6100 | 5900 |
| Panthers | Brandon Montour | Sam Bennett | Matthew Tkachuk |
| DraftKings | 5000 | 5400 | 8000 |
| Fanduel | 5200 | 6100 | 8400 |
Player News
Randy Vasquez worked 4 1/3 innings while allowing two runs and not factoring into the decision Friday against the Diamondbacks.
Vasquez issued four free passes, and that’s one of the main culprits for why he was only able to pitch into — and not complete — the fifth frame. He also allowed just one hit and struck out one, so he was once again fortunate to only allow those pair of runs. He’ll likely be the fifth starter for the Padres after the All-Star break.
Manny Machado went 3-for-5 with a solo homer in a 4-3 win for the Padres over the Diamondbacks on Thursday.
Machado swatted his 16th homer of the season with a solo blast off Eduardo Rodriguez. He also doubled and singled and is now up to 2,004 hits in his impressive career. Machado remains one of the best third baseman in the sport, and should be able to remain at that level for the foreseeable future.
Fernando Tatis Jr. went 2-for-4 with a homer and a walk in a win over the Diamondbacks on Thursday.
Tatis Jr. gave the Padres an early 2-1 lead in the third with a solo homer off Eduardo Rodriguez. The 26-year-old star also singled, and the three-reach game improves his slash to .262/.358/.450. It’s not the superstar level he was playing at to begin the year, but it’s far from unusable.
Robert Suarez allowed no runs while picking up a save Thursday against the Diamondbacks.
Eduardo Rodriguez went four innings while allowing four runs in a no-decision Friday against the Padres.
Taylor Ward went 2-for-4 with a homer in a loss to the Rangers on Thursday.