NHL DFS PICKS: Power Plays for DraftKings & FanDuel, 1/16 (FREE)

DraftKings and FanDuel NHL DFS Picks: We have a MASSIVE 13 game slate with no shortage of options tonight! Jeff Votteler has you covered with some top picks at every position, including Alex Ovechkin, Max Pacioretty and some of his favorite full line stacks as well.

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NHL DFS Picks: Center

Nathan MacKinnon (COL vs SJ) – DraftKings, $7,900; FanDuel, $8,700

Out of the top options tonight, Nathan MacKinnon would be my favorite pay up option for cash games, besides Alexander Ovechkin and maybe Max Pacioretty. MacKinnon Has four multi point games over the last ten, while averaging over five shots on net per game. An interesting note, over the last 29 games, MacKinnon has tallied 46 points. That equates to 1.6 real points per game, which is pretty elite. The Sharks have improved their possession and defensive stats, but they are still a middling team when it comes to Corsi and scoring chances. The main thing that is hurting San Jose is their goaltending. The Sharks have the third worst save percentage in the league, with an .891 SV%. This game should have a ton of pace and plenty of chances for goals.

Elias Lindholm (CGY @ TOR) – DraftKings, $5,300; FanDuel, $6,600

Lindholm has been a solid pivot since the Flames decided to shake their lines up earlier in the season. The Swede is averaging almost three shots per game on the top line for the Flames and also playing on the top power play unit. Playing alongside Matthew Tkachuk and Andrew Mangiapane, the trio creates 31 scoring chances for per 60 and 12 high danger chances, with an expected goals of 2.74 XG/60. They will likely get the John Tavares line, but I don’t see it as a hard match. The Leafs are dealing with a barrage of injuries on their blue line, and their past recent stats have shown. Over the last ten games, Toronto has given up the 4th most shots against per 60 and the 3rd most goals against per 60 at even strength. Calgary has enough offense to make this a good game.

NHL DFS Picks: Winger

Alex Ovechkin (WSH vs NJ) – DraftKings, $7,800; FanDuel, $8,600

Ovie is a stone cold lock for cash games, and the Caps top line should be the chalk of the night as well. Ovechkin is a nightly contender for the shot bonus and the point bonus, he also has hat trick used every night. New Jersey has the third worst Corsi in the league at 47.33 CF%. At even strength they are allowing the fifth most shots against per 60, the third most goals against per 60, and their goaltending has struggled with the third worst save %. The Caps should be all over the Devils tonight and Ovechkin will be front and center.

Max Pacioretty (VGK @ OTT) – DraftKings, $7,400; FanDuel, $7,400

In a shocking move, Vegas has decided to part ways with head coach Gerard Gallant. It’s shocking because the Golden Knights have been one of the best teams statistically speaking, they have just run into a very tough strength with bad goaltending. But anyways, Pacioretty has been firing the Puck a ton. Over the past ten games, he has averaged over five shots on goal, to go along with 17 dk points. He’s been steady as a rock alongside Mark Stone, and interchangeably Chandler Stephenson. The trios numbers are gaudy good. Together they carry a 63 CF% while creating 42 SF/60, with over 14 HDCF/60, and an expected goals of 3.62. Those numbers are laughably good, and they will get a nice matchup against the Chris Tierney line, which has been pretty atrocious with their smaller sample line of 60 minutes. Ottawa is giving up the fourth most shots against per game, and they are allowing the fifth most goals against per game at 5 on 5. If Vegas 2 can stay away from the Pageau line, they should be assembling a firing squad.

Fillip Forsberg (NSH vs ANH) – DraftKings, $5,700; FanDuel, $7,200

Nashville keeps changing their lines after a couple games and depending on injuries, but it seems that they have decided to go back to their top line of Forsberg – Johansen – Arvidsson. Which is good for Forsberg. The winger has 32 points in 39 games this year, and he has dealt with some injuries. Hell get a nice team matchup tonight against the Ducks. Anaheim is in the bottom ten of all the 5 on 5 metrics, and they also have the eighth worst penalty kill in the league. The Preds are in a great spot tonight, and I’ll have plenty of exposure.

NHL DFS Picks: Defensemen

John Carlson (WSH vs NJ) – DraftKings, $7,300; FanDuel, $7,100

If you can afford Carlson, he’s the clear pay up option besides Roman Josi. Carlson and Josi are in another tier of players in the defensemen category. Carlson is averaging just under 25 minutes of ice time every night, he’s quarterbacking the top power play unit and he’s averaging about five shots and blocks. The Capitals have met with the Devils twice this season, and Carlson has averaged 20 DraftKings points in those two games.

PK Subban (NJ @ WSH) – DraftKings, $3,900; FanDuel, $4,100

Subban has been a great value play over the past eight games. His salary has been stagnant and he has been pretty productive. There’s no reason he shouldn’t pay that $3.9k price tag off as he has been averaging over five shots / blocks per game, to go along with over 20 minutes of ice time. He will get an added incentive for more blocks tonight as the Caps should be firing a ton of rubber.

NHL DFS Picks: STACKS

Vegas Golden Knights 2: Max Pacioretty – Chandler Stephenson – Mark Stone

I mentioned above that Vegas’ second line has been beyond elite metrics wise, they just have struggled to light the lamp consistently and they have had that slate breaking night in a while. Tonight could be a great night for them as they should see the Tierney line the most. In a smaller sample of 60 minutes, the Tierney – Duclair – Namestnikov line is allowing 46 Shots against per 60, 41 scoring chances, and 26 high danger chances. Those numbers are obviously inflated because of a smaller sample size, but it’s not terribly small. If the Senators second line continues on that path tonight, Vegas’ second line should come up huge.

Washington 1: Alex Ovechkin – Nicklas Backstrom – Tom Wilson

The Caps top line is going to be the chalk tonight. The question is, how chalky will they be on a 13 game slate? Washington’s top line has been good possession wise, with a 56 CF%, while creating over 35 SF/60, 32 SCF/60, and over 13 HDCF/60. The Devils have been in the bottom ten of every advanced metric and they will have their hands full tonight as Alex Ovechkin steps into his office and gets ready to unload on net.

Nashville 3: Craig Smith – Nick Bonino – Rocco Grimaldi

The elusive Nashville three has been phenomenal, and they are starting to gain attention from DFS players. The trio has a good sample of over 250 minutes at 5 on 5 and their numbers are pretty amazing for a depth line. They have a 59 CF%, while creating 40 SF/60, 35 SCF/60, with 15 HDCF/60 and an expected goals of 3.45 XG/60. They are getting a great matchup against the Ducks, who have dealt with a massive amount of injuries and they are in the midst of a rebuild. Nashville’s second line should see a mix of the Ducks second and third lines. Anaheim second line of Comtois – Lundestrom – Rakell only has a small sample of 40 minutes, but if we average the time that Rakell was out, we get a sample of over 100 minutes. In the 100 minutes averaged, the Ducks second line has a 35 CF%.. Yes a 35 CF%.. They are allowing 30 SA/60, 35 SCA/60 and 17 HDCA/60. Playing different combos of Nashville could benefit you as they could garner some ownership and you will have to get different in some spots. If you are stacking them with Washington, you won’t be the only one.