NHL DFS Power Plays: DraftKings + FanDuel Picks | 1/24

Saturday night in NHL DFS was a wild one as Boston’s duo of Brad Marchand and Patrice Bergeron scored plenty. Then the Winnipeg top line, anchored by Mark Scheifele, struck a few times in the third period. Combine that with another impressive performance by the Jonathan Drouin line for Montreal, and one had the recipe for short-slate shenanigans. Tonight’s fantasy hockey main slate is an unusually high seven games and carries some good plays and value we can take advantage of. Using our Top Stacks Tool and daily fantasy projections, we’ll find the best NHL DFS picks to help you build winning lineups on DraftKings and FanDuel.

As always, be sure to check our premium Slack for crucial lineup information in the 20-30 minutes leading up to every game’s lock. With the COVID-19 pandemic still looming, teams have taxi squads and are ready to fill positions daily as teams scratch players. Our Slack chat is hands down one of the best places to get news and line change notifications.

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NHL Power Plays: DraftKings + FanDuel DFS Picks | Jan. 23

NHL DFS Picks: Centers

Mathew Barzal ($6,700 FanDuel / $7,200 DraftKings)

The center position can be a difficult one to navigate for NHL DFS on many slates because it lacks depth but carries tons of talent. In a tier just below tonight’s big three, we get Mathew Barzal, who draws against one of the worst team defenses in the NHL in the Devils.

Barzal features some risk, as he has two games where he has scored a bagel. However, against New Jersey he had five shots on net, three scoring chances, three points (goal, two assists) and constantly kept the Devils on their heels. Barzal sees top power-play time against a Devils team that allowed two man-advantage goals. New Jersey plays an undisciplined form of hockey that often relies a lot on goaltending.

On the wings are Anders Lee and Jordan Eberle. This trio played great against New Jersey and in the first meeting against the Rangers as well. Where these three have thrived together is on the power play, with a half dozen high-danger chances and two goals versus New Jersey. That coincides well with the New Jersey propensity for taking penalties, at nearly 10 minutes per contest. Barzal set up Eberle for two goals and scored one himself on a breakaway. Remember, New Jersey allows 37.5 shots per contest, which is ranked worst in the NHL.

Joe Pavelski ($5,600 FanDuel / $5,700 DraftKings)

If we are looking for a bit of value, then dropping down to Joe Pavelski makes sense.  The veteran center finds himself in a great matchup for NHL DFS with a suspect Nashville team that has issues defensively on special teams. Pavelski fired off with Alexander Radulov en route to a four-point night. That included two goals, two assists and four shots on goal. This came with four scoring chances as Nashville had no answers versus a fired-up Dallas team.

It’s not often second-line centers are the focal point of the top power play, but Pavelski doesn’t disappoint. Averaging over 11 fantasy points per game on both sites and just over 19 minutes of ice time, he has everything you look for, along with a fully correlated linemate in Radulov (who still holds a grudge against Nashville). Now, there exists a question in who will play left wing, with Joel Kiviranta expected to be out due to injury.

However, this duo of Radulov and Pavelski produced in a big way during game No. 1. In the grand scheme a lower projection for Pavelski is expected and likely. On the other hand, Pavelski is one of the best in the league when it comes to tip plays, and Dallas excels at getting the puck on the net. That expects to increase the center’s chances of scoring a goal on Sunday night.

Nashville is an absolute mess on their own end of the ice, allowing opponents to score 3.5 goals per game (Dallas got 7 last time out). This game sets up great again for the veteran to produce some points, especially against the 28th-ranked penalty kill at just 62.5%.


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NHL DFS Picks: Wingers

Blake Wheeler ($6,700 FanDuel / $6,200 DraftKings)

This pick may carry risk on the back end of a back-to-back. On the other hand, Blake Wheeler is an NHL DFS staple because his team often plays at a high pace and his linemates are absolute weapons. They also tend to produce in clutch moments and even in those empty-net situations late.

The 34-year-old struck back so far in this early season with seven points in five games. Among wingers on the slate, Wheeler is still top-five projected on both sites and priced as such. To help him reach that projection are Mark Scheifele and Kyle Connor alongside him. Going back to last year, these three have skated together over 250 minutes, producing a nearly 60% Corsi-for and 60% high-danger chances. Where they also excel is the power play, producing 35 goals between them.

Wheeler faces an Edmonton team that has had an adventure playing defense several times in the early going this year. This is one game where game stacks are possible with Leon Draisaitl and Connor McDavid. Defense appears to not be at a premium with a rested Oilers team versus a tired Jets squad.

The Oilers are 22nd in goals allowed per game at 3.33, and they are allowing 33.3 shots per game, which is seventh most in the NHL. That should allow Wheeler and that top unit to generate shots and chances at will. Winnipeg has won both of their contests at home this season.

Kailer Yamamoto ($5,500 FanDuel / $4,500 DraftKings)

You may be noticing that this is an area where we take a little bit of a risk. However, one would be surprised that Kailer Yamamoto sees more consistent ice time and magically Edmonton looks better. The winger’s floor has been a shock of late with blocked shots (four each in his last two games). Getting power-play time and averaging around 18 minutes a night while playing with the likes of McDavid and Draisaitl can never hurt.

The winger faces a Winnipeg team that is deficient depth-wise on defense and just played a speedy Ottawa team on Saturday night. That might result in some considerable fatigue against a player who relies on speed and relentless forechecking.

Coach Dave Tippett loves his ability to turn the motor up when needed. The only question is Tippett’s tendency to shuffle his lines all over the place. The “Dynamite Line” has been Edmonton’s best weapon, and it seems the coach is hesitant to constantly use it in the early going. However, that DraftKings price alone is an absolute steal, and even the FanDuel price is below player average per slot.

NHL DFS Picks: Defensemen

Miro Heiskanen ($5,700 FanDuel / $6,100 DraftKings)

This slate has several projected high-owned defensemen, including fellow Stars defender, John Klingberg. Miro Heiskanen has more across-the-board point potential and floor on Sunday night. He is a player that could easily pile up three shots and three blocks against the Predators.

There is little in the way of debate here as Heiskanen was a player who averaged just over a point a game in last year’s playoff bubble (27 points in 26 games). Heiskanen is normally an easy play for any slate because he gives you everything you want in a defensemen and then some. Averaging several shots and several blocks per game, you can bank on a solid floor. Now add to the fact he sees ice time in every and all situations, you basically get a must-play tag.

The Stars as a whole will be higher owned on this slate for good reason. Rostering an expensive defensemen (that is not flashy) may be a way to get a bit different and still have all of the upside.

Additional Defensive Values:

It’s with decent certainty that Brent Burns will see the ice the most on this slate. He is priced on FanDuel at $6,800 and $6,500 on DraftKings. Beyond him there is Josh Morrissey, who quarterbacks the top power play for Winnipeg (A grade on FanDuel). Also, Adam Fox (correlates well with NYR1) in the mid-range. If you’re going way down, I’d look at Ty Smith on DraftKings and on FanDuel, where he is just $3,700. A higher-risk value option may be Dante Fabbro, who is minimum salary on FanDuel and has two points in four games despite just over 16 minutes of ice time per contest.


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