NHL Daily Fantasy Picks and Helper: Friday 1/12/24

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, find a goalie, some stacks, and some value plays for your NHL DFS lineups on FanDuel.

NHL DFS Picks

Goalie to Target

Carter Hart, Philadelphia Flyers ($7,200)

Ahead of the weekend, the NHL is giving us a two-game slate to pick from tonight, which leads us to once again suggesting Carter Hart as a goalie to target.

With just four goalies to pick from, it's apparent that not only does Hart have the best matchup, but he's been the best goalie of the four this year. Hart is in the midst of his top season since 2019-20, heading into tonight's tilt with a 2.69 goals against average and .911 save percentage. He's also saved 5.85 goals above expectation.

Tonight, the Philadelphia Flyers will take on the Minnesota Wild. This is a matchup that should be filled with saves, and there's little risk for Hart thanks to the Wild's struggles with putting the puck in the net.

The Wild are averaging just 2.8 Goals For per 60 minutes, which ranks 25th in the NHL at the halfway point of the season. They're able to create chances (60.54 Corsi For per 60 minutes), but with Minnesota scoring so few goals, it's easier to back Hart and what has been a good Flyers team at keeping the puck out of the net.

numberFire's model has Hart projected as the top goalie of the day, forecasting him to finish with 18.3 FanDuel points.

Stacks

Dallas Stars

The Dallas Stars take on the Nashville Predators tonight in what should be the higher-scoring affair of the two games on the slate.

Dallas has been an offensive force for much of the year. Their Corsi For per 60 minutes ranks 10th (62.24), and they're averaging 3.62 Goals For per 60 minutes -- which sits second in the league only behind the Vancouver Canucks. While the challenge of beating Predators netminder Juuse Saros is never an easy task, he's been a different goalie this season.

Saros has had a tough go over 32 games, entering tonight with a 3.09 goals against average and .899 save percentage. Both stats would be the worst of his career if the season were to end right now. Nashville ranks as a solid enough defensive team, as well, with a 58.19 Corsi Against per 60, which signals the struggles for Saros all the more.

The Stars are the only team with an implied total over 3.00 tonight, per numberFire's heat map, coming into the game at a 3.59 mark.

Stacking Dallas' top line of Jason Robertson ($8,400), Joe Pavelski ($7,700), and Roope Hintz ($7,500) gives you some of the night's top options. They're not only the best line playing tonight -- they are three of the best offensive players in either game.

Value Skaters

Gustav Nyquist, W, Nashville Predators ($6,000)

Gustav Nyquist has been one of the best players for the Predators this season, giving him the nod as our top value of the night.

The Predators' winger plays an elite role for Nashville, taking up a spot on the first line alongside Filip Forsberg and Ryan O'Reilly. He also skates on the right wins on the first power-play unit, giving him gobs of chances to record big points.

In 41 games, Nyquist is sporting 33 points on the back of 10 goals and 23 assists. The 33-year-old is currently in the middle of a nine-game scoring streak, recording 13 points in that span. If there's a time to get him in the lineup, it's now.

numberFire's model projects Nyquist to finish with 10.7 FanDuel points.

Jamie Benn, W, Dallas Stars ($5,300)

Due to having so few options tonight, we'll once again lean on Jamie Benn to provide some spark. After all, we are in favor of stacking the Stars against the Predators, so it's only fitting we recommend someone like Benn.

The captain has 26 points through 40 games, tallying 8 goals and 18 assists. While he doesn't get a lot of shots on net (hasn't had one in either of his last two games), he's got an important role on the power play as a big body in front, something that aids his DFS outlook.

Benn is projected for a solid outing tonight, per numberFire, coming in at a projection of 11.0 FanDuel points.

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The above author is a FanDuel employee and is not eligible to compete in public daily fantasy contests or place sports betting wagers on FanDuel. The advice provided by the author does not necessarily represent the views of FanDuel. Taking the author's advice will not guarantee a successful outcome. You should use your own judgment when participating in daily fantasy contests or placing sports wagers.