NHL Daily Fantasy Picks and Helper: Saturday 1/20/24

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

Charlie Lindgren, Capitals ($7,000)

Balancing matchup, salary, and recent form, it's easy to arrive on Charlie Lindgren ($7,000) as the top option on this eight-game slate.

The Washington Capitals' top netminder is off injured reserve, allowing just six goals in three games since returning. Translating to an advanced look, Lindgren's 4.72 goals saved above expectation (GSAx) already rank 13th of 68 qualifying goaltenders in the last 30 days. He's been excellent all season behind a pedestrian Washington defense (3.09 expected goals allowed per 60 minutes).

The Caps draw the St. Louis Blues for a second straight game on Saturday. Lindgren stopped 28 of 30 shots in a win against them on Thursday, and St. Louis' offensive impotence wasn't a surprise. They're posting just 2.98 expected goals per 60 (13th-fewest in the NHL).

Despite the recent successful night in DFS (18.4 FanDuel points) in this exact matchup, Lindgren carries an extremely low salary. numberFire projects him for 19.4 FanDuel points in the rematch, making him the top point-per-dollar option of the evening.

Stacks

Edmonton Oilers

I've avoided stacking against the Calgary Flames all season. That's changed dramatically with stud goalie Jacob Markstrom on the shelf with a lower-body injury.

Markstrom's backup, Dan Vladar, has been one of the league's worst replacements. In the past month of play, Vladar has posted -1.51 GSAx, which continues a concerning trend that has led to the seventh-worst season-long GSAx (-6.53) in all of hockey. Calgary's defense needs a strong goalie, allowing the 13th-most expected goals per 60 (3.12) this season.

Vladar's latest start could easily be his worst with the scorching Edmonton Oilers in town. Edmonton has won 12 games in a row behind their stellar play on both sides, including a dynamic offense that's reputation proceeds itself at this point.

The prolific Connor McDavid ($10,400) has posted 59 points in 39 games, and he's brought his wingers -- Zach Hyman ($9,500) and Ryan Nugent-Hopkins ($7,400) -- along for the ride as they pace for career-highs in points, as well. Defenseman Evan Bouchard ($8,400) joins these four in all ice conditions to round out the stack.

Markstrom's potential return is worth monitoring, but Edmonton has lit up strong netminders like Joey Daccord recently. This is a hard stack to turn away from -- especially when Lindgren and other value options make them full accessible.

Los Angeles Kings

The New York Rangers are 28-14-2, but they're just not the scary to stack against at the moment.

New York is just 15th in expected goals allowed per 60 minutes (3.06), and their goaltending duo is struggling as of late. In the past 30 days, neither Jonathan Quick (-1.27 GSAx) nor Igor Shesterkin (-1.49 GSAx) have added value in the crease. They're also punching at their own weight class tonight.

All season, the Los Angeles Kings have dominated. Defense not mattering much on FanDuel, L.A. has still posted the fourth-most expected goals per 60 minutes (3.47), and it's easy to snag a lot of their production from their stellar top line. Adrian Kempe ($7,700), Anze Kopitar ($7,500), Drew Doughty ($6,000), and Quinton Byfield ($5,700) skate on the lead unit in all ice conditions and carry fair salaries despite combining for 51 goals in 42 games.

Correlation? Check. Matchup? Check. Offensive skill? Check. I was surprised to arrive on the Kings this high in the pecking order, but they make plenty of sense.

Value Skaters

Leo Carlsson, C, Ducks ($5,100)

We usually seek out the San Jose Sharks whenever they're on the slate, but the lowly Anaheim Ducks aren't exactly a world-class offense that's guaranteed to light them up.

Anaheim's 2.78 expected goals per 60 are third-fewest in the NHL, so don't be surprised if their production underwhelms despite the obvious advantages tonight. San Jose's 3.65 expected goals allowed per 60 are the very most in the NHL, and Kaapo Kahkonen (-1.13 GSAx) -- the better of the Sharks' two options -- still hasn't helped.

While not selling out for the stack, I'll trepidatiously mix in Ducks today, including stud rookie Leo Carlsson ($5,100). Carlsson returned two games ago to Anaheim's top line and top power-play unit, and I'm buying low as the rust shakes off. He's taken just one shot with zero points since returning, but 1.96 shots and 0.6 points per game overall imply better days ahead.

numberFire projects Carlsson for 11.8 FanDuel points on Saturday, and linemates Troy Terry ($5,700) and Alex Killorn ($4,700) are with him near the top of the point-per-dollar rankings.

Max Pacioretty, W, Capitals ($5,000)

Washington's season might have changed upon the arrival of Max Pacioretty ($5,000).

The Caps have won four of their last six games, which would have been absurd to conceptualize before the season if told Alex Ovechkin was largely on the shelf for them. It's really been the production of their new top line as Pacioretty, Dylan Strome ($6,000), T.J. Oshie ($5,500), and blue-liner John Carlson ($6,800) have combined for 10 goals in the period.

Returning slowly off of two brutal Achilles injuries, Mad Max appears fully back to speed. He's posted at least 15:45 TOI in four of his last five games. This matchup should be a workable one for him with the Blues also struggling defensively, allowing 3.41 expected goals per 60 (sixth-most in the NHL).

Jordan Binnington (10.32 GSAx this season) makes St. Louis a slightly less favorable matchup, and Lindgren takes one of four potential Capitals slots if you use him, but one-offs like Pacioretty make plenty of sense as this unit continues to deliver.

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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.