NHL Daily Fantasy Picks and Helper: Sunday 1/7/24

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

Connor Hellebuyck, Jets ($8,600)

As fate would have it, this four-game slate is packed with some of the hottest goaltenders in the sport. Balancing upside for saves with security and ability, I still think the best choice is today's highest-salaried netminder: Connor Hellebuyck ($8,600).

Hellebuyck and the Winnipeg Jets are 2-0 on this west coast trip despite scoring just four goals without empty nets, so winning a close, defensive-minded game won't be foreign to them. The Jets allow the 11th-fewest expected goals per 60 minutes (2.98) as a skating unit.

However, Hellebuyck has held up his end of the bargain -- and then some. He's posted the second-most goals saved above expectation (12.61 GSAx) in the NHL over the past 30 days.

The former Vezina winner is projected for 19.1 FanDuel points on Sunday by numberFire.

Stacks

Los Angeles Kings

There is truly only one elite offense on the slate, and they're in one of the best matchups on the slate. Popularity should follow the Los Angeles Kings, but I'm not sure how you ignore them.

L.A.'s reputation as a low-scoring squad is long gone. They're fourth in expected goals per 60 minutes (3.51) across the whole league and certainly face a beatable foe tonight. The Washington Capitals are a middle-of-the-road club in terms of expected goals allowed per 60 minutes (3.10), and they're currently without their best goaltender, Charlie Lindgren. Darcy Kuemper has posted -1.99 GSAx in the past month of play when filling in for him.

The argument against the Kings might be correlation after moving Adrian Kempe ($7,300) to the second line when he still joins Anze Kopitar ($7,400), Drew Doughty ($5,900), and Quinton Byfield ($5,800) on the first power play. Third-liner Kevin Fiala ($6,500) rounds out the man advantage, so it can be a bit tricky to pin this team down at even strength.

This slate starts with accepting or rejecting the Kings; I'm not sure how you look at the alternatives and do the latter.

Anaheim Ducks

The highest total on the slate (6.5 goals with -124 to the over) is in Orange County, and the home Anaheim Ducks will have a much easier 'tender to beat and secure a victory.

Alex Lyon was a huge part of the Florida Panthers' improbable run to last year's Stanley Cup Finals, but he's struggled in his first season with the Detroit Red Wings. Lyon has posted -3.93 GSAx in the past 30 days, and the Wings really need better; they're allowing the 10th-most expected goals per 60 minutes (3.22).

Like Los Angeles, Anaheim can be a bit tricky to pin down, but the correlation is actually slightly better for this stack -- and it's one with plenty of value. Oddly, Anaheim's second line correlates better to its lead power-play unit with Frank Vatrano ($7,800), Mason McTavish ($6,100), and Alex Killorn ($5,000) expected to be on assignment. First-liners Jamie Drysdale ($4,800) and Trevor Zegras ($4,100) join them.

Anaheim usually struggles to mount offense, but as the NHL odds at FanDuel indicate, oddsmakers expect they'll get going tonight against Detroit's struggling netminder.

Value Skaters

Yegor Sharangovich, W, Flames ($5,800)

The only other modest scoring environment on the slate is the Calgary Flames' trip to visit the Chicago Blackhawks -- solely due to Calgary resting Jacob Markstrom on Sunday against the weak Chicago offense.

Calgary shouldn't have an issue getting pucks on goal in this game. Chicago allows the sixth-most expected goals per 60 (3.36) in the league, but they've been fortunate to have Petr Mrazek as the backstop. Mrazek has posted 3.63 GSAx over the past month of play; I'm not sure I'd target him on a full slate.

However, with options reduced, this matchup can work, and the Flames have some nice pieces with low salaries. Take Yegor Sharangovich ($5,800) for example; he's the left wing on Calgary's top even-strength and power-play lines, and he's posted three points in three January games already.

Rasmus Andersson ($6,800), Elias Lindholm ($6,300), and Jonathan Huberdeau ($4,500) join him in all conditions. If not for Mrazek's quality play, the Flames would have been in the stacking section themselves.

Lukas Reichel, C, Blackhawks ($3,300)

On the other side, we'll see who wins out between an entirely stoppable force and a laughably moveable object.

Casual fans may not know a single Chicago skater suiting up tonight with Connor Bedard, Nick Foligno, and Seth Jones among those ravaged by injuries this season. It's led to the Blackhawks now trailing everyone in the NHL -- including the San Jose Sharks -- in Corsi (51.3) and expected goals (2.46) per 60 minutes.

It's risky to target them in any DFS setting, but Calgary's Dan Vladar will certainly test my willpower. Of 82 qualifying goaltenders this season, the Flames' backup ranks 76th in GSAx (-5.44).

Someone has to skate on Chicago's top line and try and score, and that someone will be Lukas Reichel ($3,300). Reichel logged his second-highest ice time of the season (18:39) following Bedard's injury on Friday and posted two shots.

Even projected for just 7.6 FanDuel points, the new top pivot on the 'Hawks is one of numberFire's favorite value plays of the day.

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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.