NHL Daily Fantasy Picks and Helper: Thursday 1/25/24

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

Alex Lyon, Detroit Red Wings ($7,900)

Once Alex Lyon took the starting job for the Detroit Red Wings, there was no looking back. He's our target between the pipes tonight.

Lyon didn't start the season as the Red Wings' number-one option, but thanks to great play, he has become the de facto top guy with no questions asked.

It's not a shock, really, once you dive into his overall numbers. Through 18 starts, Lyon has an 11-6-1 record with a 2.67 goals against average and .919 save percentage. Both would be his career-best marks for the 31-year-old.

The reason that we're targeting Lyon over a handful of strong goaltenders tonight is all due to the matchup. Not only does he rank as a bit more of a value than others, but he's taking on a Philadelphia Flyers team that knows how to get shots on net but struggles to score.

Philadelphia averages 33.18 Shots For per 60 minutes in their games, good for the fourth-most in the NHL. Despite that impressive number of pucks on net, they score only 2.81 Goals For per 60 minutes, ranking 24th. That should be all we need to fire up Lyon, as the potential to make plenty of saves while keeping the puck out of the net is there.

numberFire's model has the belief in Lyon for tonight, projecting him to finish with 21.3 FanDuel points.

Stacks

Edmonton Oilers

As is a theme with our stacks, we're going to lean on the Edmonton Oilers once again today when they face off with Chicago Blackhawks.

The Oilers are the best team in hockey right now, and that isn't up for debate. They've won 14 straight games and don't seem to be slowing down. Over their last 10 games alone, they're holding their opponents to a minuscule 1.49 Goals Against per 60 minutes.

Now the Oilers play a Blackhawks team that are at the bottom of the league with 2.15 Goals For per 60 minutes. And as we've seen with their complete change on defense, it's led to offense -- which is what we care about the most tonight.

Edmonton is averaging 3.68 Goals For per 60 minutes through their last 10 games, ranking 7th. But they should be doing even better, as they have an expected Goals For (xGF) of 3.93, the best in the NHL in that same span and by a big margin.

The Blackhawks are letting up 3.55 Goals Against per 60 minutes and will be playing in the second game of a back-to-back. That first game saw them watch six goals get scored by the Seattle Kraken. Considering the Oilers are so much better than the Kraken, this should say all you need to know for tonight.

numberFire's heat map tells the story, as the Oilers have an insane 4.41 implied total for tonight. Plenty of goals should be on the way.

Stacking the Oilers always starts with the high-salary top line of Connor McDavid ($10,500), Zach Hyman ($9,700), and Ryan Nugent-Hopkins ($7,700). Leon Draisaitl ($9,500) is always worth consideration, too, seeing how he can find himself out there with McDavid at any time when the Oilers need it -- as well as on the power play.

Dallas Stars

When a lineup as deep as the Dallas Stars is in a position like they are tonight, it's always a great option to stack them.

Dallas will be taking on the Anaheim Ducks in a game that favors them in every way. The Stars have been a force offensively this season. In terms of rankings, they're 11th with a 62.31 Corsi For per 60 minutes and 3rd with 3.61 Goals For per 60 minutes. The only two teams scoring at a higher rate right now are the Colorado Avalanche and the Vancouver Canucks.

This is all good news against a Ducks team that has a rough 64.53 Corsi Against per 60 minutes and 3.41 Goals Against per 60 minutes, both ranking bottom-10 in the NHL.

John Gibson is expected to be in net tonight for the Ducks, and that's yet another welcome sign to running the Stars' stack. Gibson has watched opponents score four or more goals on him in three of his last five starts -- not great! But it is great for the Stars, and that's all we care about tonight.

Heading into the game, the Stars have the second-best implied total of the nine-game slate at a stunning 3.98, per numberFire's heat map.

The top line duo of Jason Robertson ($8,200) and Roope Hintz ($7,600) is where you want to lean first. After that, the third line duo of Joe Pavelski ($7,400) and Jamie Benn ($4,800) is a good value stack option. All four players play on the top power-play line for Dallas.

Value Skaters

Kyle Palmieri, W, New York Islanders ($5,100)

There's a lot to like about Kyle Palmieri as a value skater tonight.

The veteran forward isn't going to score a lot of points most nights, but he has the role and opportunities to come through. Over his last four games, he's been putting the puck on net at an elite rate. In three of the four, he's had five or more shots -- including six in his most recent outing. Eventually, those shots are going to turn in scores, and that's what we are banking on.

On the season, he has 11 goals, 14 assists, and 25 points. Again, nothing to write home about but enough to keep us interested. Palmieri plays on the second line alongside Brock Nelson while also playing on the top power-play unit. He averages 2.31 shots per game while playing 17:00 per night. We'll take that role any time, especially on this slate.

numberFire's model projects Palmieri to finish with 12.9 FanDuel points.

Teuvo Teravainen, Carolina Hurricanes ($4,900)

Playing a top line role on an elite offense like the Carolina Hurricanes', Teuvo Teravainen is a good play.

The 29-year-old forward plays on the right wing for both the top line and power play on the Hurricanes, giving him as good a role as any -- especially for his $4,900 salary. Through 46 games this year, Teravainen is sporting 27 points on 15 goals and 12 assists. Seeing what his role is and his ability to score, that's enough to believe in him as a top value on the night.

The Hurricanes have a solid 3.55 implied total against the New Jersey Devils tonight, meaning that scoring is expected.

Teravainen is projected for 11.6 FanDuel points, per numberFire.

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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.