NHL Daily Fantasy Picks and Helper: Wednesday 1/24/24

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

Thatcher Demko, Vancouver Canucks ($8,600)

Sometimes, it's best to just go with the top option, and that's what we're targeting at goalie today with Thatcher Demko.

The Vancouver Canucks' netminder continues his great season as a key part of one of hockey's best teams. So far on the campaign, Demko has a 2.40 goals against average and .922 save percentage while racking up 25 wins. All rank in the top 10, with the 25 wins leading the NHL. It only gets better with his 22.37 goals saved above expectation, ranking third in the league.

He's been nothing short of dominant, and it's why he sees himself in the Vezina Trophy race (+340).

Demko and the Canucks will face the St. Louis Blues in a matchup that should set them up for success. The Blues have been a poor offensive unit since the start of the season. St. Louis ranks 26th with a 55.86 Corsi For per 60 minutes and are averaging 29.37 Shots For per 60 minutes. Perhaps the best part for Demko is that they only score 2.80 Goals For per 60 minutes, setting up the Canucks' goalie to cruise to a strong night.

numberFire's model has Demko projected as the top goaltender of the day with 22.9 FanDuel points.

Stacks

Colorado Avalanche

The Colorado Avalanche are in a good spot tonight against a bad Washington Capitals team.

Colorado brings in one of the best offensive units we've seen in 2023-24. When it comes to their offensive numbers, the Avs are 7th with a 63.55 Corsi For per 60 minutes and 2nd with 3.73 Goals For per 60 minutes. They bring an offensive onslaught that few teams can match, aiding them as a great stacking option.

While the Capitals have been able to limit their opponents with just 2.86 Goals Against per 60 minutes, they're letting up tons of offensive chances that a team like the Avalanche should be able to take advantage of.

Washington has a 62.63 Corsi Against per 60 minutes, ranked 24th in the NHL. As a result, they place in the middle of the league with 29.99 Shots Against per 60 minutes. With an expected Goals Against (xGA) of 3.06, the Avalanche have a real shot to make some noise against the Capitals.

The easiest way to stack the Colorado offense is to run with their top line. Nathan MacKinnon ($10,900), Mikko Rantanen ($9,800), and Jonathan Drouin ($5,000) take up major spots with the first line and top power-play unit, which is what you want for stacking a lineup. Cale Makar ($9,300) is always a smart option, as well, on the backend.

Vancouver Canucks

Dominance has been the name of the game for the Vancouver Canucks.

Vancouver has been at the top of the NHL in scoring offense, leading the league with 3.75 Goals For per 60 minutes. The Canucks will bring that high-scoring offense into a battle with the St. Louis Blues, who are an ideal opponent -- especially playing for the second straight night.

The Blues are coming off a 4-3 win over the Calgary Flames, but that should leave them a bit tired against the high-powered Canucks. On the season, the Blues are allowing 3.14 Goals Against per 60 minutes on a 62.15 Corsi Against. Joel Hofer will be in net for the Blues tonight after Jordan Binnington played yesterday. Hofer has allowed 10 goals over his last three games, setting the Canucks up for another well-timed spot.

According to numberFire's heat map, the Canucks have the second-best implied total of the evening at 3.79.

Stacking this lineup starts with Elias Pettersson ($10,200), J.T. Miller ($9,200), and Brock Boeser ($7,900). Firing up Quinn Hughes ($8,200) is a smart option, too, as this offense is often in-sync with their top players doing most of the damage.

Value Skaters

Quinton Byfield, W, Los Angeles Kings ($5,400)

Early in the week, we leaned on Quinton Byfield, and we're going to do it again as he's found his game.

The Los Angeles Kings' winger has strung together two strong outings, scoring a goal in each while also adding an assist. Through 44 games this season, Byfield has 33 points on 14 goals and 19 assists. The former second overall pick is beginning to find his shot finally, too, recording two or more shots in seven straight games after struggling early on.

With how he's going and the role he plays for the Kings, which includes usage on the top power play, it's hard to ignore him as a quality value for DFS lineups tonight.

numberFire's model is projecting Byfield to finish with 14.5 FanDuel points.

Jake DeBrusk, W, Boston Bruins ($5,100)

If we want to bank on another player who's recently found his game, look no further than Jake DeBrusk.

The Boston Bruins' forward has been in the midst of a tough season despite the success of his team. DeBrusk has 12 goals, 13 assists, and 25 points in 45 games. Take into consideration that he scored 25 and 27 goals the last two seasons; his current surge might be what gets him back there.

In his last three games, DeBrusk has scored a goal per game while adding two assists -- good for five points and his best run of the season. We'll double down tonight by going with DeBrusk as a top value option.

DeBrusk is expected to finish with 13.9 FanDuel points, per numberFire, signaling another fine night on the ice.

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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.