All 32 teams hit the ice today, which means there’s no shortage of ways to get in on the action. I’m heading the daily fantasy sports (DFS) route, where I’ve built this nine-man roster at DraftKings (DK). This lineup will fit the later window for the games starting at (or after) 7:00 p.m. ET, and it’s eligible for the classic $50,000 salary format. I’ve also listed each player’s price at FanDuel (FD).
Here’s who I believe will have a big night on the ice!
Today’s NHL DFS Picks & Analysis
The lineup below is based on DraftKings, but FanDuel prices are also listed.
C1: Roope Hintz (DAL) | $6,500 DK, $7,500 FD
I have a lot of stock in the Stars tonight as they head to Chicago to square off against the banged-up Blackhawks. They’re a massive -300 moneyline favorite against the home team, so the oddsmakers are expecting a blowout.
I’ll start with top-line centerman Roope Hintz, who enters this game with 36 points (17G, 19A). Dallas just played Chicago at the end of December, and Hintz registered four goals over the two-game back-to-back series. He’s third on the team in shots on goal (SOG) with 91, and he’s logging 17:13 of playing time per game (TOI/G), which trails only Jason Robertson among forwards.
C2: Max Domi (TOR) | $3,000 DK, $4,400 FD
One of the marquee games of the night pits the Avalanche against the Maple Leafs. There are a ton of big names in this game, but I’ll opt for a depth guy in Max Domi. The centerman is making the most of his 12:55 TOI/G, adding 22 points (3G, 19A) this season. The sportsbooks have this total at 6.5 goals (-135 to the over), so they’re expecting a lot of scoring. I’ll take Domi to have his hand in a goal.
W1: Ryan Nugent-Hopkins (EDM) | $6,000 DK, $7,400 FD
I have a pair of Oilers on my roster tonight as they go for their 10th straight victory. This contest is against the Canadiens, who are 26th defensively (3.22 GAA). They’re also 28th on the penalty kill (72.99%), which isn’t a great recipe against this vaunted Oilers offense.
Ryan Nugent-Hopkins should have a big game tonight, playing alongside Connor McDavid and also getting power play time. RNH is now fifth on the team in scoring (11G, 27A), and he has 12 power-play points (2G, 11A).
W2: Oliver Bjorkstrand (SEA) | $5,200 DK, $6,200 FD
The Kraken are hitting their stride right now as they’ve rattled off eight straight wins. Oliver Bjorkstrand has played a notable role in the team’s recent success, adding five points (1G, 4A) over the eight-game run. He’s up to 31 points (11G, 20A) on the year, which is second on the Kraken. Seattle takes on a Columbus team that cannot keep the puck out of its net, ranking 29th defensively (3.43 GAA).
W3: Warren Foegele (EDM) | $4,100 DK, $5,100 FD
The other Oiler I want to lock in is Warren Foegele. He’s up to 20 points (7G, 13A) on the year with 94 SOG. Mainly, I like him as he plays alongside Leon Draisaitl on the second line, meaning he’ll get plenty of scoring opportunities as the attention is directed toward Draisaitl.
D1: Kris Letang (PIT) | $5,100 DK, $6,400 FD
The Penguins make the trip to Raleigh tonight, where they’ll take on the Hurricanes for an Eastern Conference clash. Carolina has a tendency to play in high-scoring games, which is exemplified by the fact that they’ve seen at least seven goals in six of their last eight games.
I’ll ride with Kris Letang in this game stacked with veteran, star defensemen. Letang’s putting together a solid season, racking up 27 points on three goals and 24 helpers. He still leads the team in TOI/G, playing 24:42 per game. I think he’ll have plenty of chances to earn a point against this shaky Carolina goaltending.
D2: Brent Burns (CAR) | $5,000 DK, $5,700 FD
Keeping it in the same game, I’ll go with former Norris Trophy winner Brent Burns. Burns comes into this game with 24 points (8G, 16A), which is just one point back of Carolina’s top d-man, Brady Skjei (7G, 18A). This is a great value play for a defenseman who can still rip shots from the blue line. Burns has 98 SOG, which is second on the team.
G: Connor Hellebuyck (WPG) | $8,300 DK, $8,900 FD
I have to play the red-hot Connor Hellebuyck tonight in net. The goaltender takes on the Flyers in Winnipeg. Philadelphia is just 25th in scoring this season, averaging 2.9 goals per game. They’re also dead last on the power play, cashing only 11.85% of their man-advantage opportunities. As for Hellebuyck, he has a 1.26 GAA and .954 SV% over his last four starts. That includes a shutout (29/29 on shot attempts) last time out against the Blue Jackets.
UTIL: Jason Robertson (DAL) | $6,800 DK, $8,400 FD
I’ll round out my lineup with Jason Robertson, who plays alongside the aforementioned Hintz. Robertson leads the team in SOG (120), points (42: 15G, 27A), and TOI/G (18:10) among forwards. This is a great matchup for the winger as he takes on the 30th-ranked Chicago defense (3.48 GAA). Robertson racked up four assists when the two sides played a back-to-back last month, with Dallas out-scoring Chicago 13-5.
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