NHL Daily Fantasy Picks and Helper: Sunday 1/28/24

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

David Rittich, Kings ($7,400)

Today's two-game slate will be a great example of how different the sport of hockey can be.

In the first game between the Los Angeles Kings and St. Louis Blues, defense should rule the day. In the past 30 days, the Kings are just 14th in expected goals per 60 minutes (3.11), and the Blues hold the second-worst mark in the league (2.47).

Both expected goaltenders are also pretty sharp at present. L.A.'s David Rittich ($7,400) is 10th in goals saved above expectation in the same period (6.04 GSAx), and St. Louis' Jordan Binnington (12.10 GSAx) is second in the entire NHL.

The difference? Rittich comes with a $400 salary discount despite the Kings sitting as -154 favorites to win, per the NHL odds at FanDuel. He's easily numberFire's top overall and point-per-dollar tendy at 21.4 projected points.

Stack

Columbus Blue Jackets

Largely, we'll draw offense from the other game.

In the past month, the Seattle Kraken have ceded the 10th-most expected goals per 60 minutes (3.15), and the lowly Columbus Blue Jackets aren't far behind (2.95). However, the goalies are even worse. Philipp Grubauer is expected to spell a struggling Joey Daccord, which is unwelcome news for Kraken fans. Gru's been out a month due to injury but had posted the 12th-worst overall GSAx in the NHL (-4.49) prior to exiting.

The difference as to why I'm targeting the underdog Jackets here? Their lines simply correlate while Seattle's even-strength-to-power-play correlation is routinely the worst in the league. With Columbus, we can at least draw Zach Werenski ($6,600), Yegor Chinakhov ($5,400), and Cole Sillinger ($5,200) from the top line in both ice conditions, and second-liners Boone Jenner ($6,500) and rookie Adam Fantilli ($5,500) join them on the man advantage.

Columbus played yesterday, but beggars can't be choosers on one of the wonkier two-game slates in recent memory.

Value Skaters

Quinton Byfield, W, Kings ($5,300)

If you want to be a bit contrarian and target skaters in the first contest, this salary for Quinton Byfield ($5,300) remains too low for his role.

As someone with access to all of the Kings' top skaters like Adrian Kempe ($7,700), Anze Kopitar ($7,200), and Drew Doughty ($6,400), it's not like the former No. 2 overall pick isn't producing. Byfield has posted 8 points in 11 January contests.

The Blues' defense doesn't qualify as good, so if Binnington has an off day, L.A. can certainly light the lamp a few times. This entire stack should be popular in the worse environment just as a means to spend salary, but it can certainly still pay off.

Alex Wennberg, C, Kraken ($4,600)

Sigh...Seattle. What could you be with decent coaching?

To me, it's no surprise the Kraken are one of the worst offenses in the NHL given the jamabalaya-esque mix their forward lines are. How can you develop any sort of chemistry or rhythm? The proof in the pudding is that no more than two forwards pairing at even strength and on the same power-play line. They're constantly playing with strangers.

However, Columbus' awful goaltender means some pucks should find the back of the net tonight, and we've got to guess where they come from. Daniil Tarasov has posted the sixth-worst GSAx in the past 30 days (-4.90 GSAx).

You can take shots pretty much anywhere, and a great example is a guy like Alexander Wennberg ($4,600). He skates on the Kraken's second line at even strength and with their top power-play unit, giving him the first crack when up a man.

Wennberg is projected by numberFire for 8.8 FanDuel points on Sunday, but personally, I don't see him as any less likely to find the score sheet than the bevy of Seattle options at the top of its projections.

Looking to play some NHL Daily Fantasy? Check out the NHL DFS lobby on FanDuel.

Sign up for FanDuel Sportsbook and FanDuel Daily Fantasy today!

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.