NHL

2 Daily Fantasy Hockey Stacks for 1/30/20

Thomas Vecchio  —  @Tom_Vecchio1 Jan 30th, 2020
The Canadiens are looking to be the best stacking option on this three-game slate. Can you hit the lock button on their players tonight?

When playing NHL DFS -- much like MLB DFS -- stacking is key. Having multiple players from the same team, who correlate together, can give your lineup upside and help you maximize potential points.

You can roster up to four players from the same team in NHL, and you should look to have players from the same forward line or power-play unit together. Shared ice time is the key, as it will maximize their ability to contribute to real-life goals with each other, ultimately leading to more fantasy points for us.

Generally, we don't see late scratches in the NHL, and the team's lines are confirmed at practice or before the game. Two of the best resources for that are LeftWingLock.com or DailyFaceOff.com. That is where you can find updated forward and power-play lines for each team.

Montreal Canadiens

The Montreal Canadiens come in with a 3.07 implied goal total -- the third-highest on the slate -- so we should look to stack them tonight.

With only three games on tonight's NHL slate, you shouldn't be fading one of the top projected team -- especially given the teams on this slate. By that, I mean we have five of the six teams tonight sitting at 16th or lower when it comes to total goals scored this season. We aren't working with the best offenses tonight. Since that is the case, you should look to the team with the highest implied goal total for a bit of safety tonight. That team is the Canadiens, who are on the road to take on the Buffalo Sabres, in what is an important divisional matchup. Both teams are sitting with 51 points and on the outside looking in when it comes to the playoff picture.

The Canadiens are holding a 63.41 5v5 Corsi For (Shot Attempts Created) this season, which is the best in the league. They generate a ton of offensive opportunities, and you should be looking at them as a solid floor of points due to their potential shot volume. On the other side, the Sabres actually don't allow a ton of shot attempts or High-Danger-Scoring-Chances, but they aren't a good defense. It's a weird dynamic for them, they don't give up a ton of shots -- but often -- the shots that make it through, go in.

If this is the case, you simply want to look to the best players on Montreal -- and stack their first power-play unit. Phillip Danault ($5,900), Tomas Tatar ($6,500), Jeff Petry ($4,800), and Nick Suzuki ($4,200) aren't too expensive and bring the needed upside in this matchup.

Nashville Predators

I guess we should be looking to stack the Nashville Predators tonight?

Just two days ago, I said this about the Predators, "I don't like stacking them, but they are a team worth considering." What was true then is true now. It might be even more accentuated tonight since we only have three games on the slate. The Predators have very little correlation when it comes to their forward lines and their power-play units. Their first power-play has players from the first, second, and fourth forward lines. The second power-play unit has players from the first, second, and third forward lines. They are legitimately all over the place, which can limit their potential upside.

With all that said, we should be looking at the Predators -- and their 3.19 implied goal total -- as one of the best options tonight. They are taking on the New Jersey Devils, who have allowed the second-most goals this season, hold the fourth-worst Corsi Against, and the seventh-worst expected goals against. Not a good defensive team by any measure, so look to the Predators first forward line. Yes, they are lacking full correlation, but it does get you exposure to both power-play units. Matt Duchene ($6,200), Ryan Johansen ($5,200), Mikael Granlund ($4,600), and Roman Josi ($6,600).