NHL Daily Fantasy Helper: Thursday 1/27/22
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 or 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 to take a look at today's slate and some players to consider for your lineups.
Goalie to Target
Andrei Vasilevskiy ($8,300): If you are looking for a safe option in net tonight, Vasilevskiy for the Tampa Bay Lightning could be the answer. Tampa finds themselves as massive -330 home favorites against the New Jersey Devils, putting Vasilevskiy in a spot to come away with the win. Vasilevskiy has allowed three goals or fewer in six of his last 10 starts, and he picked up the win in seven of those starts.
While he has a strong level of consistency, his ceiling is often limited because he doesn't have a high volume of saves. This is no fault of his own, it's due to the fact the Lightning have a 51.17 Corsi Against (Total Shot Attempts Allowed) per 60 minutes in five-on-five situations, which is the fourth-best in the league. His only fantasy downfall is that he sits behind an elite defense that limits the chances for the opposing team.
High-Priced Skaters
Sebastian Aho ($9.000): The Carolina Hurricanes are one of the league's best offenses and hold a strong 3.90 implied goal total against the Ottawa Senators -- one of the league's worst defenses. Aho is a key cog in that offense being one of the best in the league, coming in with 12 NHL points and 24 shots on goal in his last 10 games.
That level of production is what we should see versus the Senators, who are allowing 2.81 Goals per 60 minutes in five-on-five situations (seventh-worst team in the league). They also hold a league-worst 61.36 Corsi Against, allowing opposing teams to constantly generate offensive opportunities. With Aho on the first forward line and the first power-play unit, he should ample opportunities to reach for that upside.
Brayden Point ($8,700): As noted above, the Lightning are massive home favorites and they have a slate-high 4.06 implied goal total. Point should have a few more shooting opportunities tonight since Nikita Kucherov is out due to the league's COVID protocol. Kucherov is an elite shooter, and with him gone, Point should feel compelled to take a few more shots instead of passing.
Point comes in with 10 NHL points and 36 shots on goal over his last 10 games, making him an ideal target for all formats tonight. The Devils have allowed three-plus goals in six straight games and are one of the worst defensive teams in the league.
Value Skaters
Maxim Mamin ($3,700): The Florida Panthers' offense is like the Mega Mushroom from Mario Kart. It only takes them a few taps to get up to top speed, and then, there's no slowing them down. A league-best 3.53 Goals scored per 60 minutes in five-on-five situations has led them to score a total of 175 goals this season. Any time you can get exposure to this offense you should be doing so but getting that exposure on the cheap can be even better.
Mamin is on the top forward line for the Panthers but doesn't play on either power-play unit. He's a bit of a punt play, but he helps you get cheap exposure to Aleksander Barkov and Carter Verhaeghe in stacks. Those two have 13 and 8 NHL points in their last 10 games, respectively. Mamin can fall into an assist tonight and reach value with the offensive power around him.
Kasperi Kapanen ($5,000): The Penguins' offense is flying right now. Well, technically Penguins can't fly, but I digress. With at least three goals in six of their last 10 games, they have vaulted to one of the best offenses in the league and are a team worth targeting every night. Kapanen is a bit of a value option on the second forward line and the second power-play unit. Those roles should put him in a good spot to produce against the Seattle Kraken, who are allowing 3.11 Goals per 60 minutes in five-on-five situations -- second-worst in the league.
