4 Daily Fantasy Hockey Stacks for 2/6/20
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.
Edmonton Oilers
The Edmonton Oilers come in with a very solid 3.60 implied goal total and should be strong for all formats tonight.
That 3.60 total is tied for the second-highest on the slate, and we see the Oilers at home to take on the San Jose Sharks, a team in complete disarray. The Sharks come in allowing 11.51 High-Danger-Scoring-Chances per 60 minutes -- the fifth-most in the league -- and the 10th-most Expected Goals against per 60 minutes. This shouldn't be a surprise when three of their four forward lines are rated 24th or worse, and all three of their defensive pairings are rated 16th or worse this season.
The Oilers' first power-play unit is one of the most expensive stacks on this slate or any slate, but they bring tournament winning potential and are worth paying up for. That unit consists of Connor McDavid ($8,800), Leon Draisaitl ($8,400), Ryan Nugent-Hopkins ($6,300), and defender Oscar Klefbom ($5,500). These four players come in with 23 points and 66 shots in their last five games, an amazing level of consistency, and they are now staring down a soft defense.
Philadelphia Flyers
The Philadelphia Flyers should be one of the top stacks on tonight's slate for a few different reasons.
First off, the Flyers have a 3.49 implied total at home -- the third-highest on the slate -- and they are taking on the New Jersey Devils, who are allowing slightly more than 3.5 goals per game this season. Next, we see the Flyers' top power-play unit coming in at a very modest price point, making them easy to use in all formats. This is great since that power-play unit should see plenty of action, as the Devils average the fourth-most penalty minutes per game this season. All of this gives us a great combination of matchup, price, and potential upside.
Claude Giroux ($7,400), James van Riemsdyk ($5,200), Travis Konecny ($5,900), Kevin Hayes ($5,700), and Ivan Provorov ($4,600) are the five players on the first power play for the Flyers. You can mix and match any four of those players and be in a good spot for production. For the most potential upside, Giroux, van Riemsdyk, and Konecny are on the first forward line together, which maximizes shared ice time.
Buffalo Sabres
The Buffalo Sabres aren't a great team by any measure, but they are in a great spot tonight.
As is tradition, the Sabres got off to a hot start this season, then fell off a cliff. This is how things have gone over the past few years, and it's nothing new for Sabres' fans. They are simply an average NHL team, led by Jack Eichel ($8,400), who is a star player surrounded by a group of role players. Regardless of that, the Sabres are taking on the Detroit Red Wings, who are one of the worst teams we have seen in recent years in the NHL. They are allowing 3.8 goals per game, have a bottom-tier defense, and have been profitable to stack against all year long.
Eichel leads the first forward line and is flanked by Jimmy Vesey ($3,300), who was recently promoted to the top line and is very cheap. Sam Reinhart ($6,300) is on the first power-play unit with Eichel, giving you a bit of correlation for some upside. The savings Vesey brings to the stack certainly helps with roster construction if you are looking to pay up elsewhere.
Colorado Avalanche
After posting 24 goals across their last five games, including two six-goal outings, the Colorado Avalanche are looking to continue this hot streak.
In their most recent six-goal effort, the Avalanche's top line added only three points -- a bit lower than you would expect given that offensive explosion. Tonight, we want to go right back to that top line of Nathan MacKinnon ($8,700), Mikko Rantanen ($7,600), and Gabriel Landeskog ($6,600). They come in with 13 points and 45 shots over their last five games, one of the most consistent lines you can find on this late. They are all on the first power-play unit -- giving you immense upside -- but it comes at a steep price tag.
They are up against the Ottawa Senators, and the Avs carry a 3.72 implied goal total -- the highest on the slate. The Senators are in the bottom 10 in the league in both Corsi Against and the number of High-Danger-Scoring-Chances allowed per 60 minutes. They are allowing a ton of shots, and many of those are close to the net, presenting the best goal-scoring opportunities.
