In daily fantasy hockey, stacking is a key strategy in tournaments. We want to correlate our lineups with up to four players to maximize our upside -- if one player on a line is scoring goals, it's likely that his linemates are getting assists, as well.
Ideally, we want players who will get a lot of ice time together on an even-strength line and a power-play line. Two good resources for line combinations are LeftWingLock.com and DailyFaceoff.com, so be sure to check those sites for updated line information.
We've got a large, 12-game slate on Thursday, so let's find some stacks to help us win tonight.
Tampa Bay Lightning
The Tampa Bay Lightning didn't look like themselves to begin the season, but that's already changed. They've gone 7-3-0 in their last 10 games and are comfortably in the playoffs as of now. They are also fifth in goals per game and have a great matchup tonight.
Tampa has a new top line that has really been clicking. It features the duo of Brayden Point ($8,600) and Nikita Kucherov ($10,000), who have been one of the best pairings in the league for years. Kucherov is up to 1.5 real-world points per game now, which is higher than his career-best clip from last season. Point has also been on fire, tallying nine goals in his last 10 games. The newcomer to this line is Brandon Hagel ($6,100) -- who has also been playing well, amassing seven points in the last 10 games -- and he also plays on the first power-play unit.
Victor Hedman ($6,100) had his salary fall after a slump that resulted in him getting removed from the first power play, but now that he's back on it, his salary is too low for the role. If you can fit him into this stack, he certainly warrants a spot in lineups.
The Lightning will host the Columbus Blue Jackets tonight. Columbus continues to be a great matchup for all teams, as they give up the second-most goals per game and second-most shots per game. They allowed five goals the last time they played the Lightning.
Tampa's implied team total is above four goals tonight, and it is the highest on the slate. This stack could be the best one on the board.
Colorado Avalanche
The Colorado Avalanche are banged up and missing several key players. They aren't as injured as they were last week, and they now have enough players to play in a stack in tonight's good matchup.
The Avs had to make a shift in their lines, with Mikko Rantanen ($9,800) now playing center. He's taken to his new role, as he scored a hat trick on Sunday. He's got Valeri Nichushkin ($8,300) and Artturi Lehkonen ($6,800) on his wings now, both having recently returned to the lineup. Nichushkin was on fire before his injury and could get back to that form soon. He's played more than 20 minutes per game since coming back into the lineup. Lehkonen is also playing more than 20 minutes a game and notched a goal and assist on Tuesday night.
Colorado will play the Buffalo Sabres in a home game on Thursday. The total goals in Sabres games are higher -- on average -- than any other team in the league. They allow 3.55 goals per game and will be in a tough spot on the road against Colorado.
The Avalanche have an implied team total of 3.62 goals, the third-highest on the slate. This top line may not have Nathan MacKinnon on it, but it still has the firepower to be worth rostering.
New Jersey Devils
The New Jersey Devils have been among the best teams in the league this season, sitting close to the top of the standings. When a team comes out of nowhere to be this good, it tends to look like regression will come. However, for this Devils team, the underlying metrics suggest that they actually are one of the best teams in the NHL.
New Jersey is getting the breakout season from Jack Hughes ($9,600) that they've wanted for years now. He has 15 goals and 34 points in 29 games, leading the team. Jesper Bratt ($7,400) is second on the team in points with 30 and is back playing with Hughes at even strength and on the power play. Yegor Sharangovich ($4,100) is a capable player who will slot in on the left wing and comes at a friendly salary.
The Devils will face the Philadelphia Flyers tonight. The Flyers' good start has come crashing down to earth, as many expected, as Philly is 2-6-2 in their last 10 games. They also allow the fifth-most scoring chances and fourth-most high-danger chances per 60 minutes.
New Jersey produces a ton of shot attempts and should do the same in this matchup. Their implied team total trails only Tampa's on this slate, and the Devils are huge favorites in this game.
Others to Consider: Boston Bruins, Edmonton Oilers, Montreal Canadiens
Nicholas Vazquez is not a FanDuel employee. In addition to providing DFS gameplay advice, Nicholas Vazquez also participates in DFS contests on FanDuel using his personal account, username hbyanksman. While the strategies and player selections recommended in his articles are his/her personal views, he/she may deploy different strategies and player selections when entering contests with his/her personal account. The views expressed in his/her articles are the author’s alone and do not necessarily reflect the views of FanDuel.