NHL Daily Fantasy Helper: Wednesday 1/4/23
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 and some players to consider for your lineups.
Goalie to Target
Scott Wedgewood ($8,100): The Dallas Stars are -225 road favorites against the Anaheim Ducks, and simply put, this is not a game the Stars should be losing. The Stars are on the second night of a back-to-back, but they played the Los Angeles Kings last night, so this is a no-travel situation against the Ducks.
When it comes to the Ducks, they are one of the worst defenses in the league while also having one of the worst offenses. It's truly remarkable. They are allowing 3.40 goals and have a 65.22 Corsi Against (Total Shot Attempts Allowed) per 60 minutes in five-on-five situations, both of which are dead last in the league.
They are producing 1.81 goals per 60 minutes in five-on-five situations, which is the second-worst rate in the league. The Stars should be able to rebound from last night's loss and pour in goals, thus putting Wedgewood in a spot to pick up the win.
High-Salaried Skaters
Jack Hughes ($9,500): The New Jersey Devils have a slate-high 3.61 implied goal total, and given it's a small three-game slate, they should be a very popular option in all formats. With a 6.5 over/under against the Detroit Red Wings, we could be in for a high-scoring, back-and-forth game, which should give us plenty of fantasy production.
The Devils got off to a hot start this season but hit a rough patch over the last three weeks. To put things in comparison, for the entire season, the Devils are allowing 2.09 goals per 60 minutes in five-on-five situations, which is the sixth-best in the league. Over the last three weeks, they are allowing 2.70 goals per 60 minutes in five-on-five situations, which is the 12th worst in the league. That is a dramatic difference, and if they are giving up more goals, it forces their offense to produce more, putting Hughes in a spot for a ceiling game.
It's also great to see that over the same three weeks, the Red Wings are allowing 3.21 goals per 60 minutes in five-on-five situations, which is the second-worst in the league. This should be the type of matchup where we see Hughes excel, something he's doing on an almost nightly basis. He comes in with 9 NHL points and 53 shots on goal over his last 10 games while playing on the second forward line and the first power-play unit.
Jason Robertson ($10,100): With a 3.49 implied goal total, the Stars are another team set to be popular tonight. As noted above, the Ducks are abysmal on defense this season, allowing a league-worst 3.40 goals per 60 minutes in five-on-five situations. The Stars sit in the top 13 of the league in goals scored (2.65) and Corsi For (59.4) (Total Shot Attempts Created) per 60 at 5-on-5.
This is a lopsided matchup, and the Stars should be able to pour it on tonight. Robertson has been elite all season for the Stars and comes in with 13 NHL points and 38 shots on goal over his last 10 games. He maintains a very strong role on the first forward line and the first power-play unit, putting him in a spot for plenty of production.
Value Skaters
Moritz Seider ($5,100): Seider is the reigning Calder Trophy (Rookie of the Year) winner from last season, and while his numbers haven't been as eye-popping this year, he's still a strong option. Over his last 10 games, he has a paltry 1 NHL point but comes in with 11 shots on goal and 26 blocked shots.
Those secondary stats give him a solid floor every night, and with this matchup against the Devils having a 6.5 over/under, it should provide some offensive upside for him to potentially grab an NHL point to boost his ceiling.
Wyatt Johnston ($4,900): Another option from the Stars -- but getting a bit of value -- is Johnson. He's on the third forward line and the second power-play unit, and given the matchup, he has some clear upside tonight. His production has been modest over the last 10 games with 18 shots on goal and 5 NHL points. While that is modest production, he offers good point-per-dollar value in this plum spot versus the Ducks, who carry the worst defense in the league.
