This article focuses on 1/20 NHL Picks for both DraftKings Sportsbook and DraftKings Daily Fantasy. We analyze tournament tactics, statistics, pricing, and attempt to tackle this highly variable Daily Fantasy format so that we can gain an edge on the field at large. Full rankings for each position for both sites are available below.
Thursday 1/20 NHL Slate and DFS Gameplan
Welcome back to the Hot Shot for a nine-game Thursday slate!
Full Game Odds/Totals and DraftKings Rankings can be found below as well as cash game considerations for each site.
Three Favorite Lines Per Dollar
Florida Two “Sam Bennett, Jonathan Huberdeau, Anthony Duclair”
The Florida/Edmonton has the highest projected total on the night at 6.5 as if the time of writing. Both Sam Bennett and Anthony Duclair are very fairly priced, giving us a high upside, low-cost method to attack this game. Over the last ten games, their ten full-line goals are good for second amongst all lines in the NHL with seven coming in their last three.
Pittsburgh One “Sidney Crosby, Jake Guentzel, Bryan Rust”
My expectation is that this will be the chalk de jour of the night with Pittsburgh a -280 favorite at home against Ottawa and this being an early game and all. This selection is less about current numbers which could certainly be better for these three and more about reputation and matchup. Of the three skaters, Bryan Rust is my favorite as an individual play due to the $1,500 or so price break from his two linemates. They all share a correlation on the Penguin’s top power-play unit.
Vegas Golden Knights Two “William Karlsson, Jonathan Marchessault, Reilly Smith”
Speaking of heavy favorites, Vegas is the biggest of the night, coming in on the money line at -360 as host to the Canadiens. Sometimes the numbers can indirectly tell us a story and when digging through recent sample sizes, one thing that popped out at me is how unlucky this line is. Over their last ten games, they lead all lines in the NHL in terms of shot attempts for including missed and blocked shots, with a who’s who list behind them such as Calgary, Boston, and Colorado’s top lines. Nonetheless, they only have four-line goals to show for it and this screams positive regression is forthcoming. Between this being a late-game and most people expecting a sleepy affair where Vegas just takes care of business, Vegas Two might be able to help us take down a tournament.
1/20 NHL Game Odds and Totals
Main Slate of Games – Beginning 7 p.m. ET
Washington Capitals (+130) at Boston Bruins (-150) – 5.5 Projected Goal Total
Dallas Stars (-175) at Buffalo Sabres (+150) – 5.5 Projected Goal Total
Columbus Blue Jackets (+105) at Philadelphia Flyers (-125) – 6 Projected Goal Total
Ottawa Senators (+220) at Pittsburgh Penguins (-280) – 6 Projected Goal Total
Winnipeg Jets (+115) at Nashville Predators (-135) – 5.5 Projected Goal Total
Florida Panthers (-150) at Edmonton Oilers (+130) – 6.5 Projected Goal Total
Colorado Avalanche (-190) at Los Angeles Kings (+165) – 6 Projected Goal Total
Montreal Canadiens (+280) at Vegas Golden Knights (-360) – 6 Projected Goal Total
San Jose Sharks (-105) at Seattle Kraken (-115) – 5.5 Projected Goal Total
1/20 NHL DraftKings Individual Rankings
Centers
- Nathan MacKinnon – Colorado – $9,300
- Sam Bennett – Florida – $5,800
- Conor McDavid – Edmonton – $8,400
- Aleksandr Barkov – Florida – $7,200
- Evgeni Malkin – Pittsburgh – $6,000
Wingers
- Filip Forsberg – Nashville – $6,400
- Bryan Rust – Pittsburgh – $6,000
- David Pastrnak – Boston- $7,400
- Jake Guentzel – Pittsburgh – $7,400
- Craig Smith – Boston – $4,100
Defense
- Erik Karlsson – Sharks – $4,800
- Roman Josi – Nashville – $8,000
- Brent Burns – San Jose – $5,800
- Zach Whitecloud – Vegas – $4,900
- Cam York – Philadelphia – $3,400
Goalies
- Braden Holtby – Dallas – $8,200
- Jusse Saros – Nashville – $7,900
Cash Considerations
Sam Bennett, Filip Forsberg, Bryan Rust, Erik Karlsson
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