Fantasy Hockey Cheat Sheet: Top DraftKings NHL DFS Picks, Lineup Strategy for January 19

There were eight games originally scheduled for Tuesday’s NHL slate on DraftKings, but tonight’s game between the Hurricanes and Predators has been postponed due to a COVID-19 situation. The Jets are playing for the second consecutive night, and the Sabres-Flyers and Blue Jackets-Red Wings will also face off against each other after playing one another on Monday. The game between the Avalanche and Kings projects to be the biggest mismatch with Colorado a huge favorite on DraftKings Sportsbook.

Set your DraftKings fantasy hockey lineups here: NHL $100K Twine [$20K to 1st]

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Top Line Stacks

Avalanche at Kings

Gabriel Landeskog ($6,500) - Nathan MacKinnon ($8,500) - Mikko Rantanen ($7,100)

Colorado reunited its top line last game, and after recording 5.4 goals per 60 minutes over the previous three seasons, MacKinnon, Rantanen and Landeskog combined for four goals and three assists against St. Louis on Friday. Los Angeles has also surrendered eight goals and 24 high-danger scoring chances through its first two contests, so the matchup also checks out. Additionally, because of the high salaries, there’s potential MacKinnon, Landeskog and Rantanen might be slightly less popular than normal.

Rangers vs. Devils

Artemi Panarin ($7,300) - Ryan Strome ($4,700) - Alexis Lafreniere ($3,300)

A cost-effective stack with upside, Panarin scored twice last time out, whereas Strome and Lafreniere are both still waiting to register their first points of the campaign. Last year, Panarin and Strome clicked for 5.51 goals per 60 minutes, and as the first overall selection in the 2020 NHL Entry Draft, Lafreniere should quickly fit in with the pair considering his elite talent and scoring pedigree.

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Superstar to Build Around

Evgeni Malkin, Pittsburgh Penguins vs. Washington Capitals ($6,700) - The veteran checks out at a bit of a discount Tuesday after failing to find the scoresheet in each of the past three games. Malkin recorded a fourth-ranked 3.82 points per hour over the previous three seasons, so statistical correction should be ahead. Washington has allowed three or more goals in two of their three games to start the campaign, too.

Value on Offense

Blake Wheeler, Winnipeg Jets at Ottawa Senators ($5,500) - The veteran winger has been held to just a single assist through two games despite averaging a hefty 22:15 of ice time, including 5:09 with the man advantage. It should prove to be a favorable matchup against Ottawa, too. The Sens have surrendered 25 high-danger scoring chances through two games.

Sam Reinhart, Buffalo Sabres at Philadelphia Flyers ($4,000) - The 25-year-old winger recorded two goals and six shots skating on the No. 1 line with Jack Eichel ($7,700) and Taylor Hall ($6,800) on Monday. The Flyers will probably play better than they did Monday, but at this salary, Reinhart should be on your radar. Buffalo will also face either Carter Hart ($8,100) for the second consecutive night or backup Brian Elliott ($7,900).

Drake Batherson, Ottawa Senators vs. Winnipeg Jets ($3,200) - Second in ice time among all Ottawa forwards through two games, Batherson has collected two assists and seven shot attempts while logging 6:08 of power-play ice time per outing. He’s skating in a top-line role and on the No. 1 unit with the man advantage, so look for the 22-year-old forward to have another solid showing against Winnipeg. After all, the Jets are playing their second road game in consecutive nights and surrendered 15 high-danger scoring chances to the Maple Leafs on Monday.

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Stud Goalies

Philipp Grubauer, Colorado Avalanche at Los Angeles Kings ($8,400) - Colorado is the largest favorite on the docket, and the Kings scored the second fewest goals per hour in the league last season. Los Angeles has also only generated six high-danger scoring chances through two games this year. Grubauer is also coming off a tidy, 21-shot shutout over the Blues. Those looking for security in net should take a long look at the 29-year-old veteran.

Sergei Bobrovsky, Florida Panthers vs. Chicago Blackhawks ($8,200) - The Blackhawks are 0-3 with just five goals and 19 high-danger scoring chances. It will be Bobrovsky’s first start of the year, and the veteran is coming off his worst season since enduring a sophomore slump during the 2011-12 campaign. He’s a strong candidate to rebound this year and lands in a soft matchup on Tuesday to start his bounce-back bid.

Alexandar Georgiev, New York Rangers vs. New Jersey Devils ($7,800) - The Devils scored just three goals through their two-game series against the Bruins to start the year, and Georgiev turned in a 23-save shutout in his season debut Saturday. While the 24-year-old Russian still carries some risk after posting a mediocre .910 save percentage through 34 games last year, the Devils were also the eighth lowest scoring club in the league last year with just 2.64 goals per hour.

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Value on Defense

Rasmus Dahlin, Buffalo Sabres at Philadelphia Flyers ($4,400) - Still looking to find the scoresheet for the first time this year, the quarterback of the No. 1 power-play unit is in a buy-low spot. Dahlin recorded an impressive 2.11 points per hour last season, and he’s been spending over half his ice time with Eichel also on the ice to start this year. This salary is also right to take a chance on statistical correction.

Josh Morrissey, Winnipeg Jets at Ottawa Senators ($3,900) - The 25-year-old defenseman quarterbacked Winnipeg’s No. 1 power-play unit Monday, and if he remains in the role, Morrissey is a solid low-priced flier. He’s a willing shot-blocker and has recorded 31 points in consecutive games while skating primarily with the second power-play unit. Additionally, the Senators are far from a daunting defensive opponent, as noted.

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Power-Play Defenseman

Cale Makar, Colorado Avalanche at Los Angeles Kings ($6,000) - With three helpers Friday, Makar ranks second among all regular defensemen with 2.56 points per hour since entering the league last year. He’s locked into an offense-first role with an average of 4:21 of power-play time per game and 66.7 percent of his 5-on-5 shifts beginning in the opponent’s end. This price doesn’t match his upside in the noted soft matchup, either.

Aaron Ekblad, Florida Panthers vs. Chicago Blackhawks ($5,800) - It was a solid season debut for the veteran defenseman with a goal, four shots and two blocks while logging 24:47 of ice time, including 3:42 skating with the No. 1 power-play unit. Ekblad projects to stay on the No. 1 unit after Florida’s 5-2 win on Sunday, so he’s set up to have another solid showing given Chicago’s poor defense. The Blackhawks have surrendered 15 goals through their first three games, after all.

Set your DraftKings fantasy hockey lineups here: NHL $100K Twine [$20K to 1st]

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I am a promoter at DraftKings and am also an avid fan and user (my username is naparker77) and may sometimes play on my personal account in the games that I offer advice on. Although I have expressed my personal view on the games and strategies above, they do not necessarily reflect the view(s) of DraftKings and I may also deploy different players and strategies than what I recommend above. I am not an employee of DraftKings and do not have access to any non-public information.