The NHL DFS Main slate tonight is a short one with only four games on the 7:00 PM EST slate. We once again have Montreal versus Vancouver as the Canadiens continue their Western Canada tour to start the season and will be playing the Canucks for the third time in a row and the first two games have been very high scoring as we expected.
Usually on any slate with four or less games you will want to strongly consider the ownership on the games and determine if playing a contrarian game-stack is how you want to roll given the high upside that comes with only needing one or two main games to underwhelm or have goals from non chalky players.
Saturday, January 23rd
STACKS
WINNIPEG JETS
Mark Scheifele – Blake Wheeler – Kyle Connor
This is another case of a Canada series which is continuing, but this time the Senators are flipping over to take on Winnipeg on their home ice. Winnipeg has historically been a very good home ice team (20-14-3 last year) and should once again use the final line change that comes with being home to match-up their pairings against a thinner Ottawa team. The Senators have shown improvement with some new young players and solid veteran additions but I don’t see them limiting Winnipeg’s top line tonight.
MONTREAL CANADIENS
Philip Danault – Brendan Gallagher – Tomas Tatar – Shea Weber
The Canadiens and Canucks are showing no signs of playing any defense and Montreal has been a sneaky good offense all year long with production coming from Tyler Toffoli and Nick Suzuki. But tonight we ride the Brendan Gallagher train as he will lead the top line and also help get Shea Weber going. I expect the Canadiens to get on the power play and that’s where Weber contributes along with the even strength top line.
POSITIONAL ONE OFFS
Josh Norris (OTT) – $4,400
As long as Norris remains on the Senators top line and under $5,000 while skating with Brady Tkachuk he will be a great value play. The young center registered 9 shots across the two games with Winnipeg that were in Ottawa with one power play goal. He’s the best value play at Center today.
Other top centers: Mark Scheifele, Ryan O’Reilly, Patrice Bergeron
Brendan Gallagher (MTL) – $5,800
It’s the time of year when we can start looking at who is just simply “due” to get one past the netminders. Brendan Gallagher has registered 20 SOG so far with just one goal to his name and it’s not like he hasn’t been getting quality shots off. The Canadiens and Canucks have been having no luck playing any defense against each other and Gallagher should be in line to get 5 SOG again today and I would definitely venture to bet he finds the net at least once.
Other top wings: Brady Tkachuk, Kyle Connor, Claude Girioux, Blake Wheeler, J.T. Miller, Tyler Toffoli (Mr. Heater himself)
Quinn Hughes (VAN) – $5,800
Hughes falls into the same category as Gallagher and has points in both meetings with the Habs where he saw 27:03 and 21:03 minutes of ice time across the two games with 32 shifts back on Wednesday night.
Other top defenseman: Shea Weber, Torey Krug, Josh Morrissey
GOALIES
Jordan Binnington (STL) … Best bet to get the win, which on a four game slate is all you really want.
Carter Hart (PHI) … Only $7,600 is a spot that makes Hart a tempting play 9 times out of 10. Expect a quieter game all around tonight between PHI and BOS.
SLAP … SHOTS!
LINE LOCK OF THE NIGHT: Philip Danault – Brendan Gallagher – Tomas Tatar (Montreal)
ONE OFF STUD: Kyle Connor
CONTRARIAN ONE OFF: Brady Tkachuk
ONE OFF VALUE WINGER: David Perron
TOP DEFENSE-MAN: Shea Weber
GPP FADE TEAM OF THE NIGHT: Boston
FAVORITE BETS:
- Senators/Jets OVER 6.5