NHL Stacking to Win 1-14-16

Tonight in the NHL there is a full 8 game slate for us to work off of and find the best lines to play in all of your GPP and cash games tonight. After sifting through the games I found that there are some interesting games tonight in the NHL coupled with injuries and line shuffling by coaches.

The Chalk

Name	FD Salary/Position	DK Salary/Position	Estimated Ownership
J. Williams	$4,300 / RW	$4,700	15-22%
M. Johansson	$5,500 / LW	$4,100	13-19%
E. Kuznetsov	$5,800 / C	$6,000	17-24%

The first place to start is in Washington where Ovechkin made history scoring his 500th goal last game at home. Tonight the gimpy Canucks hobble into the Capital and look to try and defeat the best NHL team at home who leads in goals scored at home with the best goalie in the league right now vying for his first Vezina trophy. On what would be Valeri Kharlamov's 68th birthday, the greatest Russian Soviet Red Army player ever, Ovechkin and company look to continue their winning ways at home. Their first Western Conference opponent this year, the Caps get back Johansson after a 3 game suspension. The line of Williams/Kuznetsov/Johansson will be back together and see plenty of ice against a Canuck team. Averaging 3.72 fantasy points per game, Kuznetsov has adapted well to the NHL. The price of this line and the amount of points they average a night is well worth the value and the potential always for an explosive game.

Name	FD Salary/Position	DK Salary/Position	Estimated Ownership
Joe Thorton	$5,300 / C	$7,700	17-22%
Tomas Hertl	$3,700 / LW	$4,400	9-12%
Joe Pavelski	$8,300 / RW	$5,100	15-22%

The San Jose Sharks are again looking like a team that can possible pull it all together and make a run at the playoffs. The new first line with the addition of Hertl seems to have paid off. Hertl is likes to shoot the puck with 97 shots, and has amassed only 6 goals and 13 assists, but now on the top line, skies the limit for this kid. Joe Thorton is playing great hockey and has a point in 12 of his past 13 games. Not a shooter with only 68 shots on the year, Thorton still is averaging 3.1 FPPG and has 9g-23a and is a plus 12. He has 5 goals and 11 assists in that span and against a sketchy Edmonton team at home, I see that continuing. With Pavelski, 22g-21a, and plus 12, He adds the balanced attack and compliments Thorton is all facets. Vegas has this game pegged to go over 5 goals and I think that too with the way the Sharks have been playing. Look for this line to do some damage at home tonight. Trending in the right direction, this game could get ugly if the Oilers aren't able to keep up with San Jose pace with Brent Burns leading the way with the puck.

Contrarian Corner

Name	FD Salary/Position	DK Salary/Position	Estimated Ownership
M. Domi	$5,800 / RW	$5,100	10-15%
A. Vermette	$4,000 / C	$3,500	8-12%
M. Boedeker	$4,700 / RW	$5,000	8-13%

The young Coyotes are one of the most exciting teams to watch as they are coming into their own and finding their scoring. Another game that the boys in the Desert have picked as a potential high scoring game, look here for value and a lot of goals by a hot young team trying to continue their winning ways. The first line is playing great hockey and has proven themselves as of late. Last game Domi scored all three regulation goals last game with Larsson scoring in OT to seal off Edmonton for their 5th straight win. Again, I am looking to the first line to match up well with whatever line they play against. Recently picked up off of waivers from Columbus, Kevin Connauton will be a great addition to the defensive lineup and brings value for his price tag as he gets involved as he logs ample time. Keep an eye out for him tonight to see what role he will play on this team as he is expected to be in the lineup. Domi is coming off a hat trick that saw him score 2 power play goals as well. Boedeker has been the glue to this line with his 2.7 FPPG average powered by his 12 goals and 20 assists. Vermette needs to shoot more only amassing 55 shots but has complimented his line mates nicely with 6 goals and 19 points.

Name	FD Salary/Position	DK Salary/Position	Estimated Ownership
K. Versteeg	$4,000 / LW	$4,100	2-8%
E. Staal	$7,400 / C	$4,900	2-7%
H. Lindholm	$4,300 / RW	$4,000	2-8%

The Carolina Hurricanes have not won in St. Louis since 2010. That being said, they have been playing their best hockey all season and face off against an ailing Blues team that somehow found a way to score against the Devils last game. With Stastny most likely out for tonight again, the Blues are struggling to score. With Pesce back in the lineup for Carolina, the Canes go for 4 straight. Versteeg 7g-20a is playing great and Eric Staal is leading the line with 109 shots on the year with 9 goals and 19 assists. Right behind him is Lindholm who had three assists last game and will look to continue his scoring ways. I see low ownership for this line tonight with all the games and as we have seen, could really pay off.

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