NHL Stacking to Win 1-5-16

The Chalk

Tampa Bay has hardly been the high-scoring team they were last season, but any matchup against Calgary creates a stacking opportunity. They have allowed the most goals per game (3.16), and have the league's worst penalty kill percentage. (74.5%) Steven Stamkos has eight points in the last ten games, five of those points on the powerplay. Alex Killorn has seven points in the last ten, as this top line has started to generate points like they used to. Valtteri Fillpula has four points in the last three games, bumping up on the first line. He is a nice value play to help fill the stack. Nikita Kucherov is another skater to toss into this stack, who has 13 points in the last ten games. If you want to pair up a defenseman, Anton Stralman is your guy.

Brendan Gallagher came back from injury, reunited with the top line, and posted a goal, and an assist on New Year's day. This top line is very fantasy friendly, as they are the first line, and all three play on the powerplay. Montreal has scored the 4th most goals per game (2.85). The powerplay ranks in the middle of the league, but will get a boost playing Philadelphia tonight. They have the 5th worst penalty killing percentage, and allow the 12th most goals per game. P.K. Subban, and Alex Galchenyuk can be deployed in this stack as well.

Contrarian Corner

Minnesota ranks 13th in goals per game, and do have stacking potential, but due not appeal to the public's eye. Minnesota has been struggling, which should keep them lower owned tonight, even in a matchup against Columbus. The Blue Jackets have allowed the third most goals per game (3.15), and have a pedestrian power play killing percentage. These three all play together on the first line, which for Vanek it somewhere he hasn't spent a ton of time. They also all are on the first powerplay unit. Columbus has given up 20 goals in the last five games, so Minnesota's scoring drought could be answered tonight.

Pairing up Nashville has plenty of options. Shea Weber, Colin Wilson, and Mike Ribeiro are all options to possibly work in. Winnipeg has allowed the most powerplay goals this season, and are the third most penalized team in the league. The Nashville powerplay line could be a huge hit tonight. Nashville has the 7th most powerplay goals this season, headlined by these names above. Outside of the powerplay, they are getting a matchup against a team who has allowed the 6th most goals per game. I was on the fence of putting Nashville in the chalk, but I am hoping they fall behind the other teams in great spots.