Good morning, everyone and a very happy New Year's! While I didn't stay up until midnight, I woke up with a nice third place finish in the DraftKings single-entry $750. It was a very brave lineup decision that I made…stack the crap out of Colorado against the Blues. Before the first TV timeout, Colorado had already scored four times. I'm not making that up either.

Tonight is one of those slates where I kind of only have a couple options that really interest me and sometimes that's just the case. Let's see if we can get together another winning formula for a fun New Year's Day slate.

Slate Preview

Montreal Canadiens

Montreal is going to be going up against Carolina, and while the 'Canes spend the most time in the offensive zone, they also spend the most time in the defensive zone as well. Add in that Carolina was sneaky one of the worst clubs on the penalty kill in the month of December and I think we have something here. I watched some of the Habs last game out against the Panthers and thought that they looked good, which is why I have even more interest in something with this club, and to me, that all depends on your build. If you want to say a Cole Caufield ($7,300, On Wisconsin) – Nick Suzuki ($6,800) two-man stack, I think that plays just fine in this matchup. I also really don't mind dropping down to the second line for a stack, and honestly parts of the third line are in play as well if you're going for a more expensive stack elsewhere makes some sense. For me, I think this is where I might either get my filler stacks or in multi-entry this is spot where you can pair them with another line I'll cover in a little bit.

Toronto Maple Leafs

I can't remember what site it was, but the article essentially was describing how Jets fans shouldn't worry too much about the six games (that is now up to seven game), losing streak that the club is on. I could not disagree more; trends are your friends in DFS which is why I'm looking at blue sweaters to fill my lineup. While Winnipeg hasn't been allowing many shots on goal in the past month, they have had a penalty kill that is hardly at 70%, and with Connor Hellebuyck starting last night, we're likely going to see Eric Comrie in net which only adds to my interest here. The only issue I have with the Leafs if I want to stack them is simple; I don't know who is going to be in the lineup tonight and won't be around at lock to find out. If Auston Matthews ($8,800) and William Nylander ($6,800) decide to draw into the lineup tonight, then I might try and force some sort of Toronto stack into my lineup. If not, I can see maybe a John Tavares ($6,500) and Matthew Kneis ($5,400) two-man stack but that would only be the case if I could surround them with a decent secondary stack and I'm having trouble building something that I like in that regard. This is one of those times where yes, the club is in a good spot, but on other hand you'll need to stay well informed leading up to puck drop on just what the lines look like to make a lineup decision. 

Nashville Predators

I'm not sure why the Predators are always a popular play in lineups, but for some reason they just seem to get a good amount of run. Does anyone remember a couple years back where this was the case with the Senators? Maybe around 2022-2023? Either way, I do have some interest in Nashville tonight, and probably won't be alone there. They're going up against Seattle who has had their issues on the penalty kill at times this season, but to me the reason I like Nashville the most is because they fit perfect with the Montreal second line. I can even go out and add in a mid-$5K defenseman like Noah Dobson ($5,600) with money left over to spend up to Darcy Kuemper in net at $7,600. Did I just build my lineup right here on DFS Thursday? There's a very solid chance here, my friends.

Defensemen

The top dog is Moritz Seider at $6,700 and somehow at +5500 odds to win a Norris right now. Has anyone watched him so far this season? I'm not really a betting person outside of a couple team over/under futures, but that looks spicy to me! Noah Dobson at $5,600 is absolutely in play for me tonight along with Josh Morrissey at $5,400. Either Thomas Harley at $4,400 or Esa Lindell at $4K are fine in a real good matchup against Chicago on the road, and for a cheaper defenseman I'll say Adam Larsson at $3,100.

Goalies

Jake Oettinger is in a great matchup against the Blackhawks. Jake Oettinger is in a great spot to get a shutout against said 'Hawks. Jake Oettinger is also $8,500. That is…probably out of my price range but I love the play if you can spend up to roster him. When I researched the slate last night for our super-awesome YouTube and Instagram shorts (tell a friend!), I thought that Joseph Woll/Dennis Hildeby would be in the mid $7K range. I still like him at $8K but that makes it harder for me to get up to that price. Don't laugh, but Phillip Grubauer actually had a decent December but going all the way up to $7,900 is a little tough for me, whereas Joey Daccord I'll write down as a "maybe". Darcy Kuemper is a play that I really like if he gets the start at $7,600 and can see myself entering him into my lineup, so long as he gets the start tonight against Tampa Bay. For a cheaper goaltender I usually say Spencer Knight but just as someone who watches the 'Hawks on a nightly basis, he's not really following the puck as well as he was to start the season. I don't mind the play, but it's not as sure as it was earlier in the season where he was the cheapest goaltender on the board going up against the Flames.

Good luck tonight everybody!  

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