Daily Fantasy Hockey Picks for FanDuel and DraftKings 4/2/17

Hello hockey fans and welcome to a very exciting day in the NHL here at DFSR. There are a total of 11 games, but we will ignore the earliest game and concentrate on the early slate and the main slate on both sites. We have quite a few teams playing in back-to-back games as well as their third game in four nights, so it should be an interesting day to say the least. The first pick at each position will be for the early slate, while the other picks will be for the main slate. Let's get this exciting day started, shall we?

Hockey is back and with it come our NHL projections which help inform these picks every night. When you purchase a DFSR NHL subscription to our base hockey projections you also get access to our brand new NFL DFS suite of tools including full projections, optimal NFL lineups and our Player Lab, which includes filters to help you create NFL lineups for FanDuel and DraftKings for any format. It’s a set of tools well beyond anything we’ve ever had, and something we feel will help our users *ahem* tackle the NFL season.

If you want to see the numbers behind our projections, create linueps with a single click, or research as deeply as your heart desires, click the button below to test out yourself.

GOALIES

Matt Murray FD - $9100 DK - $8200
Opponent - CAR
Proj Pts FD - 19.38 DK - 4.84

Let's start off with a goalie for the early slate. Murray hasn't been great lately as he has allowed 14 goals in his last five games, but his record is 3-1-1 during those five games. A large reason for that is the fact that the Pens happen to own the league's #1 offense, which makes a goalie's life a heck of a lot easier. The Hurricanes travel to Pittsburgh today after being shut out 3-0 last night against Dallas and this will be their third game in four nights. It also helps that the Hurricanes own the league's 24th ranked offense and after last night, they've probably just called it quits for the season. The Penguins are listed as a -185 favorite today and they should cruise to a fairly easy victory. Murray is a solid play in all formats for the early slate. If Fleury gets the start, then he is also a solid play in all formats.

 

 

Jonathan Quick FD - $8600 DK - $8300
Opponent - ARI
Proj Pts FD - 20.81 DK - 5.2

I recommended this guy against the Canucks on Friday and he came through in a big way, as he stopped 35 of 35 shots he faced on his way to earning a shutout. He now has two shutouts and a 6-4-1 record this season since coming back from his long term injury and he has allowed only eight goals in his last six games. The Kings welcome the lowly Coyotes and their 27th ranked offense to town today. Arizona owns a goal differential of -62 which is bad and they are a much worse team away from home as they are 11-24-4. The Kings are -260 favorites and Quick is my top goalie choice in all formats for the main slate.

 

 

Also Consider: Devan Dubnyk (MIN)

 

CENTERS

Ryan O'Reilly FD - $6000 DK - $6000
Opponent - NYI
Proj Pts FD - 12.2 DK - 3.55

First of all, Jack Eichel is a great play today, but this guy is a lot cheaper on both sites and he has been playing nearly as good as Eichel in Buffalo's last three games. During those three games, O'Reilly has two goals, two assists and 11 shots on goal. He plays on the #1 line and the #1 PP unit. If you think that the Sabres will destroy the Islanders today, then a good strategy would be to use both Eichel and O'Reilly as they play on separate lines, but they play on the top powerplay unit together. The Islanders will be without John Tavares for the remainder of the season and they own the league's 26th ranked defense, so look for the Sabres to score a few goals today. O'Reilly is a great play in all formats.

Stack With: Evander Kane, Jack Eichel, (PP) Sam Reinhart (PP)

 

 

 

Eric Staal FD - $6400 DK - $6500
Opponent - COL
Proj Pts FD - 12.62 DK - 3.64

Guess what everyone? The Colorado Avalanche and their pathetic 29th ranked defense are playing today. If Arizona's goal differential of -62 is bad, then what is Colorado's -107 goal differential? Yikes! That could be some sort of record of awfulness. Just to explain this a little, it means that they allow 107 more goals than they score on the opposing team. Minnesota needs a bit of confidence going into the playoffs and it should start today. Staal centers the top line and #1 PP unit in Minny. He has a goal, an assist and 11 shots in his last three games and three goals, three assists and 22 shots in his last seven games. Look for Minnesota to dominate this game from puck drop and Staal is a great play in all formats.

Stack with: Zach Parise, (PP) Charlie Coyle (PP)

 

 

 

Sean Monahan FD - $7000 DK - $6300
Opponent - ANA
Proj Pts FD - 11.97 DK - 3.42

This young superstar in the making has simply been on fire lately. In his last three games, he has three goals, (2 on the PP) five assists and 10 shots on goal in his last four games. He forms a dynamic duo with Johnny Gaudreau and they can seem unstoppable at times. Anaheim isn't the easiest opponent, but they lost a tough game in Edmonton last night and they will be playing their third game in four days. The young Canadian plays on the #1 line and the #1 PP unit in Calgary and he is a tough fade as long as he keeps playing this good. He only averages 2.45 shots on goal per game which normally means that he doesn't offer much safety, but I think we can consider him in cash games with the way he has been playing lately. Where he makes an elite play today, is stacked with Gaudreau in your GPP lineups.

Stack with: Johnny Gaudreau, Michael Ferland

 

 

 

WINGERS

Vladimir Tarasenko FD - $8100 DK - $7700
Opponent - NAS
Proj Pts FD - 15.62 DK - 4.55

I like the main slate better today, but if you're playing the early slate on either site, then Tarasenko is one to seriously consider. The Russian superstar didn't record a point last game but he still fired five shots on goal and he has averaged five shots per game in his last five games. He has two goals and two assists in his last three games. The Predators are ranked a below average 17th on defense and they will be playing their third games in four nights. He has the safety and upside we are looking for this afternoon, so fire Tarasenko up in all formats for the early slate.

Stack with: Alex Steen, Jaden Schwartz

 

 

 

Nikita Kucherov FD - $8400 DK - $7800
Opponent - DAL
Proj Pts FD - 0 DK - 0

The young Russian superstar was sick for a game, but he looked healthy last game and while he didn't record a point, he still fired four shots on goal while logging an impressive 22 minutes of ice-time. The Lightning played the Habs and Carey Price, so we will give him a mulligan. Tampa welcomes the Stars to town tonight who own the league's 2nd worst defense. The stars blanked the Hurricanes 3-0 last night, but that was Carolina and this is Tampa Bay. Before last game, Kucherov was on a five game point streak with an impressive seven goals, four assists and 22 shots on goal. Look for the Lightning to pick on a weak Stars team today and Kucherov is a terrific play in all formats.

Stack with: Ondrej Palat, Brayden Point, Jonathan Drouin (PP)

 

 

 

Jordan Weal FD - $3600 DK - $3800
Opponent - NYR
Proj Pts FD - 10.25 DK - 2.95

Chris recommended this guy yesterday and he came through for him as he scored a powerplay goal on four shots against the Devils. The rookie winger is currently on a four-game point streak with four goals, an assist and 12 shots on goal. From a PTS/$ persective he could very well be the best overall play today in all formats. While the Rangers are usually a good defensive team, they've allowed 15 goals in their last three games. Lundqvist started all three of those games and he will be between the pipes again today. Weal is ridiculously cheap and he plays on Philly's #1 line. Do not think twice and lock the rookie into every single one of your lineups at this very moment.

Stack with: Claude Giroux, Jacob Voracek

 

 

 

 

DEFENSEMEN

Alex Pietrangelo FD - $5800 DK - $6100
Opponent - NAS
Proj Pts FD - 11.56 DK - 3.45

This young man has been a regular at DFSR lately and with good reasoning. He has a goal, an assist, 14 shots and five blocks in his last three games, while averaging 25 minutes per game. He plays on the Blues' #1 PP unit as well as their #1 penalty kill unit. The Blues play the Predators and their 17th ranked defense today who will be playing their third game in four nights, so they will be exhausted. Look for the Blues to score a few goals and for Pietrangelo to get in on the action. Start him with confidence in all formats today.

 

 

 

Shayne Gostisbehere FD - $4700 DK - $4800
Opponent - NYR
Proj Pts FD - 9.88 DK - 3.1

The Ghost is back after hanging out with Casper and disappearing for half of the season. That would be fun hanging out with Casper though. Anyways, whatever was wrong with him, he seems to have figured out it lately. He has a goal, four assists, (2 on the PP) 11 shots and six blocks in his last four games. Like I said earlier, The Rangers have been awful defensively lately so look for this young man to do some damage against them today. He is too cheap on both sites considering his recent production and he is a great play in all formats this evening.

 

 

 

Also Consider: Jake Muzzin (L.A.)

 

 

 

Hockey is back and with it come our NHL projections which help inform these picks every night. When you purchase a DFSR NHL subscription to our base hockey projections you also get accessto our brand new NFL DFS suite of tools including full projections, optimal NFL lineups and our Player Lab, which includes filters to help you create NFL lineups for FanDuel and DraftKings for any format. It’s a set of tools well beyond anything we’ve ever had, and something we feel will help our users *ahem* tackle the NFL season.

If you want to see the numbers behind our projections, create linueps with a single click, or research as deeply as your heart desires, click the button below to test out yourself.