Edmonton Oilers' Connor McDavid works for the puck against the Columbus Blue Jackets during an NHL hockey game in Columbus, Ohio, Friday, March 4, 2016. The Blue Jackets won 6-3. (AP Photo/Paul Vernon)
Hello, hockey fans and welcome to another awesome day of NHL playoff hockey. We have four games today and all of the teams are playing their second game of the first round. We have some nice picks in-store for you today so let's get started.
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 lineups with a single click, or research as deeply as your heart desires, click the button below to test out yourself.
MTL Offense (4th) vs. NYR Defense (5th)
NYR Offense (15th) vs. MTL Defense (12th)
NYR Leads Series 1-0
It is going to be hard for the Habs to win when they can't score goals. The Rangers won the first game 2-0 with the second goal being an empty netter. The teams both fired 31 shots on the opposing goalie, so we could have a higher scoring game today. On that note, both goalies played exceptional as they usually do, so that makes both offenses very hard to target from a fantasy perspective.
Opponent - NYR
Proj Pts FD - 15.29 DK - 4.45
I'm staying far away from this game in cash games, but I do like a couple of guys for GPP's, especially if they happen to score a pile of goals. Stranger things have happened. Pacioretty had five shots on goal in the first game of the series. He plays on the top line and the #1 PP unit and has arguably the most upside of anyone.
Opponent - MON
Proj Pts FD - 10.27 DK - 3.01
Here we have another guy who plays on the top line and #1 PP unit for his team. He logged 19 minutes of ice-time last game which was five minutes more than the second-line center, Mike Zibanejad. If Carey Price has a bad game, look for Stepan to show up on the scoresheet.
CBJ Offense (5th) vs. PIT Defense (15th)
PIT Offense (1st) vs. CBJ Defense (3rd)
PIT Leads Series 1-0
The Penguins won the first game 3-1 and Columbus was never really in the game. The Jackets are just simply too raw of a team for the playoffs and look for Pittsburgh to take advantage of that again today. You simply cannot shut down both Malkin's line and Crosby's line. And then Bonino and Hornqvist play together on the third line? That sounds like a recipe for success.
Opponent - CBJ
Proj Pts FD - 16.12 DK - 4.03
First of all, we have my goalie of the day in all formats. Matt Murray hurt himself in warmups last game, so Fleury got the call and he played awesome as he allowed only one goal on 32 shots. The Jackets look out-matched in this series and look for another fairly easy victory for Pittsburgh today in their home barn.
Opponent - CBJ
Proj Pts FD - 12.81 DK - 3.81
This guy was one of my favorite plays last game and he made me look good as he scored a goal on a whopping seven shots while adding an assist. I figured that the Jackets would try and shut down the Crosby line and they did just that, but what they forgot is that Malkin and Kessel form a deadly duo on the second line for Pittsburgh. Look for more of the same from Kessel today.
Opponent - CBJ
Proj Pts FD - 9.28 DK - 2.71
To win a Stanley Cup you need your depth guys to contribute. Bonino did his part in the first game as he scored a goal on two shots and added a block. He blocked 99 shots in 80 games which is awesome for a forward. That gives him safety and he plays on the #2 PP and kills a lot of penalties, so he has nice upside potential as well. He is simply too cheap for his production.
STL Offense (14th) vs. MIN Defense (4th)
MIN Offense (2nd) vs. STL Defense (18th)
STL Leads Series 1-0
With the way these two teams battled last game, this series could very easily go the distance. The Wild scored with 22 seconds left in the third period to tie the game 1-1. The Blues then scored in overtime to take Game One. Both goalies played well and it was a hard fought game. Both offenses are capable of scoring a few goals on any given day though so don't always expect low-scoring games throughout this series.
Vladimir Sobotka
The first time I heard about this guy was two nights ago. Apparently, he had a contract dispute with the Blues and had played in Russia this season. Well, they resolved those issues and he scored a goal in his first game, which was the last game of the regular season. He then scored a goal on two shots and added a blocked shot in game one of this series while logging 21 minutes of ice- time. He is listed as playing on the third line, but he plays on the #1 PP unit and Tarasenko assisted on his goal, so they obviously play together at times at regular strength also. At near minimum prices, Sobotka is a terrific play in all formats.
Opponent - STL
Proj Pts FD - 10.92 DK - 3.23
The American winger is a seasoned playoff veteran now and he scored a goal on seven shots and added a blocked shot last game. He actually averaged a block per game this year in the regular season which adds safety to the mix. He plays on the top line and #1 PP unit in Minnesota and look for him and the Wild to play their hearts out this evening to try and even the series.
Opponent - MIN
Proj Pts FD - 13.51 DK - 3.97
As you will see below, there are two cheaper options which are hard to pass up at the defense position today, but this guy is a very safe play and he fired five shots on goal and blocked three shots last game. He's a strong option in all formats if you have money to spend up here today.
EDM Offense (13th) vs. SJ Defense (11th)
SJ Offense (12th) vs. EDM Defense (2nd)
SJ Leads Series 1-0
Before these two teams head to the Shark Tank, they play one more game in Edmonton. The Oilers blew a 2-0 lead and lost 3-2 in overtime in the first game, but look for them to come out firing on all cylinders today. It should be a very exciting game to watch and I'm predicting it to be the highest scoring game of the night.
Opponent - SJ
Proj Pts FD - 19.84 DK - 5.66
"McJesus" showed up here in my previous article and although he didn't quite reach value, I don't see the Sharks being able to slow him down again today. The young superstar still contributed with an assist and two shots on goal. Center is very thin today after him, so you make sure you roster him in all of your lineups in every single format. It's very dangerous to fade him.
Opponent - EDM
Proj Pts FD - 5.14 DK - 1.53
Value, value, value. Ward plays on the #2 line and #2 PP unit for the Sharks and he scored a powerplay goal in the first game to go along with four shots. At near minimum prices, he is a solid play in all formats.
Opponent - SJ
Proj Pts FD - 10.02 DK - 3
Oscar is my favorite defenseman on FanDuel today. He didn't let me down last game and he shouldn't today either. He scored a goal on two shots and added two blocks as he was on the ice for 22 minutes. He is a terrific play in all formats.
Opponent - EDM
Proj Pts FD - 8.88 DK - 2.64
And here we have my favorite Draftkings play in all formats on defense. Vlasic had two assists, two shots and three blocks in 21 minutes of ice time last game and he's been playing really well for quite a few games now.
Hockey is back and with it comes 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 lineups with a single click, or research as deeply as your heart desires, click the button below to test out yourself.
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