Welcome to the Stanley Cup Playoffs! We’ll continue covering NHL DFS during the playoffs on days with slates of four games or bigger. Below are breakdowns of each of tonight’s games, and Optimal Lineups will be added to this post later in the day. Optimals should be posted by 5:00 PM ET but likely earlier.
Ottawa Senators @ Boston Bruins
Boston may get David Krejci back tonight and that would at least restore some stability to their forward lines and power play units. He is a game time decision. Regardless of if he can go or not, the Bruins top line can be one to play. If Backes plays, then there are some options with the second line because of man advantage correlation possibilities. It will always come down to shot selection for the Bruins and they were poor in that department, especially in the later stages of game number two. Expect that to change a bit at home.
Ottawa is interesting in the fact that they mounted a comeback that seemed improbable at the time. Boston was up 3-1 and looked in control but then Dion Phaneuf of all people lifted the team with three points (1 goal, 2 assists) and magicaly a 4-3 overtime win occurred. They evened the series and likely saved their season in the process. The Senators are a team that can counter well. That part of their game was neutralized by Boston's possession game. Erik Karlsson and Phaneuf have to rush the puck up the ice or be able to make quick passes in transition when Boston gets caught. Without that, their forwards almost appear lost. It is a night where players like Mark Stone and Mike Hoffman are viable. Bobby Ryan could be a value play too.
The matchup can be difficult for both teams. Can Tuukka Rask keep an even keel after losing things a bit in Game 2? Can Craig Anderson keep playing like the did in the second half of Game 2? Those questions are what need to be answered tonight. Rask has the theoretical advantage.
Washington Capitals @ Toronto Maple Leafs
Washington is a -155 favorite tonight, but Toronto has shown it can play and keep up with the Capitals at every turn. Now, the scene shifts to Toronto and there is some concern for Washington. Alex Ovechkin and his line will be matched up against the Nazem Kadri line which is Toronto's best defensive forward unit. If there are any targets at all, tread carefully and hope for Justin Williams or perhaps whichever line does get matched up against the Tyler Bozak line or the fourth line. Value could be had in a Tom Wilson or Andre Burakovsky on a night like this.
If you’re considering Maple Leafs, any line is in play to a point but the Auston Matthews and Tyler Bozak lines may be more so. Both have value in their own ways. The Matthews line is more a mini stack with William Nylander and the Bozak line has DK value because Van Riemsdyk and Marner are right around 6K. That is not too bad to take. It is intriguing that both power plays have been giving up lots of shots in this series. This is also the highest projected scoring game of the night and some projection are as high as six while Vegas has stayed around 5 for their over/under.
Both goalies from this game are elevated risks because no one knows how this contest will go. The two games have gone to overtime so that is good. The shot outputs have been high so that is optimal as well. They can be considered GPP plays at this juncture.
Chicago Blackhawks @ Nashville Predators
Alas, the time is now for Chicago. Corey Crawford could not stop the bleeding and has had a cold April with a save percentage under .880 and just one win. The Blackhawks have not even scored once on Pekka Rinne this series. Chicago might go all in with Jonathan Toews and Patrick Kane at some point in Game 3. They may almost have to at this point as little has worked. If the Blackhawks lose Game 3, they are finished and Nashville knows that too. Chicago has to push the pace and that duo could do it. The question is how often will they be used. It is why one-offs for Chicago seem the prudent way to go even if a contrarian manner or mini stacks.
Nashville has relied on a mobile defensive unit to keep things from getting too dangerous around Pekka Rinne. When it has, Rinne has been up to the task and then some. Can he do it one more time tonight? It is quite possible. The top line for the Predators has to be in play with at least parts of their first unit power play. Nashville has even shown the ability to be dangerous shorthanded at times in this series too. Shot attempts in this series have been mostly even. Nashville has been able to convert and Chicago has not. It may be interesting to run with Ryan Ellis tonight as a slightly less expensive alternative to Roman Josi. It depends on if one is cap crunched so to speak. Ellis has good power play point potential on this night against a poor Chicago penalty kill.
This game comes all down to execution. Chicago has to score first. They just have to. If the game gets to a chaotic pace, that also benefits the Blackhawks. Nashville can play that style but also fall in love too much with it. That ultimately will hurt them as the Blackhawks thrive under it better than any team in the West. The Vegas spread is -115 for the Predators for a reason. Most sense Chicago will get their act together tonight. The line has been slowly trending towards even throughout the day.
Rinne is more of a cash option tonight and Crawford more of a GPP play, especially on DK. Dynamic pricing makes a huge difference here. Crawford is high risk and high reward for Game 3.
Anaheim Ducks @ Calgary Flames
Anaheim is up two games to none because of quick starts and John Gibson late. Gibson has saved the Ducks as Calgary has taken the pace up a notch or two in the late stages of both games so far. Calgary should come out flying early tonight and it does not help that Anaheim is giving up a lot of unblocked shot attempts. Overall, they have yielded 67 shots in two games.The Ducks do have Ryan Getzlaf as a chalky cash option given his four points in two contests. If you can pair him with a value defenseman such as Shea Theodore or even Brandon Montour, that is not a bad way to go. There is also Rickard Rakell or Jakob Silfverberg for a bit more goal potential.
As far as Flames go, Sean Monahan is at a good price on DK and even on FD, the idea is not so bad. Johnny Gaudreau is much the same. As a DK stack, they make for something of a good idea. For those who like variety, pairing him with Kris Versteeg may be risky but can provide salary relief. Calgary's defensemen are not too badly priced and Dougie Hamilton may have slightly better point potential over Mark Giordano. The second line will be going against Calgary's top line all night but could be a threat shorthanded. They have less shot and point possibilites but could be a slightly more dicey play. First unit power play seems viable for the Flames.
In net, Brian Elliott is a pretty good cash or GPP play as he is just $7400 on DK. Gibson could be also in play for GPP's but at a greater chance of blowup. It is almost as if he is due for a bad game. He has been living on the edge against Calgary.