Welcome to the NHL Playoffs - ROUND 2! Like we did throughout the regular season, the Fantasy Alarm will have you covered in the playoffs. You’ll find our daily NHL Best Bets along with which players you should be targeting in DFS. We’ve conveniently put it all in one article, just to make life simple. If you have more questions, make sure to hit up the Fantasy Alarm NHL Discord. Let’s dive into the action and build a winning lineup!

 

 

 

NHL Picks, Predictions & Best Bets Today, 5/6

 

 

 

Hurricanes vs. Capitals Prediction: Tuesday, May 6th

This series right here is going to take everything each team has got to get onto the next round and I mean that when I say it, this series is going to go 7 games. The teams are matched up 50/50 in my mind with edges in different areas but goaltending is something each team has in spades. 

I mention the goaltending right at the top because they are so important to each team's success, Logan Thompson is the reason the Capitals made it through the Canadiens series in just 5 games and the same can be said with Frederik Andersen of the Hurricanes who played 4 of the 5 games and gave up just 6 total goals and saved 4.8 goals above expected. Thompson topped that mark although he played an extra game but came out with a 5.6 goals saved above expected mark. 

Each team tries to play defense first in front of those goalies too especially the Hurricanes who are well coached all the way around. They struggled to score goals on the road this season as well so I am looking at a lower scoring game tonight as these teams find their bearings in game 1. 

Oilers vs. Golden Knights Prediction: Tuesday, May 6th  


Take everything I said about the Canes and Caps series and pull a complete 180 for this series. The goaltending has not been good at all for these teams thus far and the reason they are both here is because of their star forwards!

The case is simple on the Edmonton side of things, their defense does not exist and their goaltenders have both been a train wreck. Both Stuart Skinner and Calvin Pickard are in the negative side of goals saved above expected and both have SV% of under .900 which is NOT good! Oilers will have to continue to lead on the offense that scored 4.5 goals per game in Round 1 to survive. 

On the Vegas side Adin Hill was fine with a 2.83 GAA but his SV% of .880 was lousy and just not good enough. He could bounce back in this series but that's doubtful against the Oilers fire power. Their offense was the reason they moved on with 3 goals scored per game and piling on the shots in the 6 game series win. 

I expect the Oilers agenda to drive the series for better or worse as that's just the game they play, the run and gun. They went over the total in 5 of 6 games against the Kings in the opening round and that trend will continue tonight with another over in Game 1 against the Golden Knights

 

 

Today's NHL DFS Cheat Sheet

Goalie Of The Day: Logan Thompson - WSH

By the number Logan Thompson is the best goalie left in the playoffs when it comes to goals saved above expected. Parlay that with a matchup at home against the Canes and I see a good night coming from the Capitals goaltender. 

The Hurricanes struggled on offense on the road this season with 2.71 scored per game and while they did better in their 2 games against the Devils last round the Capitals are a much better team in front of Thompson. The floor should be secure and the ceiling is as good as any bodies tonight. 

Player Of The Day: Connor McDavid - EDM

In a two game slate who else could be the player of the day!? McDavid is the best player in this postseason at this time and he's fresh off an 11 point series against the Kings and should have a bit less resistance against this Vegas team. Their defenders are bigger but slower and older which could cause them some issues against McDavid's speed. It also helps that the Oilers play offense with the dial cranked up to 10 at all times so give me some McDavid!

Value Play Of The Day: Connor McMichael - WSH

With Tom Wilson and Josh Anderson stealing the attention of the first round series between the Habs and Caps our guy McMichael went a bit under noticed! He had himself a great series through 5 games in which he scored 3 goals and notched 2 assists with 15 shots on goal. At 4.8k that kind of production is a steal for me considering he won't be the attention of the Canes as he plays on a line with Wilson and Pierre-Luc Dubois who are annoying pests to other teams.