Tuesday's four-game NHL slate is loaded with top-tier scorers. We should expect lots of tight games with some great matchups out there, but expect some of the top scorers to shine through still. So, be sure to check in with our NHL DFS Tools, with the daily NHL projections, and our NHL lineup generator when building those lineups today to help you decide which players you should be targeting!

 

NHL DFS Playbook April 17

DFS Lineup Construction Thoughts

Welcome to day 2 of the 2023 Stanley Cup Playoffs! Yesterday was packed with top tier action and today we should see much of the same although the highest total on the slate is 6 goals even. I project the Colorado and Seattle game to produce the most goals with the Rangers and Devils following them when looking for goals. These should be the more popular players to log into your lineups but there are other things to target as well. Tampa Bay has been sloppy on defense down the stretch on the road allowing 4.1 goals against over the last 10 so don't be afraid to plug in those Maple Leafs even though they might be cursed. I will also be utilizing the Golden Knights against the Jets tonight as they are averaging 3.8 goals per game at home over the last 10 games and captain Mark Stone is back in the lineup. 

Recommended DFS Starting Goalies

Top Options for Saves

Andrei Vasilevskiy vs Toronto Maple Leafs

Igor Shesterkin vs New Jersey Devils

Philipp Grubauer vs Colorado Avalanche

Best Odds for a Win

Alexandar Georgiev vs Seattle Kraken

Laurent Brossoit vs Winnipeg Jets

Ilya Samsonov vs Tampa Bay Lightning

Favorite Goalies to Use for DFS Lineups

Alexandar Georgiev, G, Colorado Avalanche 

The Avalanche come into this game and series as massive favorites and I don't think anyone should disagree with that notion. Georgiev was awesome this season in net securing a record of 40-16-6 while maintaining a GAA of 2.51 and SV% of .919. The Kraken provide some upside for the goaltender tonight as they averaged nearly 32 shots on goal over the last 10 road games. Seeing as the Colorado defense has been lockdown through March and April I expect he will be popular tonight but he should get the win and have a real solid outing. 

Ilya Samsonov, G, Toronto Maple Leafs

I'm not sure there is a more motivated team coming into the playoff than the Maple Leafs given what has happened in recent memory. They are the favorites in this series but face a tough climb against the Lightning who have made the Finals the last 3 seasons. Sammy has enjoyed a career resurgence in Canada though as he worked his way to a 2.33 GAA and 4 shutouts this season. The Lightning aren't the team they were last year and the offense is struggling, Toronto should get the win in Game 1. 

Igor Shesterkin, G, New York Rangers

You only go as far as your goalie can take you in the postseason and its a good thing Igor plays for the Rangers. While he won't be winning the Vezina Trophy this season he was still rock solid winning 37 games with a GAA of 2.48. He's getting a Devils team tonight that is young, hungry and shooting the puck like crazy. The upside is huge for him tonight if he can hold down the fort as I expect the Devils post 30-35 total shots towards his direction. 

 

Recommended DFS Skaters

Highest Expected Goal Totals 

Colorado Avalanche vs Philipp Grubauer 

Toronto Maple Leafs vs Andrei Vasilevskiy 

Vegas Golden Knights vs Connor Hellebuyck

Seattle Kraken vs Alexandar Georgiev

Favorite Skaters to Use for DFS Lineups

Nathan MacKinnon, C, Colorado Avalanche

Over his career MacKinnon has 93 total points in 70 playoff games, that's what you're working with tonight. 41 of those points are goals so he is not shy of putting in the work by himself this time of year. The Kraken are a great story but they are built to play offense first and that's going to get them in trouble with the top talent of Colorado. 

William Nylander, W, Toronto Maple Leafs

Nylander became a superstar this season with 40 goals and 87 total points on the campaign. He comes into the playoffs with a good track record, while not playing too many games. In the last 2 series he played in that both went 7 games he collected 15 total points and averaged over 3 shots on goal per game. I expect the Lightning to really commit to stopping the Auston Matthews line and that should open up John Tavares and Nylander to operate the way they do. 

Jonathan Marchessault, W, Vegas Golden Knights

This guy is a gamer and has stepped up in postseasons past. The books are pretty keen on that too as he is 2nd highest odds for a Golden Knight forward to score a goal tonight behind just Jack Eichel. He will also be a line mate to Eichel tonight and Vegas has the 3rd highest goals expected on tonight's slate. Winnipeg is also middle of the pack when it comes to allowing DFS points to right wingers this season. 

Adam Fox, D, New York Rangers

It's a really tough slate for blue liners tonight as the Avalanche, Jets, Rangers and Golden Knights are in the bottom 6 of DFS points allowed to defenseman this season. That will not be the case for Adam Fox against the Devils tonight though as they allow the 17th most points this season to blue liners. Fox is a key piece to the Rangers and is on the ice a ton, that's probably why he is -135 to score just a point tonight in this game. I am also not fully on board the Vitek Vanecek train for the Devils, need to see him not choke in a big moment.  

 

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