Daily Fantasy Hockey Picks for DraftKings & FanDuel - 3/18/16

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Welcome back to another night of daily fantasy hockey with DFSR. Tonight we have 6 games on the NHL schedule with some terrific opportunities for fantasy points. Only the Nashville Predators are playing on back to back nights and they travel to Washington to face the Capitals who have already clinched a playoff birth and looking to lock up home ice for the playoffs.

If you have any questions throughout the day be sure to join the conversation in the comments section below. Also, be sure to check LeftWingLock to get confirmation on all of the starting goalies for Friday. Now onto the picks.

Goaltenders

Braden Holtby
Opponent - NAS
FD - 9200 DK - 8600

I am taking Holtby as my #1 goalie tonight for a few reasons. First of all, the Caps are at home tonight where they have been exceptional this year with 27 wins on home ice already. Besides the OT loss to the Kings, Holtby has been playing great recently with wins @ANH and vs. CAR where he only gave up one goal. The Caps are the biggest favorites(-185) on the board tonight facing a Predators team playing on the road and on back to back nights. I am expecting a big win for the Caps as they inch closer to locking down the eastern Conference.

John Gibson
Opponent - BOS
FD - 8100 DK - 7600
Frederik Andersen
Opponent - BOS
FD - 8800 DK - 7700
It is not confirmed which Ducks goalie  will be between the pipes tonight but whoever they throw out there I will be rolling with in GPP formats. Andersen has been playing a bit better recently with wins in seven of his last eight starts while Gibson is currently riding a three game losing streak. No Vegas lines have been released yet but I would assume the Ducks will be favorites as they have beat the Bruins in four straight meeting dating back to the beginning of the 2014 season.

Also Consider - Cam Talbot - Edmonton Oilers vs. VAN

CENTER

Jack Eichel
Opponent - OTT
FD - 6300 DK - 6100

This is one of the best games on the board to target for fantasy points. Both teams sit in the bottom half of the league in defense making for a perfect scenario for fantasy. Eichel has been terrific in his rookie season with 48 points with 18 of them coming on the powerplay for the Sabres.  He has provided a safe floor lately averaging over four shots on goal per game and has added seven points in his last 10 games.

Stack with - Sam Reinhart, Zemgus Girgensons, Ryan O'Reilly(PP)

Connor McDavid
Opponent - VAN
FD - 6900 DK - 7100

Another rookie sitting in our top picks at center tonight. He missed time a lager amount of games in the first half due to injury but since the All Star Break he has been an elite option. In 23 games since returning to the lineup he has tallied 26 points bringing his season total to 38 points in just 36 games played. With his salary sitting right at the $7K range on both sites he will be a great option in any format tonight.

Stack with - Jordan Eberle, Patrick Maroon

Also Consider - Mika Zibanejad - Ottawa Senators @ BUF

WINGERS

Patrick Kane
Opponent - WPG
FD - 8100 DK - 8500

With their current four game losing streak the Blackhawks have fallen five points back in the Central Division. I can't see the streak getting to five. Not with this star caliber team. Kane has been slumping, at least for his standards, with just seven points in his last 10 games but the shot volume is still there. He has averaged around 3.5 shots on goal per game lately so you know the goals are coming. Even with the mini slump he still has a comfortable lead a top the NHL points standings with 90 and now has 11 games left to reach the 100 point mark. I would put money down that he will make it before the 82 game mark.

Stack with - Artem Anisimov, Artemi Panarin

Johnny Gaudreau
Opponent - COL
FD - 8300 DK - 6900

In his second full season in the NHL, Johnny Hockey has become an elite player in both real life and fantasy. He has passed his point totals from last season over a week ago and now sits with 70 in just 69 games.  The #1 rule for fantasy this year has been if the Flames are playing at home, get Gaudreau in your lineups. He has one of the biggest home/road splits I have ever seen. In 36 home games he has tallied 52 points and an incredible +24 rating while only recording 18 points and an awful -17 rating in 33 road games. Fire hi up tonight in a great matchup vs. the Avs who rank in the bottom third in defense.

Stack with - Sean Monahan, Joe Colborne(PP)

Also Consider - Jarome Iginla - Colorado Avalanche @ CGY

DEFENSE

Mark Giordano
Opponent - COL
FD - 6600 DK - 7400

He comes into this favorable playing terrific lately. He has recorded 10 points in his last 10 games and has added 37 shots on goal and 25 blocks(bonus on DK). Gio has provided huge upside as well with multi point games in three of his last four games played. Stack the Flames tonight in what should be a high scoring game .

Zach Bogosian
Opponent - OTT
FD - 4600 DK - 4600

My top value on the point tonight. He has provided excellent value lately with seven points in his last 10 games and has added 34 shots on goal to provide a safe floor. If that isn't enough safety he has also added 16 blocks(DK bonus), 22 PIMs(FD bonus), and a +5 rating for the Jets. He gets a great matchup tonight vs. the Sens who rank 27th in defense. Save some salary for top forwards and get Bogosian in your lineup.

Also Consider - Matt Niskanen - Washington Capitals vs. NSH

Daily Updates Below:

***All advanced stats in this article are sourced from www. puckalytics.com***

***All goaltender and team line combination information is provided by www.leftwinglock.com***

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