Daily Fantasy Hockey Picks for DraftKings & FanDuel - 4/14/16

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Welcome back for night #2 in the NHL Playoffs. It was a fast start for the home teams last night with the Pens winning in convincing fashion 5-2 over the Rangers and the Lightning taking game 1 from the Red Wings by a score of 3-2. As of writing this the Blues and Blackhawks are head to OT tied at zero. Who misses the shootout?*crickets chirp* Ummmmm... nobody. This is playoff hockey at its best.

Tonight we have four games with all but one series(NSH vs. ANH) getting started by night's end. The Flyers travel to Washignton to face the Capitals as the biggest under dogs in the first round when looking at Vegas odds. As a Flyers fan I understand they have exceeded expectations in a so called "rebuild" year. They are playing with house money against the Presidents Trophy winners so expect a high flying series. The teams split four games in the regular season.

The Dallas Stars get what appears to be a very favorable first round matchup vs. the Wild who will be without star player Zach Parise for at least the first two games of the series. The Wild will also be missing centermen Erik Haula for Game #1 as well. Anything can happen in a playoff series but it will take a heroic effort for the Wild to stop the leagues #1 offense.

Two of the closer projected games of the night has the Islanders visiting the Panthers and the Sharks visiting the Kings. All four teams ended the regular season inside the Top 13 in defense. Expect some close games with some more possible OT. What more could we ask for?

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 Tuesday. Now onto the picks.

 

Goaltenders

Roberto Luongo
Opponent - NYI
FD - 9100 DK - 8300

Luongo went through some struggles in the second half but closed the year out strong wit three straight wins to help clinch the Atlantic Division. They will now get an opening round home matchup vs. the New York Islanders who grabbed the top wild card spot. Luongo faced them three during the regular season going 2-1 with a .931 save % in three starts. Look for the Panthers to build off their terrific regular season and come out strong tonight and pick up the win.

 

Kari Lehtonen
Opponent - MIN
FD - 8500 DK - 7400

Terrific value on the Stars net minder tonight as they are big home favorites starting their first round series vs. the short handed Wild. They will be without their best player, Zach Parise, for at least the first two games and possibly longer. They will also be missing second line center Erik Haula for game 1. Never count a team out in the playoffs but the Wild will have a tough task vs. the leagues #1 offense. Lehtonen finished the year strong winning three straight games which should earn him the start in Game #1. Be sure to confirm the starter before lineup lock.

 

Also Consider - Martin Jones - San Jose Sharks @ LAK

 

 

 

CENTER

Evgeny Kuznetsov
Opponent - PHI
FD - 6100 DK - 6500

In the four meetings between these teams during the regular season, the Flyers held Ovechkin in check with just two points. IT was Kuznetsov that did the damage with five points in those four games. I see much of the same happening tonight as the Flyers game plan should again be to shut down the all world, 50 goal scoring winger. This should leave some great matchups tonight for the second line led by Kuznetsov. He is just what the Capitals have been looking for in a secondary option to go deep in the playoffs. He tallied 77 points during the regular season and should be able to carry the momemtum over into the playoffs.

Stack with - Andre Burakovsky, Justin Williams

 

Aleksander Barkov
Opponent - NYI
FD - 7400 DK - 6900

It was the Panthers top line that provided the majority of the offense during the regular season in large part to the breakout of Aleksander Barkov. In his third full season in the NHL he picked up 59 points in 66 games playing alongside the talented Jonathan Huberdeau and ageless Jaromir Jagr. This will be his first crack at the playoffs and yo can be sure Jagr has the entire team ready to play. During the regular season Barkov torched the Islanders to the tune of five points in the their three meetings.

Stack with - Jaromir Jagr, Jonathan Huberdeau

 

 

Also Consider - Jeff Carter - Los Angeles Kings vs. SJ

 

WINGERS

Jamie Benn
Opponent - MIN
FD - 8400 DK - 8200

Behind their #1 offense, the Stars took down the Central Division and Western Conference titles. They now get one of the most favorable matchups in the first round vs. the Wild without some key players. The Stars took four of five games from the Wild in the regular season led by their top line and Benn who tallied nine points in those five games including a short handed goal. News out of Dallas is that Tyler Seguin will be available for this game which only give an extra boost to an already potent offense.

Stack with - Tyler Seguin(check injury report), Patrick Sharp, Cody Eakin, John Klingberg

 

Tanner Pearson
Opponent - SJ
FD - 4300 DK - 3700

He makes a very affordable value play if he continues to skate with Anze Kopitar and Milan Lucic. The Kings are one of the early favorites to make to the Finals and hoist another Stanley Cup. They make a very affordable line stack tonight on a four game slate. Pearson tallied three points in five games vs. the Sharks in the regular season. He should get a ton of opportunities tonight.

Stack with - Milan Lucic, Anze Kopitar

 

Also Consider - Alex Ovechkin - Washington Capitals vs. PHI

DEFENSE

John Klingberg
Opponent - MIN
FD - 6000 DK - 6300

As you can see I am very bullish on the Stars tonight and will try and get as many of them as I possibly can in GPP's especially. As mentioned above the Wild are short handed and got handled by the Stars in the regular season. Klingberg provides huge upside from the point and tallied six points in five games vs. the Wild in the regular season.

 

Calvin de Haan
Opponent - FLA
FD - 3400 DK - 4200

This is more of a punt play for DraftKings tonight as his value comes from his blocked shots. In his final 10 games in the regular season he tallied 30 blocks and added 11 shots and five points for the Islanders. The salary relief will allow you to get a top stack in tonight on the four game slate.

 

Also Consider - Brent Burns - San Jose Sharks @ LAK

 

 

 

Daily Updates Below:

 

Today's the day.

You ready? ? pic.twitter.com/Ys63wyvqfm

— Florida Panthers (@FlaPanthers) April 14, 2016

 

 

 

***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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