Edmonton Oilers' Connor McDavid works for the puck against the Columbus Blue Jackets during an NHL hockey game in Columbus, Ohio, Friday, March 4, 2016. The Blue Jackets won 6-3. (AP Photo/Paul Vernon)
Happy Saturday DFSR and daily fantasy hockey fans. We have now entered the final weekend of the regular season as teams prepare for the playoff tournament starting next week. Before that, there is still some playoff positions to be finalized and it starts with the Leafs who will not only look to clinch a spot tonight but possibly move ahead of the Bruins for third in the Atlantic division.
There are 14 total games on Saturday but we will be turning our attention to the 11 game main slate this evening. Let's dive right into the picks.
Hockey is back and with it come our NHL projections which help inform these picks every night. When you purchase a DFSR NHL subscription to our base hockey projections you also get access to our brand new NFL DFS suite of tools including full projections, optimal NFL lineups and our Player Lab, which includes filters to help you create NFL lineups for FanDuel and DraftKings for any format. It’s a set of tools well beyond anything we’ve ever had, and something we feel will help our users *ahem* tackle the NFL season.
If you want to see the numbers behind our projections, create lineups with a single click, or research as deeply as your heart desires, click the button below to test out yourself.
Opponent - NJ
Proj Pts FD - 17.43 DK - 4.36
Halak will get the nod for the Islanders tonight in a do or die situation that they don't really have control over. All they know going into the game is that they need to win and Halak looks more than ready to carry the load. Since returning in March, he has been terrific winning all five of his starts while allowing just seven goals in those games. Tonight the Isles will be -150 favorites in a plus matchup vs. the offensively challenged Devils(ranked 29th in offense). Halak is safe in all formats.
Opponent - DET
Who? Don't worry I couldn't even get the system to recognize this guy to get a projection for tonight. He is getting the nod once again for the Habs who have clinched the division title. This makes him a risky option as it is tough to tell how much playing time the top players are going to get. Either way, Lindgren was impressive in his first start in Florida the other night stopping 31 of 32 shots in a 4-1 win over the Panthers. At $8K or below on both sites, he is a nice GPP salary relief option with upside.
Also Consider: Carter Hutton(STL)
Opponent - VAN
Proj Pts FD - 18.79 DK - 5.36
He has all but won the NHL's Art Ross Trophy for most points in the regular season but he isn't going to stop there. He is just three points away from 100 with two games to play and both games come in a home at home with the Canucks and their 23rd ranked defense. I will be building my lineups around McDavid and Draisaitl in all formats Saturday and Sunday.
Stack with: Leon Draisaitl
Opponent - FLA
Proj Pts FD - 16.71 DK - 4.98
With such a huge slate and the projected high ownership of McDavid and Crosby there is going to be some gaps in ownership for tournaments. It starts with Jack Eichel who is in a tier of salary just below and could very well be overlooked tonight. In just 59 games due to injury this season, Eichel has set a new career high with 57 points and is the future in Buffalo. Not only does he have immense multi-point upside, he also provides a high floor with shot volume and has fired 44 on goal in the last 10 games.
Stack with: Sam Reinhart, Marcus Foligno
Opponent - TOR
Proj Pts FD - 9.91 DK - 2.88
If you are looking to go cheap at center, especially if paying up for McDavid, take a look at Bonino for the Pens. He has been filling in on the second line for the injured Evgeni Malkin. He was back at practice but with playoffs starting next week, I don't see the Pens risking it. That puts Bonino in another nice spot tonight on teh road in Toronto. Pair him with linemate Phil Kessel a low owned, high upside stack.
Stack with: Phil Kessel
Opponent - CAR
Proj Pts FD - 16.47 DK - 4.69
Again, with the popularity of Crosby and McDavid tonight there is going to be some gaps in ownership and Tarasenko may be another one of the benefactors. He is, however, far from just a GPP play as he has averaged just under a point per game on the season and with his whopping 46 shots on goal in the last 10 games, has brought his average up just below 3.5 per game. He gets a great matchup vs. the Canes who have been eliminated from playoff contention and it appears have packed it in for the season.
Stack with: Jaden Schwartz, Ivan Barbashev
Opponent - TOR
Proj Pts FD - 11.64 DK - 3.26
My favorite value play on this big slate is Jake Guentzel of the Penguins. The rookie gets a huge boost anytime he jumps up on the first line with Sid the Kid and hasn't disappointed one bit. He comes into tonight with a goal in four straight games and has averaged a point per game over his last 10 games. He is an excellent play in all formats.
Stack with: Conor Sheary, Sidney Crosby
Opponent - NAS
Proj Pts FD - 11.56 DK - 3.33
The Jets have been eliminated from the playoffs but that hasn't stopped them from playing the role of spoiler. The come into tonight have won six straight games and have scored four or more goals in five straight. Perreault has taken advantage of his wing spot across from Patrik Laine and has a whopping 16 points over his last 10 games with seven of those points coming on the powerplay. The Predators aren't a pushover defensively but either is the Blue Jackets, Ducks, or Blues and that didn't stop him.
Stack with: Bryan Little, Patrik Laine
DEFENSEMEN
Opponent - CAR
Proj Pts FD - 11.87 DK - 3.48
From a PTS/$ perspective, Pietrangelo has been one of the most consistent players on the back end all season. With Shattenkirk out of town now, he has taken over as the top D-man and over his last 10 games has recorded nine points to go along with 15 blocked shots and 30 shots on goal. He gets a plus matchup vs. a Canes team that has packed it in for the season. Pietrangelo is safe in all formats.
Opponent - SJ
Proj Pts FD - 7.38 DK - 2.26
I found it hard to find any kind of upside in the punt range so I will be recommending Stone tonight, mainly for cash games. He has very limited upside offensively and a tough matchup but his shot blocking gives him a nice floor at a very low price. Over his last 10 games he has picked up just 12 shots but 26 blocks. It is more about the salary relief and what he gets you throughout the rest of your lineup.
Also Consider: Oscar Klefbom(EDM)
Hockey is back and with it comes our NHL projections which help inform these picks every night. When you purchase a DFSR NHL subscription to our base hockey projections you also get access to our brand new NFL DFS suite of tools including full projections, optimal NFL lineups and our Player Lab, which includes filters to help you create NFL lineups for FanDuel and DraftKings for any format. It’s a set of tools well beyond anything we’ve ever had, and something we feel will help our users *ahem* tackle the NFL season.
If you want to see the numbers behind our projections, create lineups with a single click, or research as deeply as your heart desires, click the button below to test out yourself.
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