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)
Here we are, ladies and gentlemen. The NHL playoffs start today and it begins with a nice five-game slate for us to dissect. As a die hard hockey fan, I have been waiting for this for an entire year. Sixteen teams will now battle it out in hopes of winning 16 more games and hoisting Lord Stanley's Cup.
We are going to shake things up a bit from an article perspective as the matchup obviously remain the same throughout the first round. We are going start the playoffs by giving you a quick preview of each series with three players from each game. If you have any questions regarding any players I didn't cover you can reach out to either myself(@curlmonster7) or Chris (@Jager_Bombs9) on Twitter.
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.
MTL Offense (15th) vs. NYR Defense (12th)
NYR Offense (4th) vs. MTL Defense (5th)
Favorite to win series (MTL -135)
I actually thought that Vegas would have Montreal as a higher favorite to win this series. As long as Price stays healthy, I don't see the Rangers putting up too much of a fight as they've gotten worse as the year has moved on. Montreal won all three games against the Rangers this season with two of them were in New York. The Rangers won the last series 4-2 in 2014, so look for the Habs to have revenge on their minds. It's a boring matchup from a fantasy perspective except for their stud goalie who we need to talk about.
Opponent - NYR
Proj Pts FD - 14.34 DK - 3.58
Looking at the other goalie matchups in the first round, they all have more uncertainty than I would like. Pittsburgh's goalies haven't been very sharp lately and Minnesota was in a huge slump before their last game. I do like the Oilers also, but Talbot is unproven in the playoffs and don't go near Boston or Ottawa goalies. Price stands out above the rest and he should carry his team on his back. The Rangers' offense is ranked 4th, but they were ranked 1st earlier in the season. The playoffs are a different beast altogether and they only scored four goals in their last three games. Montreal is listed as a -150 favorite to win on home ice in the first game and Price offers the most safety as well as shut-out upside.
Opponent - NYR
Proj Pts FD - 8.83 DK - 2.58
I'm not a big fan of any of the offensive players from both teams because there is not much upside here. If you want a couple of cheaper cash game fill-ins though, you could do worse than these two guys. Gallagher plays on the second line and he splits time between both PP units. He is a pest and he always cranks it up a notch come playoff time. He had an assist in his last game and has ten shots in his last three games. He's a decent play, especially on Draftkings.
Opponent - NYR
Proj Pts FD - 8.61 DK - 2.49
This guy isn't flashy, but he gets the job done and has been playing well while centering Pacioretty and Radulov on Montreal's top line. He has four assists in three games against the Rangers this season. If the Habs score there is a decent chance that Danault will be on the ice. I guess he could have upside if the top line goes off, but as you will see, there are much better plays elsewhere.
BOS Offense (16th) vs. OTT Defense (9th)
OTT Offense (19th) vs. BOS Defense (10th)
Odds to win series (Bos -195)
Boston is almost a 2-1 favorite to win this series? I think it will be a much closer battle than that. I mean come on now, Ottawa won all four games this season against their foe and this is the first time they have ever met in the Stanley Cup Playoffs. This game is filled with fantasy goodness. Let's take a look right now.
Opponent - OTT
Proj Pts FD - 15.21 DK - 4.41
This guy's time to shine is during the playoffs when he really gets under opposing players' skins. Before he was suspended two games for spearing a guy where the sun don't shine, he had two goals and three assists in his last four games and eight shots in his last two games. In 66 career playoff games, he has 16 goals and 23 assists and he plays on the Bruins' top line and #1 PP unit. Marchand is a great play in all formats.
Opponent - BOS
Proj Pts FD - 7.14 DK - 2
The 36-year-old was traded here at the deadline and he was a playoff specialist for the Canucks. He has a ton of post-season experience and he has 19 goals and 15 assists in 70 playoff games. The wily veteran has a goal, two assists and six shots in his last three games and at these prices, he is very hard to ignore in all formats.
Opponent - BOS
Proj Pts FD - 15.64 DK - 4.72
If there is one guy you should try very hard to fit into your lineups in the first round, it is the superstar Swedish defenseman who is going to need to carry his team on his back if they want to win this series. Have no fear though, as he is more than capable of doing so. In his last three games, he has three goals, (2 on the PP) an assist and a whopping 14 shots on goal. He also has 201 blocks this season which adds safety to the mix. Two games ago, he logged 30 minutes of ice-time. Karlsson will be a terrific play in all formats in the Senators' first round matchup.
CBJ Offense (5th) vs. PIT Defense (15th)
PIT Offense (1st) vs. CBJ Defense (3rd)
Odds to win series (Pit -150)
Oh man, are you baffled by this series? I am. The Penguins #1 offense going up against Columbus and Bobrovsky who should walk away with the Vezina trophy. Bob the goalie can steal this whole series if he plays like he has been all season, but the Penguins can also light him up every single game. The Penguins won their only playoff matchup 4-2 in 2014 and they tied the season series this year 2-1-1. Columbus has no cash game appeal, but the Penguins can allow goals in bunches, so there is some GPP appeal. Pittsburgh on the other hand always has guys in play in all formats.
Opponent - CBJ
Proj Pts FD - 12.81 DK - 3.81
The veteran American didn't see the playoffs very often in Toronto but in Pittsburgh, he has been a playoff machine. In 46 total playoff games, he has 23 goals and 20 assists. This season he 23 goals and 47 assists with 30 of those points coming on the powerplay. He also has a goal, two assists and seven shots on goal in his last three games. Oh, and his linemate Evgeni Malkin is back in action. I almost forgot, Crosby is a great play of course but he is very expensive. I believe that Kessel is a great cash game play and stack him with his linemates in GPP's.
Opponent - PIT
Proj Pts FD - 10.36 DK - 2.95
The Jackets are frustrating to roster in daily fantasy because of two words. Coach Tortorella. He spreads his guys around and will bench anyone at any time. On that note, this guy plays on the top line and #1 PP unit and has two assists and five shots in his last two games. If you want to go contrarian, roster Wennberg in your GPP lineups.
Opponent - CBJ
Proj Pts FD - 10.6 DK - 3.15
Schultzy is Letang's replacement on the #1 powerplay unit in steel city and I don't think we can afford to go too cheap at defense on this slate. He has been solid recently with three assists, six shots and six blocks in his last three games. The Pens should find a way to get a few pucks past goalie Bob in this series and look for Schultz to get in on the action.
STL Offense (14th) vs. MIN Defense (4th)
MIN Offense (2nd) vs. STL Defense (18th)
Odds to win series (Min -150)
This is my upset pick of the first round. I'm high on the Blues who lost in last year's Stanley Cup Finals. The Wild have been bad lately and I'm not sure they will be able to slow down Tarasenko and company. Allen has also been solid between the pipes for St. Louis. The Blues won the season series 3-2 and Minnesota won the only playoff series played between the two teams by a 4-2 margin. The Blues are going in the right direction, but Minnesota will be tough to beat. There are some good fantasy plays on both teams. Let's take a look.
Opponent - MIN
Proj Pts FD - 17.88 DK - 5.15
Vladdy is not a guy you want to fade here. His prices are still very reasonable and he's been on his game lately. On the season, the Russian superstar has 39 goals, 36 assists (22 PP points) and 286 shots in a full 82 games. He has 19 goals, seven assists in 33 playoff games and last year he had nine goals and six assists in 20 playoff games. Fade Tarasenko at your own risk in every format.
Opponent - STL
Proj Pts FD - 11.46 DK - 3.3
The former Hurricane won a Stanley Cup in Carolina and he had 19 goals and 24 assists in only 48 playoff games while playing there. He has a PP goal, three assists and eight shots in his last three games and he plays on the #1 line and #1 powerplay unit in Minnesota. I like him better on home ice where the Wild play their first two games of the series. Staal is a solid play in all formats.
Opponent - MIN
Proj Pts FD - 13.51 DK - 3.97
I didn't have to think twice about choosing a point man for this series. Since Shattenkirk left town, this young man has performed admirably for the Blues. He plays on the #1 PP and #1 PK unit for his team and has two goals, (1 on the PP) three assists, nine shots and two blocks in his last three games. He is a great play in all formats for this series.
EDM Offense (13th) vs. SJ Defense (11th)
SJ Offense (12th) vs. EDM Defense (2nd)
Odds to win series (Edm -135)
I know what people are saying. The Oilers are not an experienced playoff team. Yes, I agree, but sometimes an immense amount of talent will trump experience and I believe that the Oilers will handle the Sharks fairly easily. I'm not a fan of the way the Sharks have been playing lately and they are banged up at the moment. Edmonton is 3-1-1 against the Sharks this season and I don't think San Jose will be able to slow down McDavid and his line-mates. Oh, and Eberle and the second line has been playing well also. Let's look at this fantasy goodness we have for this matchup.
Opponent - SJ
Proj Pts FD - 19.84 DK - 5.66
Yes I know, this is the most obvious of obvious, but I would be a dumb dumb if I didn't have him at the top of my list. "McJesus" reached the 100 point plateau this season and he seems unstoppable at the moment. Holy mackerel, he is on a 14 game point streak. Say what? During those 14 games, he has seven goals and 18 assists. And the Oilers get the last line change on home ice in their first two games. McDavid is an elite play in all formats.
Opponent - EDM
Proj Pts FD - 10.19 DK - 2.98
This guy has been around for a long long time. I love climbing on veterans' backs in the playoffs because they always seem to get fired up at this time of the year. He will most likely play on the top line but regardless, he always plays on the Shark's #1 PP unit with Brent Burns. He and the Sharks haven't done much lately, but if they do heat up, then you want a piece of the action. He's not the safest play, but he's a decent one for your tournament lineups.
Opponent - SJ
Proj Pts FD - 10.02 DK - 3
Finally, a cheaper defenseman, especially on Fanduel. He is been in a lot of my columns this season and he has seldom let me down. Oscar has five assists in his last three games and has 201 shots and 146 blocks this season, which makes him a nice cash game filler at the defense position.
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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