Toronto Maple Leafs center Auston Matthews (34) skates during the first period of an NHL hockey game against the Washington Capitals, Tuesday, Jan. 3, 2017, in Washington. (AP Photo/Nick Wass)
Welcome back for another night of playoff hockey with DFSR. The regular rotation that we started with has changed a bit as the Predators/Blackhawks series gets an extra night off. We will still have four games, however, as the Blues/Wild got an extra night off yesterday. The Caps and Bruins will look to even their series up at two tonight while the Flames and Wild will look to fight off elimination. Let's jump and take a look at each series and my favorite picks for each.
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 MLB DFS suite of tools including full projections, optimal MLB lineu, s and our Player Lab, which includes filters to help you create MLB 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 crush the MLB season.
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Opponent - MIN
Proj Pts FD - 16.45 DK - 4.11
While he hasn't racked up the shutouts like Pekka Rinne and Cam Talbot, Jake Allen has been incredible throughout the first three games of this series. He has only allowed one goal in each win and has stopped 114 shots for an elite .974 save %. A much needed extra day of rest should help the Blues as they look to close out the Wild on home ice.
TOR Offense (7th) vs. WSH Defense (1st)
WSH Offense (3rd) vs. TOR Defense (19th)
Series Update - TOR 2-1
Outside of Maple Leaf fans, I don't think many people expected them to have a series lead on the President's Trophy-winning Capitals. But hey, here we are and the Leafs more than deserve the lead. After going down 2-0 in the first five minutes of game three, the young Leafs squad battled back to within one goal by the end of the first period. They once again fell down by two early in the second but again battled back and eventually tied it before the end of the second. After a scoreless third period, the game went to overtime for the third time this series and it didn't long as Tyler Bozak potted the game winner just over a minute and a half into the extra frame. Get ready for another fast-paced, exciting game on Wednesday night as the city of Toronto will be buzzing with both the Raptors and Leafs in the playoffs. Ever wondered how they convert the Air Canada Centre so quickly? Wonder no more.
Opponent - TOR
Proj Pts FD - 10.68 DK - 3.07
Opponent - TOR
Proj Pts FD - 8.37 DK - 2.43
There are a ton of plays to like in this game but I will continue to roll with the value to start things off. Williams has been his old playoff self in 2017 with at least one point in all three games and has recorded nine shots on goal. As for Orlov, he has been a top PTS/$ value on defense with an assist but more importantly, seven blocks, nine shots and has skated over 22 minutes per game.
Opponent - WAS
Proj Pts FD - 9.94 DK - 2.85
Opponent - WAS
Proj Pts FD - 12.26 DK - 3.55
Opponent - WAS
Proj Pts FD - 9.45 DK - 2.77
It was nice to see the Leafs top line break out in game three but I will be going back to the second line in this game. They have been the most consistent from a fantasy perspective as Bozak sits tied with Rielly for a team-high three points and has 10 shots. JVR has been strong, as well, with 11 shots on goal and has added two points.
BOS Offense (16th) vs. OTT Defense (9th)
OTT Offense (19th) vs. BOS Defense (10th)
Series Update - OTT 2-1
After the Senators jumped out to a 3-0 lead four minutes into the second period, the Bruins showed zero give up. They battled back and tied it before the end of the second and after a scoreless third, they headed to overtime for the second straight game. Now, I am not normally one to blame something on the referees but the powerplay in overtime was an absolute gift to the Senators. Bobby Ryan caught Nash with a hit to the head after he had already been rubbed out and it was Nash who got the penalty for his retaliation. It should have been 100% offsetting penalties creating a four on four situation. The Senators could have ended up winning anyway but powerplays in overtime are a killer and Bobby Ryan(who else) ended it with a very nice tip in front of Rask. Look for the Bruins to bounce back in a big way ni game four.
Opponent - OTT
Proj Pts FD - 14.35 DK - 4.18
Opponent - OTT
Proj Pts FD - 14.81 DK - 4.4
Opponent - OTT
Proj Pts FD - 9.5 DK - 2.87
The top line is the target for the Bruins and Patrice Bergeron and David Pastrnak have been the most consistent. Pastrnak has recorded a point in all three games and Bergeron in the first two but recorded four shots and two blocks in the last game. Spooner makes a nice stack as getting all three is tough on a small playoff slate. He joins the top guys on the powerplay and has recorded points in back to back games coming into tonight.
Opponent - BOS
Proj Pts FD - 9.45 DK - 2.72
Opponent - BOS
Proj Pts FD - 8.28 DK - 2.48
Getting repetitive as we get deeper into these series but the guys I mention have been killing it so ride the train while the fare is cheap. Bobby Ryan was the hero in game three and has picked up at least a point in every game in the series while adding 12 shots on goal. Ceci has been a very consistent PTS/$ punt option if you are trying to stack as many studs as possible. He has yet to record a point but has skated more than 22 minutes each game and has tallied 13 blocked shots. If you have the salary space definitely consider Erik Karlsson as well. If you missed his pass to Hoffman last night, check it out below. Just wow!
MIN Offense (2nd) vs. STL Defense (18th)
STL Offense (14th) vs. MIN Defense (4th)
Series Update - STL 3-0
The Blues have absolutely dominated this series on the back of the elite goaltending of Jake Allen. I won't get too much into him as I mentioned as the goalie of the night but cmon, a .974 save % through three games. Good luck Minnesota. I think the Blues close the series out on Wednesday night.
Opponent - MIN
Proj Pts FD - 11.42 DK - 3.25
Opponent - MIN
Proj Pts FD - 16.32 DK - 4.73
Opponent - MIN
Proj Pts FD - 11.38 DK - 3.38
It has been one of the lower scoring series in the playoffs but the top line for the Blues has been leading the way from a fantasy perspective. They have combined for five points and 25 shots on goal and both are averaging over 20 minutes of ice time. On the back end, I am liking the idea of paying up for Alex Pietrangelo in GPP's to get some low ownership. He has only recorded one point this series but has 10 blocks and eight shots on goal.
CGY Offense (18th) vs. ANH Defense (7th)
ANH Offense (20th) vs. CGY Defense (13th)
Series Update - ANH 3-0
The Ducks continued their dominance of the Flames with their third straight win in the playoffs and sixth straight overall. The Flames finally struck first and actually went up 2-0 in the first period before the Ducks got one back right before the end of the first. The Flames recaptured their two-goal lead early in the second and added to it with a powerplay goal not too long after. Gibson was then pulled and Bernier came into the game and it seemed to give the Ducks a boost as they got one back with 5 seconds left in the second before eventually tying it in the third period and forcing overtime. It didn't take long to end this one as the Ducks scored with just a minute and a half into the extra frame. It will take all the Flames have to come back in this series and it all starts tonight.
Opponent - CGY
Proj Pts FD - 13.43 DK - 3.95
Opponent - CGY
Proj Pts FD - 12.24 DK - 3.53
Opponent - CGY
Proj Pts FD - 9.33 DK - 2.71
I will be targeting the Ducks much more than the Flames tonight as I feel the series could very easily end tonight. The Flames have to feel like they were shot in the arm after giving up a three-goal lead and eventually the winner in OT. The top line has been the most productive for the Ducks and the best DFS target tonight. Getzlaf was held without a point last game but has four total while Rakell added two assists in game three and has tallied at least a point in all three games. The surprise for the Ducks in the series has been the offensive outburst from Shea Theodore. He only managed to tally nine points in the regular season in 34 games but leads the Ducks with five points in the playoffs and has added nine shots and six blocks.
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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