RotoBallers, welcome back to our daily fantasy hockey (NHL DFS) lineup picks for FanDuel and DraftKings. Below you will find our NHL cheat sheet - DFS lineup picks, sleepers and stacks for Thursday, April 6 of the 2016/2017 NHL season.
We are now entering the final stretch of the regular season and Thursday marks the third last big slate before playoffs which are a completely different animal. This is due to the absence of most fo the targetable defenses. Let's take advantage of this opportunity.
Tonight we have 12 games on tap with what should be rested teams as no one is playing a back to back. Let's dive right into the picks.
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NHL Daily League Lineup Picks for Thursday, April 6
For those that are new to this, each day we'll be providing you with a few of our top DFS lineup picks for daily league cash games on FanDuel and DraftKings. We will also provide you with one of our favorite teams to stack for GPPs. You can grab the rest of our Premium DFS lineup picks and stacks through the NHL Cheat Sheet and DFS Premium Pass below.
Connor McDavid (C, EDM)
DraftKings - $8,300, FanDuel - $9,100
The Oilers enter tonight tied with the Sharks with 97 points and the fourth-best record in the Western Conference. This could definitely play out like a playoff game but that doesn't mean there won't offense. McDavid has tore up the Sharks this season just every other team with six points in four meetings. He also comes into tonight's game red hot with 19 points over his last 10 games with 33 shots on goal. Build around McDavid tonight with some projected lower ownership due to the rising price and matchup.
Jason Pominville (W, MIN)
DraftKings - $4,900, FanDuel - $4,300
If you are fitting McDavid in your lineups you are going to need some value plays alongside him tonight. It starts with Pominville who isn't the 25 goal scorer he used to be but is still a very consistent offensive option with 46 points this season. He skates on the second line with Charlie Coyle and Martin Hanzal but jumps up on the top powerplay unit with Zach Parise and Eric Staal.
Jack Johnson (D, CBJ)
DraftKings - $3,300, FanDuel - $3,400
Not only are you going to need some value, you are also going to need a punt play if you stack the Oilers superstar and his linemate. I will turn to Johnson tonight who will be at home vs. the Jets and their 28th ranked defense. He is not known for his offensive prowess but is a consistent fantasy play from a PTS/$ perspective. He has picked up points in three of his last four games with five shots and 12 blocks.
Stacking Option
Boston Bruins - Brad Marchand, Patrice Bergeron, David Pastrnak(PP)
The Bruins have looked like an offensive juggernaut down the stretch scoring 20 goals during their six-game win streak. They sit tied with the Sens, who they will face tonight, with one less game played so they will be gunning for a big regulation win tonight. They haven't had success against the Sens this season losing three prior meetings so you know they will have extra motivation tonight.
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Bonus: General NHL DFS Strategy Notes
For cash games, look at players who can contribute to your score even when they are not providing offense. Some examples are guys who take a ton of shots and defensemen who block a lot of shots. Also, look for guys who get power play time. You can find value in players who join a new line due to an injury, or just get a promotion and more ice time. It is also recommended to spread out your exposure to three or four different lines, and not put all your eggs in one basket.
For large field tournaments (GPPs), find payers who have multi-point upside and can grab double-digit fantasy points. If you want to stack the most upside in your forwards, a common strategy is to punt the defense position. This doesn't mean just grab anyone - try and look for a defenseman who will get power play time, or a playing time boost due to an injury. For a contrarian approach, paying up at the defense position can be a great strategy - but it also comes with more risk. GPPs bring a great opportunity for goaltenders in the value price range - you can look for backups on good teams.