RADIO
The Stanley Cup Playoffs are here, and we have a four-game slate. With this smaller slate, you will likely have to eat a bit of chalk in some spots but should be looking to differentiate where you can.
Vegas lines are big when it comes to picking games to target, and that's a good place to start for goalies. When it comes to skaters, goal totals is another main place to start. Usually, 5.5 goals are average, so targets game at six, and can look for goalies in games with a total of five.
In this article, I will be providing you with my daily fantasy hockey lineup picks for DraftKings and FanDuel on 4/16/18. The lineup picks will range from some of the elite players to mid-priced options and value plays. If you have any questions or comments, feel free to hit me up on Twitter @DFS_Tom. Let's get to it, shall we?
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DFS Forwards to Consider
Nathan MacKinnon - C, COL vs NSH (DK - $7,100, FD - $8,300)
The Avalanche are down 0-2 and this is the time for their star player to step up at home and put up a big performance. I've been big on MacKinnon all season, and truly think he is elite, and even with them being down he has put up three points in two games. He is still on the top forward line and the top power-play unit, and using him in a stack, has multi-point upside, as it has all season. They are expensive, but there is no better motivator than being desperate, so look for a big game from him.
Jake DeBrusk - W, BOS @ TOR (DK - $4,400, FD - $4,500)
DeBrusk is a cheaper option on tonight's slate and gets you some nice exposure to Bruins offense which is super hot. They have a chance to put their foot on the throat in this series, and against this Toronto team who hasn't shown any signs of real defense, they should be able to do so. DeBrusk has two points in the first two games of this series, is seeing time on the second forward line and the second power-play unit.
DFS Defenders to Consider
Vitor Hedman - D, TB @ NJ (DK - $6,000, FD - $6,600)
The Lightning have scored 10 goals in the first two games of this series, yet Hedman doesn't have a single point to show for it. He was their most productive defender by over 20 points in the regular season, so I'll take these games as a bit of an outlier. Now the Lightning won't be scoring five goals every game, will they? Well, they certainly have the potential to do so, and I'm going to bet Hedman will be involved in one of those goals soon.
Brandon Montour - D, ANH @ SJ (DK - $3,600, FD - $3,600)
Things got real ugly, real quick for the Ducks in the first two games of this series, and now face the possibility of going down 0-3. I truly believe they are a bitter team than what they have shown on the ice and have a higher offensive ceiling. Montour is now on the first power-play unit and is super cheap across the industry. He takes a few shots and blocks a few shots every game, but I would use him in a stack to maximize his upside.
DFS Goalies to Consider
Jonathan Bernier - G, COL vs NSH (DK - $6,900, FD - $7,700)
Bernier is the cheapest goal of all the starters on DraftKings tonight, and because of that, he has plenty of upside. Colorado comes in as a +165 home underdog, and their backs are against the wall, as they are down 0-2. More of a GPP option, but the salary flexibility he brings, along with the higher save potential makes him very interesting. Clearly a good amount of risk here, but the upside could win you a GPP.
