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Tom Vecchio's top NHL DFS lineup picks on FanDuel, DraftKings for 4/18/18. Expert daily fantasy hockey advice, sleepers & player recommendations.
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 4/18/18. 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
Dominik Simon - W, PIT @ PHI (DK - $4,500, Not on FD)
The news came out yesterday that Patric Hornqvist will miss today’s game, so this presents an opening for some players, one of which is Simon. He is super cheap across the industry, and should now be slotted onto the first forward line and the first power-play unit. In this situation, you are taking the salary relief he brings in order to get up to the rest of the Penguins stack, namely Malkin and Crosby. Simply being on the ice with those players should allow him to “fall” into a point, which would help him reach value. A good punt play who has upside.
Taylor Hall - W, NJ vs TB (DK - $7,800, FD - $8,100)
Can Hall keep the Devils alive? That is the question, and he is doing his all to try and tie up this series. He has five points through the first three games and has 17 shots over that span. Hall is the face of the franchise and with a win tonight, they will put themselves in a spot to cause a major upset. He is still seeing time on the first power-play and first forward line, along with his minutes increasing a bit. He has played a minimum of 20 minutes per game, so plenty of chances to rack up points.
DFS Defenders to Consider
Roman Josi - D, NSH @ COL (DK - $5,700, FD - $6,300)
Josi is one of my favorite players to roster in NHL DFS simply for the fact he does so much on the ice. He is on the first defensive pairing and the second power-play, which should provide enough opportunity for him to rack up real NHL points in a needed bounce-back game for the Predators. Josi takes over three shots per game and blocks over one shot per game, so he can add up the fantasy points in multiple ways. This is a very important game for the Predators to win since they don’t want to let a dangerous Avalanche team tie the series up.
Brent Burns - D, SJ vs ANH (DK - $7,000, FD - $7,100)
This is it, the Sharks are up 3-0 over the Ducks and they have a chance to sweep and get some rest. Burns might be the most consistent player in NHL DFS and can do it all. Time on the power play? Check. Takes multiple shots per game? Check. Blocks shot every game? Check. He hasn't had the production in these last two games, namely since the Sharks have jumped out to early leads, but he can put a seal on this series with a trademark game from him.
DFS Goalies to Consider
Matt Murray - G, PIT @ PHI (DK - $8,300, FD - $8,300)
Is Murray the safest option on the slate? It's really tough to call a goalie a safe option in the playoffs, but Murray is looking good. He has allowed five goals over the first three games of this series, but four of those goals came in one game. So two very strong games, and two wins, with one bad game. The Penguins are -145 road favorites, and the Flyers could be down their top centerman, so a potential spot to grav the win.
