Daily Fantasy Hockey Playoff Preview: 04/19/18

Each day of the NHL Playoffs, Dylan and Brock will be collaborating on a full preview of that night’s playoff action. Dylan will break down each game from a Daily Fantasy Hockey perspective, giving you some of his favourite targets. Brock will provide his Daily Fantasy Notebook after morning skates, including Projected Lineups, Injury Updates, Goalie Rankings and DFS Value Plays. Enjoy playoff hockey and the best time of the year!

By: Dylan Berthiaume

Toronto Maple Leafs vs. Boston Bruins

After a pair of disappointing performances in Boston, unsurprisingly, the Maple Leafs’ top line looked much better on home ice in game 3. Auston Matthews was liberated after being suffocated by Patrice Bergeron in the first two games of the series and it paid huge dividends for the Maple Leafs. At 5v5 in game 3, The Maple Leafs were credited with 16 scoring chances for and just nine against when Matthews was on the ice. The result was five shots on goal for Matthews and a timely go-ahead-goal late in the second period that proved to be the game winner. With the last change remaining firmly in the hands of Mike Babcock for game 4 you can expect Matthews, William Nylander, and Zach Hyman to continue to see favourable matchups at 5v5. Get in on the Toronto 1 action tonight before Bruce Cassidy and the Bruins regain control of the line matchups in game 5.

Many were skeptical of Babcock’s decision to promote Tomas Plekanec to the role of second-line centre ahead of game 3, but to his credit the former Hab was able to keep Boston 1 in check for most of the night. Of course, this success is all relative to the dominant display put on by Boston’s top line in games 1 and 2, as Bergeron still managed to churn out a 55.26 CF% in game 3. After everything he touched seemingly went in the net in the first two games, David Pastrnak was unbelievably snake-bitten in game 3. The Bruins’ star hit the post twice and was the victim of a larcenous stick save by Freddie Andersen late in the third. A little more puck luck and he could have easily had himself another big night. The success the Maple Leafs’ second line had against Boston 1 in game 3 seems superficial and they’ll be hard-pressed to do it again. It should be another high-event game between the Leafs and Bruins tonight meaning a game-stack is certainly in play.

Columbus Blue Jackets vs. Washington Capitals

Despite the back and forward nature of the first three games, the way the Blue Jackets and Capitals’ series has played out so far has been predictable. The Blue Jackets have been the better team at 5v5 and look dominant any time their top line is on the ice, regardless of the matchup. The Capitals are, obviously, a talented team but they don’t have a line that can match the even strength production of Columbus 1, which is largely, if not entirely, driven by Artemi Panarin. Washington has had to rely on their powerplay to make-up the difference and, thanks to the abysmal penalty killing of the Blue Jackets, that’s exactly what’s happened. A remarkable 6 of the 10 goals scored by the Capitals in this series have come on the powerplay, suggesting that a Washington powerplay stack is once again the way to go in game 3.

On the flip side, Columbus’ top line should continue to drive the play at 5v5 and they make for another strong play tonight. Unlike Alexander Ovechkin and the Capitals’ powerplay, Panarin, Cam Atkinson, and Pierre-Luc Dubois don’t need to rely on a lack of discipline from the other team to generate offense, making them the much safer build in this game. Columbus 1 easily boasts the highest fantasy floor of any stack on this slate, making them tonight’s premier stacking target. If you want to make it a full stack I highly recommend making room in your lineup for Seth Jones.

By: Brock Seguin

Injury Updates

IN

– Matt Grzelcyk “should be good to go” for Game 4.

OUT

– Leo Komarov (lower-body) will miss Game 4.

– Alexander Wennberg (upper-body) will not play in Game 4.

– Andre Burakovsky will miss Game 4 in Columbus.

Projected Lineups

Toronto Maple Leafs vs. Boston Bruins

Columbus Blue Jackets vs. Washington Capitals

Goalie Rankings

✅ – Confirmed
????️ – Probable
????️ – Projected

Value Plays