NHL DFS Showdown Breakdown: TBL vs. DAL (Game 2)
With only one game on the NHL slate, all you have to play is DraftKings Showdown slate.
In Showdown you play six players, regardless of position, including one player as your “Captain.” Captains cost 1.5x their regular price but receive a 1.5x DraftKings point multiplier.
Below I have broken down both team’s top-9s and which lines are worth stacking and which players are the best plays on each line.
Tampa Bay Lightning
TBL1
Kucherov ($11,000) – Point ($9,400) – Palat ($8,400)
Despite controlling the puck quite a bit in Game 1, the Stars did a terrific job limiting the Lightning’s top-line. They generated just four 5v5 scoring chances in 13 minutes of ice-time and most importantly outscored them 1-0. Heading into Game 2, TBL1 seems poised for a big game. They will likely face Dallas’ fourth-line for the majority of their ice-time and that’s a battle will win on most nights, especially with Radek Faksa out. In the playoffs, TBL1 is averaging 34.5 SCF/60, which is by far the best in this series. I like building my lineups around this line tonight and given his huge price tag, Kucherov makes for an interesting Captain’s pick because I think a lot of DFS players will look for cheaper options in that spot.
TBL2
Killorn ($6,000) – Cirelli ($6,200) – Johnson ($5,600)
TBL2 has been surprisingly quiet throughout the postseason but enjoyed a dominant Game 1. Despite not scoring, they had an 88.2 CorsiFor%, out-chanced their opponents 8-1 and had a 94.6 xGF%. However, it’s one thing to generate chances and another one to finish them. They’ve combined for just 11 goals in 20 games during the playoffs, which is far less than TBL1’s 23 and tied with TBL3. My heart wants to recommend Cirelli as a decent play but my brain says otherwise. He just has not been shooting enough to take a flier on in a showdown slate.
TBL3
Goodrow ($4,600) – Gourde ($5,800) – Coleman ($7,400)
TBL3 has carried rock-solid underlying numbers throughout the postseason but in Game 1 they were tasked with matching up primarily against Dallas’ top-line. If that continues in Game 2, it drastically affects their upside. They were out-chanced 6-2 on Saturday and that will likely continue throughout the series.
Dallas Stars
DAL1
Benn ($8,200) – Seguin ($8,600) – Radulov ($7,600)
If you want to target the Stars side of this game, then look no further than their top-line. Sure they combined for just one assist in Game 1 but they have the highest upside on the team and really aren’t that much more expensive than the rest of the roster. DAL2 struggled with the Cirelli line on Saturday and if that continues, there’s no point in playing them. TBL3 is a tough matchup for Benn and Co. but they showed to be up to the challenge and led the Stars with six 5v5 scoring chances in the game.
DAL2
Janmark ($2,000) – Pavelski ($7,800) – Gurianov ($6,800)
I don’t expect DAL2 to struggle quite as much in Game 2 but I would still rather pay up for the top-line. Gurianov has been fantastic but his price is reflective of that and carries more risk than value at this point. Pavelski’s shot volume has fallen off of a cliff, getting just three shots on net in the last six games. He has not had more than one shot in any of those games. Until they turn a corner, I’m staying away. However, Janmark is an interesting punt play at the minimum price. He has almost no offensive upside but he’s sixth among Stars forwards in ice-time and kills penalties which give him shot-blocking potential. He’s not a great play, but at the minimum price, he allows you to stuff in a bunch of high-priced players or play someone like Kucherov in the Captain spot.
DAL3
Kiviranta ($5,200) – Hintz ($6,600) – Perry ($3,000)
Kiviranta has been a great story in these playoffs and has goals in back-to-back games. However, he is last among Stars’ forwards in ice-time and is just too risky to pay $5,200 for. Hintz is banged up and hasn’t been all that impressive throughout this run. So I’d stay away at $6,600. Perry is similar to Janmark, not great but is cheap enough that he makes sense. He is pointless in his last 10 games but has averaged 2.0 shots per game, so there’s a floor there and he’s a former 50-goal scorer, so there’s some offence floating around there too.