This article is part of our FanDuel NHL series.
It's Cinco de Mayo, and what says "Cinco de Mayo" more than playoff hockey? There are two big games Friday, and here are some players to target on FanDuel to help turn your Cinco into a day for celebration.
GOALIE
Pekka Rinne, NAS at STL ($9,000): With only four goalies in action and two of them not playing particularly well recently, it really comes down to Rinne and Jake Allen. Both are playing quite well, but Rinne has been truly outstanding. He's posted a stellar 1.33 GAA and a .953 save percentage, both of which lead the league in the playoffs. The Predators have also only lost one game so far in the postseason, so it wouldn't be surprising to see Rinne pick up another win. Even if he doesn't, his numbers should be quite good, especially since the Blues have only averaged 2.11 goals per game in the playoffs.
CENTER
Ryan Kesler, ANA vs. EDM ($5,700): While most people talk about Kesler's defensive prowess and attempts to shut down Connor McDavid, he's impressive on offense as well. He tallied 22 goals and 58 points this season, and he has four points in four games in this series. On top of that, he's tallied 11 shots on net in his last three contests. Cam Talbot has been burned for 10 goals in his last two games, and he has a 3.36 GAA and .898 save percentage over his last seven.
Mark Letestu, EDM at ANA ($3,900): Letestu tallied 14 power-play points in the regular season, and he's added five more in the playoffs. He's averaged 3:52 per game with the extra man in this series, and the Ducks have the second-worst penalty-kill percentage in the postseason. Letestu's power-play prowess makes him an interesting possibility, especially at this price.
WING
Jakob Silfverberg, ANA vs. EDM ($6,500): Silfverberg has had a fantastic series, as he's tallied a point in every game, resulting in a total of six already. He's also been putting pucks on the net with aplomb in the postseason, nothing 38 shots on goal in eight contests. The Swede's power-play minutes are also up in the playoffs, as he's averaged 3:04 per game with the extra man. The Oilers had the 25th-ranked penalty kill after the All-Star break, which bodes well for Silfverberg keeping the engine running hot.
Rickard Rakell, ANA vs. EDM ($5,900): Rakell tallied 33 goals in 71 games this year, and he's taken that success into the postseason. The center-turned-winger tallied five points in the first round, and he's now notched two goals in his last two games. As previously noted, Talbot has been struggling recently, so with the price not too prohibitive for Rakell, it's a good time to keep him rolling.
James Neal, NAS at STL ($5,400): Neal started 37.2 percent of his shifts in the offensive zone this year, the most of any healthy Predators forward. He registered 23 goals on 202 shots in 70 games, and he added 13 power-play points as well. This series? Neal has notched two goals, and he has 13 shots on goal in his last three games. It's not impressive production, but he provides a solid fantasy floor.
Patrick Maroon, EDM at ANA ($5,400): Maroon seems to be enjoying this series with the Ducks, as he's tallied at least one point in every game, with six overall. He plays alongside Connor McDavid, which puts him in plenty of offensive opportunities, and he'll have a chance to convert for more points against John Gibson, who's been mediocre at best throughout the postseason.
DEFENSEMEN
Oscar Klefbom, EDM at ANA ($4,500): An enthusiastic shooter (201 on net this year), Klefbom only has one point in his last four games, but he's also notched 12 shots on goal and 11 blocked shots. Klefbom also averaged 2:51 per game with the extra man this season, and the Ducks have the second-worst penalty kill in the playoffs. Throw in Gibson's postseason struggles, and Klefbom is looking good at this price.
Colton Parayko, STL vs. NAS ($4,000): Parayko has played 24:00 per game in these playoffs, and he's managed to tally four points. He's notched 23 shots on net and 21 blocked shots after tallying 188 and 117, respectively, during the regular season. While the Predators have been stout defensively, Nashville averaged 58.6 shot attempts per 60 minutes during the season. That ranked eighth in the NHL, and no other team playing Friday ranked higher than 17th. You could therefore argue that Parayko and his fellow Blues will have more chances to get in front of the puck than the other blueliners in action Friday.
