This article is part of our DraftKings NHL series.
Pity the Boston Bruins and the Ottawa Senators. Not only was Game 1 of their series shuttled off to the NHL Network, due to the 3:00 PM ET start time Game 2 is not included in Saturday's evening slate of contests. Sure, if you want to play a two-game afternoon contest, you can get in on that Bruins-Senators action, otherwise you're out of luck. This article is about the three games on Saturday's evening docket, though, and the players you should target from those six teams.
GOALIE
John Gibson, ANA vs. CGY ($8,000): After posting a 2.22 GAA and a .924 save percentage during the regular season, Gibson stopped 30 of the 32 shots he faced in a win over the Flames to start this series. On the year, the Ducks allowed 29.6 shots on net per contest, while the Flames only managed 29.1 shots on goal per game, which ranked in the bottom seven in the NHL. The Ducks were particularly strong at home, as they only gave up 2.00 goals per game, and they have a chance to go up two games to none in Anaheim on Saturday.
CENTER
Evgeny Kuznetsov, WAS vs. TOR ($6,000): The Maple Leafs allowed 32.6 shots on goal per game, and true to form Toronto ceded 44 shots on net in the series opener, though that was an overtime game. Extra time or not, it seems clear the Leafs aren't going to get stingy on the shots allowed at this point. Kuznetsov picked up an assist in Game 1, and in his last five games he has four points and 15 shots on goal. Plus, he started 37.1 percent of his shifts in the offensive zone, which was second among Washington forwards.
Artem Anisimov, CHI vs. NAS ($5,000): Anisimov returned from a lengthy injury absence in Game 1, playing 19:06 and notching two shots on goal. Despite all the time missed with injury, Anisimov still managed 22 goals and a career-high 45 points in 64 games. That's probably in part because he started 39.2 percent of his shifts in the offensive zone, second most of any Chicago forward. After the All-Star break, Nashville allowed 2.78 goals per game. While Pekka Rinne may have blanked the Blackhawks in Game 1, Chicago managed 29 shots on goal, and Rinne had a .918 save percentage this season.
WING
Viktor Arvidsson, NAS at CHI ($6,300): Arvidsson's magical season has bled into the playoffs, as he scored Nashville's lone goal in their Game 1 victory. He also put four shots on net after notching 246 shots on goal in 80 games this regular season. After the All-Star break, the Blackhawks allowed 31.9 shots on goal per contest, which ranked them in the bottom seven of the league. Doesn't seem like they will be the ones to stop Arvidsson from putting the puck on net. In his last 10 games, he's tallied 32 shots on goal, and he notched nine points in that time.
Rickard Rakell, ANA vs. CGY ($6,000): The Ducks put 41 shots on goal in their series opener, scoring three goals in the process. Brian Elliott overcame a bad start to the season, but he still finished with a .910 save percentage overall. Additionally, in his last six games, five of which have been losses, Elliott has a 3.25 GAA and a .901 save percentage. Rakell lit the lamp in Game 1, and in his last 16 games he's notched 15 points and 46 shots on goal. He scored 33 goals in 71 games, and if Elliott can't turn his form around this matchup looks good for Rakell.
Justin Williams, WAS vs. TOR ($4,900): This is not merely because Williams scored two goals on six shots in Game 1. No, it's about the fact he averaged 2.8 fantasy points per game during the regular season, and the fact that he's tallied 11 points in his last 10 games. Also, since the All-Star break the Maple Leafs have allowed 2.97 goals and 33.3 shots on net per game. Toronto has a young, inexperienced roster and clearly seems to be the worst defensive squad of all the teams that made the postseason.
DEFENSE
Ryan Ellis, NAS at CHI ($5,000): Ellis has averaged a healthy 3.2 fantasy points per game, thanks to a career high in goals (16) and points (38) despite playing in only 71 games. Eleven of those points came with the extra man, and Chicago had the 24th-ranked penalty kill this year. Ellis tallied 140 shots on goal and 137 blocked shots. The Blackhawks allowed 31.4 shots on goal this season, and they also attempted 56.4 shots per 60 minutes, 10th most in the NHL.
Brent Seabrook, CHI vs. NAS ($4,700): Seabrook didn't notch a point in Game 1, but he was still busy. He played 23:56, including 2:46 with the extra man, and he registered two shots on goal and four blocked shots. Seabrook started 36.4 percent of his shifts in the offensive zone, and he tallied 14 power-play points. Since the All-Star break, the Predators have the 20th-ranked penalty kill, and Nashville also ranked eighth in shot attempts per 60 minutes (58.6). Seabrook blocked 147 shots this season, and as previously mentioned he got in front of four pucks in the series opener.
