FanDuel NHL: Saturday Playoff Value Plays

Written by

Updated on April 14, 2018 10:10AM EST

There were five games Thursday, but there are only four on Saturday because the second game between the Capitals and Blue Jackets is behind held for Sunday. Also, the first two games start at 3:00 PM EST, so be sure to get your daily fantasy lineups in early. And maybe use some of these players as well.

GOALIE

Pekka Rinne, NAS vs. COL ($9,100): Rinne had a great, possibly Vezina-winning season, posting a 2.31 goals-against average and .927 save percentage. We also certainly haven't forgotten his incredible run in last year's playoffs. The Avalanche only scored 2.68 goals per game and put a mere 28.7 shots on net per contest on the road, which bodes well for the Finnish netminder.

CENTER

Ryan Johansen, NAS vs. COL ($6,300): Johansen has a three-game point streak, and has notched 10 points in his last 10. That includes four on the power play, averaging 3:03 per game with the extra man during the regular season. Colorado struggled with a 3.37 GAA away from home, and de facto starter Jonathan Bernier sported a 2.85 GAA and .913 save percentage this year.

David Krejci, BOS vs. TOR ($6,200): Krejci tallied two points in Game 1 and has struck for seven points in his last seven contests. The Maple Leafs, meanwhile, allowed 33.9 shots on net per game – the third highest total in the NHL. Frederik Andersen has also been underperforming recently, with a 3.46 GAA and .897 save percentage over his last 16 appearances.

WING

Craig Smith, NAS vs. COL ($5,500): Smith scored 25 goals on 229 shots in 79 games this year, including nine on the power play. He's also heated up recently, with a three-game point streak and eight points in his last seven contests. Since taking over for an injured Semyon Varlamov, Bernier has posted a 3.24 GAA and .904 save percentage in five starts.

Yanni Gourde, TAM vs. NJD ($5,200): Gourde scored 25 goals and added 39 assists as a rookie, and tallied a goal, an assist, and five shots on net in his first playoff game. In away contests, the Devils didn't do well with a 3.10 GAA and allowing an average of 34.5 shots on goal. Additionally, New Jersey's starter Keith Kinkaid is a relatively unproven 28-year-old who allowed four goals on 31 shots in his postseason debut.

Jake DeBrusk, BOS vs. TOR ($4,500): DeBrusk started 70.0 percent of his shifts in the offensive zone, highest on the Bruins. The first-year forward had himself a decent season, notching 16 goals and 27 assists in 70 games. And as previously noted, Toronto's Frederik Andersen has not performed particularly well in his last 16 contests.

DEFENSEMEN

Ryan Ellis, NAS vs. COL ($5,100): Ellis notched nine goals and 23 assists in 44 regular-season outings. He also directed 110 shots on net and blocked 84 shots, both impressive totals for his limited number of appearances. As noted earlier, the Avalanche come in with a 3.37 road GAA, which is the league's sixth highest mark.

Will Butcher, NJD at TAM ($4,100): The Lightning had a lot of success this year, but their penalty kill ranked a lowly 27th. Butcher will be happy about that. The 23-year-old averaged 2:39 per game on the power play and racked up 23 points with the extra man. Fittingly enough, he also notched a power-play point in Game 1 of the series.

The author(s) of this article may play in daily fantasy contests including – but not limited to – games that they have provided recommendations or advice on in this article. In the course of playing in these games using their personal accounts, it's possible that they will use players in their lineups or other strategies that differ from the recommendations they have provided above. The recommendations in this article do not necessarily reflect the views of RotoWire. Chris Morgan plays in daily fantasy contests using the following accounts: FanDuel: cmorgan3, DraftKings: cmorgan3.