It’s the second night of NHL playoff action with the opening game in four new post season series. There are plenty of bargains and potential values with upside in our lineup.
LW – Thomas Vanek – Minnesota
The Wild are at the St. Louis Blues with a starting time of 9:30 p.m. ET with coverage on NBCSN. While we are undeniably bullish on the Blues we have plenty of respect for the Wild and their potential. Minnesota played at an elite level in the season’s second half to rate as one of the top teams in the NHL, yet they remain under the radar. Vanek ranks as a potentially strong bargain at a FanDuel price of $5,200. Vanek ended up with 21 goals and 31 assists and had two goals and an assist in four games against the Blues this year.
C – Brian Boyle – Tampa Bay
The Lightning will host the Detroit Red Wings at 7:30 p.m. ET with coverage on CNBC and are among the favorites to win the Eastern Conference. Boyle could prove to be a bargain at $3,300 as a 15 goals scorer. The Stanley Cup Playoffs are notorious for players such as Boyle emerging as heroes in the clutch. Detroit slipped badly down the stretch on defense and their goaltending has come into question.
RW – Lee Stempniak – Winnipeg
The Jets are a very dangerous dog as they go up against the Ducks at Anaheim with faceoff time set for 10:30 p.m. ET with coverage on CNBC. Stempniak opened at $3,700. Anaheim may be the tops seed in the Western Conference but had a small goal differential and has a defense that is considered to be thin and less than Cup worthy. Stempniak was one of the heroes for the Jets and their playoff push as he finished with three goals, one assist, and a plus-four in his last five games. Winnipeg is no ordinary number eight seed and Stempniak is a big reason why many believe that the Jets can win the series.
D – Marc Staal – New York Rangers
The Rangers host the Pittsburgh Penguins at 7 p.m. ET. The Penguins are truly limping into this series with a depleted defensive corps and as a team that has no momentum, no number one defenseman, and no secondary scoring strength. Staal is one of the reasons that the Broadway Blueshirts won the President’s Trophy as the top team in the regular season. Staal finished with a plus-18 on the season to go with five goals and 15 assists. Staal is probable for this one despite a lower body issue and is a top bargain at $3,300.
D – Jay Bouwmeester – St. Louis
The St. Louis defenseman is one of the top bargains on the FanDuel board at $3,100 as a blueliner that could emerge as one of the best in the playoffs. Although he finished with just two goals and 11 assists with a plus-seven we are bullish on Bouwmeester to increase his production in the post season. Last year the veteran rearguard amassed 33 assists and with the ice time that he gets he is capable of reaching the score sheet on a talented St. Louis team.
G – Jake Allen – St. Louis
Allen is a surprise starter in that Brian Elliott was an All-Star for the Blues but faded badly down the stretch. Allen is red hot with a .956 save percentage in his last five games to finish at .913 for the season with four shutouts. The 24 year old was considered to be the Blues goalie of the future but it now appears as if the future is now. Allen posted a .920 save percentage in two games against Minnesota this season. Allen is at $8,300.
Sleeper – James Wisniewski – Anaheim
The Ducks defenseman opened at $4,600 and has plenty of upside as an offensive defenseman that can still make plays. Wisniewski was one of the top pickups by any team on trade deadline day and gives the Ducks defensive depth for what they are hoping to be a deep run. Wisniewski finished with eight goals and 26 assists but could loom large in the post season as his offensive ability for the playoffs were the precise reason why Anaheim acquired him.
