The St. Louis Blues are in big trouble down 2-1 at Minnesota against a Wild team that has been among the best in the game since the end of January. This is a must win season for the Blues as they were built for a deep playoff run and are facing intense pressure as a team that always fails to deliver in the post season. The Blues are a big part of our lineup tonight as we use Draft Kings prices.
LW – Thomas Vanek – Minnesota
Vanek opened at $4,300. The Wild host the St. Louis Blues at 9:30 p.m. ET with coverage on NBCSN. Minnesota leads the best of seven series 2-1. Vanek is something of a wild card in this game as he often underachieves and yet has the potential for productive numbers. Vanek has just one assist in the first three games of this series with a minus-two. Although we like St. Louis to win this game we will hedge with Vanek based on his offensive skill and his regular season numbers of 21 goals and 31 assists.
RW – Vladimir Tarasenko – St. Louis
Tarasenko opened at $8,100. Tarasenko has three goals in the series and has lived up to the billing of being the player that can finish for the Blues. Tarasenko was the Blues best player in the regular season with 37 goals, 36 assists, and a plus-27. If St. Louis does win this series Tarasenko will likely be a major reason as to why. The Blues did not advance in the playoffs last year because they lacked a finishing scorer but Tarasenko appears to be the solution to that problem.
C – David Backes – St. Louis
Backes opened at $5,300. The Blues team captain was kept off the scoresheet in the first three games of this playoff series. Backes must deliver more production if the Blues are to get out of this series alive. He is certainly capable of more as evidenced by his regular season numbers of 26 goals, 32 assists and a plus-seven on the season. The pressure is enormous on the Blues and Backes and we are taking a leap of faith that he will deliver as the leader of the team.
D – Alex Pietrangelo – St. Louis
Pietrangelo opened at $5,200. Pietrangelo has also been shut out so far in the playoffs with a plus-one. Pietrangelo was the Blues best offensive defenseman in the regular season with seven goals and 39 assists and we believe he offers plenty of upside. It takes undeniable nerve to oppose the Wild and goaltender Devan Dubnyk in the hostile environment of the Excel Energy Center but, if the Blues have the championship ability that we believe that they possess, players such as Pietrangelo will rise to the occasion and deliver in what is a virtual must win game.
D – Dan Boyle – New York Rangers
Boyle opened at $3,800. The Rangers are at the Pittsburgh Penguins with a starting time of 7 p.m. ET with coverage on NBCSN. The Rangers lead the best of seven series 2-1. Boyle has an assist with a minus-one so far in the playoffs but posted a strong regular season with a plus-18 to go with nine goals and 11 assists. Pittsburgh’s lack of defensive depth and secondary scoring makes Boyle a solid bargain choice.
G – Jake Allen – St. Louis
Allen opened at $8,100. Allen has proven to be an astute choice in goal by Blues head coach Ken Hitchcock, who chose the 24 year old prodigy over All-Star veteran Brian Elliott. Allen has posted a saver percentage of .933 in the playoffs and has a .945 save percentage in his last five games. Hitchcock will likely get fired if the Blues lose the series and it took considerable courage to go with Allen but so far it is looking like the right call.
Sleeper – Kyle Palmieri – Anaheim
Palmieri opened at $3,300. The Ducks lead the best of seven series 3-0 and can clinch the series tonight. Palmieri has been shutout so far in the playoffs but is a capable player that put up 14 goals and 15 assists in 57 regular season games on the season. Winnipeg has led each game of this series and yet has not been able to close which is indicative of a team that is running out of gas and lacking quality defensive depth.
