The Winnipeg Jets are down 2-0 in their playoff series against the Anaheim Ducks but tonight will be their first game at home in what will be an electric atmosphere with arguably the best fans in the game. If ever Winnipeg would be primed to win a game it is tonight. The Jets are a key part of our lineup with FanDuel prices.
LW – Andrew Ladd – Winnipeg
The Jets host the Ducks at 9 p.m. ET with coverage on NHLNUS and NBCSN. Ladd opened at $6,800. Ladd has gotten off to a terrible start in the playoffs with no points and a minus-two in the first two games. As a player that posted 24 goals, 38 assists, and a plus-nine in the regular season we see Ladd as a potential bargain that is due for a big night.
RW – Patrick Hornqvist – Pittsburgh
The Penguins host the New York Rangers at 7 p.m. ET with coverage on CBC and NBCSN. Hornqvist opened at $7,700. We will take a flier with a surprisingly plucky Penguins team that was written off as having no chance against the Rangers. Pittsburgh evened the series at 1-1 with a 4-3 win on Saturday as Hornqvist added an assist with a plus-two. We were impressed with the tenacity of the Penguins and now see them as an upset threat. Hornqvist was one of their better offensive players in the regular season with 25 goals and 26 assists.
C – Bryan Little – Winnipeg
Little opened at $5,600. Like Ladd, Little is off to a bad start and was shutout from the scoresheet in his first two games at Anaheim. Again we pick a player that is proven as capable and beyond due in a perfect setup. Little posted 24 goals, 28 assists, and a plus-eight in the regular season. If not tonight, when?
D – Ryan Suter – Minnesota
The Wild host the St. Louis Blues at 8 p.m. ET with coverage on CNBC and Sportsnet1. Suter opened at $4,700. The Blues and Wild split the first two games of their series at St. Louis. Suter is off to a terrible start in the post season with no points and a minus-three. We expect the Minnesota number one defenseman to bounce backs strong with a big effort in what will be a fantastic atmosphere at the Excel Energy Center. Suter had two goals with 36 assists and a plus-seven in the regular season. Although we like the Blues to win the series the upside for Suter is simply too promising to pass up.
D – Kevin Shattenkirk– St. Louis
Shattenkirk opened at $6,100. We will hedge the Blues vs. Wild matchup with the top defenseman on each team. Shattenkirk, unlike Minnesota’s Suter, was off to a great post season start with four assists and a plus-four. He finished the regular season with eight goals, 36 assists, and a whopping plus-19 in just 56 games. Shattenkirk is one of the reasons that the Blues are considered a bona fide contender to win the Stanley Cup. St. Louis boasts one of the best and deepest blue line corps in the game.
G – Ondrej Pavelec – Winnipeg
The Jets netminder opened at $8,700. Pavelec has been respectable in the playoffs so far with a save percentage of .917 but he has not gotten a lot of support from the rest of the team as of yet. Pavelec stopped 37 out of 39 shots in game two but the Jets could only muster one goal in a 2-1 loss. Pavelec has a save percentage of .961 in his last five games. Pavelec emerged as one of the most valuable and clutch Jets during their playoff push and we have plenty of confidence that he will show well tonight in the biggest and most important game of the year.
Sleeper – Drew Stafford – Winnipeg
The Jets right wing opened at $4,500. Again we go all in with the Jets and will take a shot with Stafford in a game that could produce a multitude of potential surprise heroes. Stafford has a goal in two playoff games and scored 18 goals with 25 assists during the regular season.
