The Calgary Flames may be the scourge of the analytics crowd but they are a team that is as talented as they are tenacious. Calgary’s appearance in the Stanley Cup Playoffs is no fluke and they are a team that will be a championship contender for years to come. The Flames are a big part of our Saturday Night Pick Six and Sleeper. We’ll use Draft Kings prices.
C – Jonathan Toews – Chicago
Toews opened at $6,600. The Blackhawks will host the Nashville Predators at 8 p.m. ET. Chicago leads the best of seven series 3-2 and can clinch it tonight on home ice. Coverage is on NBC. “Captain Serious” is again demonstrating why he is the most valuable player in the NHL in the eyes of many fans, insiders and fantasy owners. Toews has two goals, three assists and is a plus-one in the playoffs so far. Nashville has been a nice story this season and it’s been great to see the resurgence of their franchise but it’s likely coming to an end tonight.
LW – Johnny Gaudreau – Calgary
Gaudreau opened at $5,800. The Flames host the Vancouver Canucks with a starting time of 9 p.m. ET and coverage on CBC and NBCSN. The Flames lead the best of seven series 3-2 and can clinch it tonight at home. Johnny Hockey continues to be a hit and has demonstrated that the truculent Flames are far more than just a hard working lunch bucket team. Gaudreau is a Calder Trophy candidate for Rookie of the Year and has one goal and two assists in the playoffs so far. Gaudreau has proven that a small player can excel in today’s era of supersized players. We like Calgary to finish off the Canucks tonight and Gaudreau could loom large in that probability.
RW – Ryan Callahan – Tampa Bay
Callahan opened at $4,700. The Lightning host the Detroit Red Wings at 6 p.m. ET with coverage on CBC and NBCSN. The Lighting and Red Wings are tied 2-2 in this best of seven series. Callahan has just two assists and is a plus-two in the playoffs so far but that simply adds to his potential upside as a player that scored 24 goals and 30 assists on the season this year. Callahan plays the type of gritty game that is perfectly suited for playoff hockey.
D – T.J. Brodie – Calgary
Brodie opened at $5,500. Brodie has one goal, two assists and is a plus-one in the playoffs so far. Calgary’s defensive corps is woefully underrated and is actually one of the best in the game, even without team captain and number one rearguard Mark Giordano. Brodie had a fine regular season with 11 goals and 30 assists with a plus-15.
D – Brent Seabrook – Chicago
Seabrook opened at $5,200. Seabrook has been one of the top Blackhawks in the playoffs so far with two goals, two assists and a plus-one. He had eight goals and 23 assists on the season. Seabrook makes the Chicago defensive corps among the best in the game although he lacks the attention of teammate and Norris Trophy winning rearguard Duncan Keith.
G – Jonas Hiller – Calgary
Hiller opened at $8,300. Hiller has been outstanding in the playoffs so far with a .942 save percentage and a 1.85 goals against average. Hiller has come a long way from last year’s bad playoff performance in which he posted a poor .906 save percentage. Hiller has found a home in Calgary and has proven to be a reliable netminder that can be a playoff asset.
Sleeper – Pavel Datsyuk – Detroit
Datsyuk opened at $6,400. If the Red Wings are to get out of Tampa Bay with a win Datsyuk will be a major reason as to why. Datsyuk has two goals and one assist with a minus-three after a regular season in which he scored 26 goals with 398 assists and a plus-12. As Detroit’s best player, Datsyuk will be charged with leading an effort to get things back. The Red Wings had an epic collapse in game four in which they blew a 2-0 lead with six minutes to play and lost 3-2 in overtime.
