The Tampa Bay Lightning and Detroit Red Wings first round playoff series could prove to be among the best in the opening round and tonight’s matchup plays a big part of our Pick Six lineup. Here it is with FanDuel prices.
LW – Gustav Nyquist – Detroit
Nyquist opened at $5,700. The Red Wings host the Tampa Bay Lightning at 7:30 p.m. ET with coverage on NBCSN. The Red Wings and Lightning split their first two games at Tampa Bay. Although the Red Wings are decided underdogs to the Lightning there is no reason why they cannot pull off the upset. Nyquist is a big reason why Detroit has a shot at the upset. So far Nyquist has been quiet in the post season with an assist and a minus-one in the first two games. Nyquist is certainly capable of more as evidenced by his regular season totals of 27 goals and 27 assists.
RW – Ryan Callahan – Tampa Bay
Callahan opened at $5,500. The Lightning and Red Wings may prove to have the most even and competitive matchup of the first round. Callahan is a classic heart and soul character player that is made for the playoffs. Callahan has two assists and is a plus-three in his first two playoff games and finished the regular season with 24 goals, 30 assists and a plus-nine. Callahan’s gritty style of play is perfectly suited for post season success.
C – Henrik Zetterberg – Detroit
Zetterberg opened at $7,200. Zetterberg has been quiet in the playoffs so far with nothing on the score sheet and a minus-one. Zetterberg is a player with plenty of upside with regular season numbers of 17 goals and 49 assists and figures to potentially flourish at home against as Tampa Bay team that is still questionable on defense.
D – Johnny Boychuk – New York Islanders
Boychuk opened at $4,800. The Islanders host the Washington Capitals at 7:30 p.m. ET. Islanders general manager Garth Snow caught a lot of heat when the Isles failed to make the playoffs last year but deserves praise for the way he fleeced Bruins general manager Peter Chiarelli in the acquisition of Boychuk. The Boychuk trade in fact is one of the reasons why Chiarelli was fired last week after Boston failed to make the playoffs. Boychuk makes that much of a difference and has been a key contributor to the Islanders resurgence. So far in the playoffs Boychuk has one assist and a plus-two. In the regular season Boychuk finished with nine goals, 26 assists and a plus-15.
D – Mike Green – Washington
Green opened at $4,600. We are still bullish on the Caps but are also defying the winds of history in sticking with them. Washington trails 2-1 in their series with the Islanders and their overtime loss on Sunday was a stark reminder about their tendency to come up just short in the post season. Green has two assists so far in the playoffs after a solid regular season in which he finished with 10 goals, 35 assists and a plus-15.
G – Scott Darling – Chicago
Darling opened at $9,000. The Blackhawks host the Nashville Predators at 9:30 p.m. ET with coverage on NBCSN. Darling has come up big when the Blackhawks needed him most after number one goalie Corey Crawford faltered in the first two games. Darling has the advantage of been six foot five inches tall with a weight of 200 pounds which gives the opposition little net to shoot at. Darling has a .975 save percentage in the playoffs and a .948 save percentage in his last five games. Darling is now the number one goaltender for the Blackhawks until he gives the job back. With the form that he is in Darling may be between the pipes for the next couple of months.
Sleeper – Brad Richards – Chicago
Richards opened at $5,300. The Blackhawks center has been shutout in his first three playoff games with a minus-one but had a solid regular season in which he totaled 12 goals and 25 assists with a plus-three. Nashville’s top defenseman Shea Weber is questionable with a lower body issue and that could help open the door for Richards and the Blackhawks.
