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Welcome to the Daily Fantasy Hockey (NHL DFS) lineup picks article for 4/18/16 of the 2015/2016 NHL season. Each day we'll be providing you with a handful of forward, defensemen, and goaltender picks for DraftKings and FanDuel GPP and cash games.
Are you worried about the Ducks? They looked like they had the potential to make a serious push deep into the postseason, coming out of the season's second half as the hottest team around.
Now Nashville has the first 2-0 series lead in franchise history, with the series headed back to Nashville.
But let's leave yesterday behind and look at today.
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NHL DFS Picks for 4/18/16
A couple strategy notes. For cash game construction look for players who can contribute to your score when they are not providing offense. Examples are guys who take a ton of shots, defensemen who block a lot of shots(DraftKings). Also, look for guys who get power play time and especially Top 6 forwards. You can find value in players who join a new line due to an injury or just get a promotion and more ice time.
For large field tournaments (GPP's) you want to find payers who have multi point upside and can grab double digit fantasy points. To stack the most upside in your forwards a common strategy is to punt the defense position. This doesn't mean just grab anyone. Try and look for a D man who will be playing more PP time or might get a boost in overall playing time due to an injury.
Let's take a look at some solid plays for today's action.
Jason Spezza - Center, Dallas Stars (DraftKings - $6,200)
Spezza might be the Stars' postseason MVP so far. Through two games, he's put 10 pucks on net, as well as logging a goal and an assist. With how well he's playing, he could deliver points with regularity in the opening round.
Logan Couture - Center, San Jose Sharks (DraftKings - $6,000)
With a goal and an assist, Couture is producing when it matters. The Sharks drew one of the postseason's toughest first round opponents, but they look like they could go on a run. Couture and Spezza are near the top of today's market, but neither break the bank.
Ales Hemsky - Wing, Dallas Stars (DraftKings - $4,100)
After a 10-year absence from postseason play, Hemsky has carved out a nice niche with the Stars. Their third line has been a key to keeping the Wild at bay. They're agitating, and they're producing. In his first two games he has two assists, a plus-2 rating, five shots, two penalty minutes and a hit. He's not the next guy on this list, but for the price you're getting good value right now.
Jamie Benn - Wing, Dallas Stars (DraftKings - $8,400)
Benn is thriving in the 2016 postseason. He's logging points across many categories with two goals, two assists, eight shots, two penalty minutes, a plus-4 rating and nine hits. There's a lot of value to be found with him.
John Carlson - Defense, Washington Capitals (DraftKings - $5,900)
The Flyers have learned quickly that there is more to fear on the power play than Alex Ovechkin's one timer. In two games, the underrated defenseman has two goals and an assist, with both goals coming on the power play. Even if he can't deliver in Game 3 on the power play, he has four hits and 10 blocked shots to start the postseason. There's a lot of value to be found here.
Jared Spurgeon - Defense, Minnesota Wild (DraftKings - $4,900)
Spurgeon hasn't scored, though he's come close. His real value is that he's playing well so far and the Wild are transitioning to home ice. He can be rostered for a song, keeping money for high-powered forwards. Even if he doesn't score, he's providing some value with two hits, seven blocked shots and four shots in the postseason so far.
Devan Dubnyk - Goalie, Minnesota Wild (DraftKings - $8,000)
Even with two losses on the books, Dubnyk has a .915 save percentage. With the Wild putting a lot more pressure on the Stars in Game 2 and transitioning to home ice, Dubnyk may be a very good play for a player who isn't sitting at the very top of the price range for the day.
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