RADIO
Welcome, RotoBallers! If you do not know me, my name is Brandon and I write both The First-Serve and The Kick-Off for Tennis and Soccer respectively. If you have not checked those out, make sure you do! It is the return of the NHL season which means it's time to sharpen our MLB skills and partake in NHL DFS! As always, I'll give you the best tools to succeed and the info you need to build the best lineups possible for your GPP and cash game NHL contests on both DraftKings and FanDuel.
Today I'll be bringing you my NHL lineup picks, analysis, and advice for NHL DFS contests on DraftKings and FanDuel Sunday, April 23, 2023 at 1:00 PM EST. Be sure to also check out our awesome NHL tools including our Lineup Optimizer, Research Station, Projections, and DFS Cheat Sheets!
If you have any questions on today's slate, bankroll management, GPP strategy, Cash game strategy, or anything else don’t hesitate to email me at [email protected] or via Twitter @df_solutions or in our premium slack chat. Good luck, RotoBallers!
NHL DFS Analysis and Picks for 4/23/23
The 2022-2023 National Hockey League regular season has come and gone. We had our fair share of surprise teams failing and succeeding, as well as a few big trade splashes throughout the season. With the closure of the regular season, we welcome another run of postseason play and content. During the playoffs, it is much more common to find low-scoring and heavy-hitting games. Keep in mind that teams that showcase a high aptitude to score goals, will play much tighter and be a bit pickier with their shots. Tonight we have a 3-game slate with no teams playing on a back-to-back. The currently live top-3 highest implied team totals are Toronto with 3.4, Colorado with 3.4, and Tampa Bay with 3.2. I will do my best to guide you through this three-game slate on DraftKings and FanDuel starting at 7:00 p.m. EST.
DISCLOSURE: Make sure to monitor the news feed and play at your own risk
Playoff Series Standings:
New York Islanders 1 vs Carolina Hurricanes 2
Florida Panthers 1 vs Boston Bruins 2
Minnesota Wild 2 vs Dallas Stars 1
Los Angeles Kings 2 vs Edmonton Oilers 1
Goalies
Sergei Bobrovsky - DK $7K || FD $7.3K
Opponent - Boston Bruins
The Rise of Lyon looks to be at an official end after the netminder got pulled late in the 4-2 loss on Friday. In his stead, Bobrovsky took over and he looks to be the expected starter coming into a much-needed Game 4 win. The entire reason that Lyon started the first 3 games of the series, is due to his very good form heading into the final stretch of the regular season and Bobrovsky’s awful streaky form with a side of injuries. After Bobrovsky came on late in the game Friday, he looked well enough to be the starter the rest of the way, however, it is a small sample size. Nevertheless, if Bobrovsky does start, he is the ‘cheapest’ goalie on the slate, playing at home, needing a win and Boston could be down their top two centers.
Others To Consider (Cash/GPP): Sorokin (DK $7.9K || FD $8K), Oettinger (DK $7.6K || FD $7.5K)
Centers
Charlie Coyle - DK $4K || FD $4.1K
Opponent - Florida Panthers
It is very possible that the Boston Bruins come into Game 4 without both Patrice Bergeron and David Krejci. In Game 3 without Bergeron, Charlie Coyle took over top line duties and that is a possibility again here, as well as centering the top power-play unit too. In Game 3, Coyle had 1 goal and 6 shots. If he is able to come remotely close to replicating that performance, he will easily surpass his value for the second-straight game. In the first three games of the series, Florida has conceded an average of 3 goals.
Sam Bennett - DK $5.2K || FD $5.2K
Opponent - Boston Bruins
As mentioned, the Bruins may be without both Bergeron and Krejci heading into Game 4. However, whether that is the case or not, Bennett is still one of the best center options on the slate. In two games this series, he has 1 goal, 1 assist, 10 shots and 1 blocked shot. Bennett returning to the lineup has instantly transformed Florida’s offense for the better and if shutdown two-way center Krejci is out of the lineups, Bennett and company will have free reign.
Others To Consider (CASH/GPP): McDavid (DK $10.2K || FD $9.8K), Hintz (DK $6.8K || FD $7.4K)
Wings
Jack Drury - DK $3K || FD $3.2K
Opponent - New York Islanders
Some may argue that Drury made his way into the Hurricanes lineup a bit too early to start his career. However, he has done very well in a limited role and he is getting a shot on the top line with teammate Teuvo Teravainen out for the remainder of the playoffs. In his first game in the elevated role, Drury had 1 shot, 1 blocked shot and 10 penalty minutes. Drury, a natural center, has a lot of growing still to do as a player, especially learning how to play wing. Nevertheless, sitting just above minimum salary on DraftKings, he is well worth the punt to pay up elsewhere for the ‘big guns’.
Tyler Seguin - DK $4.8K || FD $4.2K
Opponent - Minnesota Wild
Joe Pavelski has been out since Game 1 after taking a big hit late in the game. This has opened up a spot on the top line for Tyler Seguin who was playing wing on the third line. Seguin is benefiting immensely from playing with the dynamic duo of Jason Robertson and Roope Hintz. In two appearances on the top line in the series, Seguin has 1 goal, 6 shots and 2 blocked shots. All of a sudden, Seguin’s production has increased tenfold and as long as he remains on the top line, he should be one of the first names to consider game in and game out.
Others To Consider (CASH/GPP): Verhaeghe (DK $6.2K || FD $6.8K), Kane (DK $5.9K || FD $6.1K)
Defense
Ryan Suter - DK $3.2K || FD $3.8K
Opponent - Minnesota Wild
Suter continues to impress despite his increasing age. The veteran defenseman has been a big part of Dallas’s blueline all season and he has had a significant presence in the playoffs. In three games, he has 4 shots and 6 blocked shots. Albeit quarterbacking the second power-play unit, Suter has yet to reach the score sheet in the series. Although, he is providing a great floor thanks to his peripherals. With another tightly contested game on the cards in Game 4, it would not be out of the question for Suter to once again exceed value.
Evan Bouchard - DK $4.9K || FD $4.9K
Opponent - Los Angeles Kings
Our run of Bouchard under $5K on DraftKings is coming to an end rather quickly. The defenseman has recorded double-digit fantasy points on DraftKings in 6 straight contests and in the most recent three games during that window, he has 1 goal, 3 assists, 9 shots and 4 blocked shots. The young defender is finally stepping into the expectations that many set for him at the beginning of the season. Not only is he producing on the power-play, but he is starting to wrack up peripherals. The Oilers dropped Game 3 due to a rather questionable non-high-stick call and they will be high-pressing out of the gate in Game 4 in hopes to tie it as they head back home.
Others To Consider (CASH/GPP): Montour (DK $5.7K || FD $6.6K), Pulock (DK $3.8K || FD $4.2K)
NHL DFS Top Power Plays and Stacks
- EDM1
- DAL1
Brandon's Stack of the Day
- FLA: Verhaeghe-Bennett-Tkachuk
Chalk Stack
- EDM: Kane-McDavid-Nugent-Hopkins
Sneaky Stack
- LA: Iafallo-Lizotte-Kaliyev
