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 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 on Thursday, May 4, 2023, at 7:00 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], via Twitter @df_solutions, or in our premium Slack chat. Good luck, RotoBallers!
NHL DFS Analysis and Picks for 5/4/23
The National Hockey League playoffs have yet to disappoint this season – depending on who your team is – as it flaunts its competitive parity with multiple upsets in the first round, notably Presidents’ Trophy winner Boston Bruins and reigning champions Colorado Avalanche.
During the playoffs, it is much more common to find low-scoring and heavy-hitting games. Keep in mind that teams who showcase a high aptitude to score goals will play much tighter and be a bit pickier with their shots. Tonight, we have a two-game slate as we start Round 2 of the NHL playoffs. I will do my best to guide you through this two-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
Florida Panthers 1 at Toronto Maple Leafs 0
Seattle Kraken 1 at Dallas Stars 0
Goalies
Jake Oettinger - DK $8.2K || FD $8.4K
Opponent - Seattle Kraken
After Tuesday’s performance, it would be quite surprising to see Oettinger’s ownership anywhere close to 15 percent. The netminder played rather well but conceded a few goals that could have been otherwise. Furthermore, his Save Percentage has dropped in the second half of the season, having a few too many outings where he concedes 4 or more goals. However, in the next game, he most certainly bounced back. That is something to be expected here with a Game 2 at home that holds big implications if Dallas cannot win it before heading to Seattle for Games 3 and 4.
Others To Consider (Cash/GPP): Bobrovsky (DK $7.5K || FD $7.8K), Grubauer (DK $7.4K || FD $7.4K)
Centers
Sam Bennett - DK $5.4K || FD $6.3K
Opponent - Toronto Maple Leafs
For Game 1 of the series on Tuesday, Bennett was mentioned in the article as being an x-factor and the spot to attack for the Florida Panthers. He did not disappoint with 1 goal, 1 assist, and 4 shots. Bennett is now seeing time on the top power-play unit for Florida which will only enhance his value. It would be expected for him to have at least one point in what could be a crucial Game 2 victory, were the Panthers to win. Out of all offensive lines with at least 14 TOI in the playoffs, Verhaeghe, Bennett, and Tkachuk have the second-highest Expected Goals For Percent – 79.3.
Others To Consider (CASH/GPP): Matthews (DK $9.5K || FD $10K), Domi (DK $3.8K || FD $4.3K)
Wings
Joe Pavelski - DK $5.6K || FD $5.4K
Opponent - Seattle Kraken
It would be an injustice to not highlight Joe Pavelski after scoring just his second-ever playoff hattrick in a heart-wrenching 5-4 overtime loss to the Seattle Kraken on Tuesday. The veteran winger made his return after being injured in Game 1 of the First Round and he made quite the re-entrance. On top of his 4-goal outing, he also had 6 shots and 3 blocked shots. The newly made second line for Dallas could play a pivotal role in the rest of the playoffs and especially this series against the weaker second line of the Seattle Kraken.
Others To Consider (CASH/GPP): Tkachuk (DK $7.8K || FD $9.6K), Knies (DK $3.2K || FD $3.7K)
Defense
Vince Dunn - DK $4.2K || FD $4.4K
Opponent - Dallas Stars
Dunn played a pivotal role in the big 5-4 overtime upset win on Tuesday. The blue liner had 1 assist, 3 shots, and 5 blocked shots. He will remain a critical piece to Seattle's success against a high-flying Dallas Stars. In the seven-game series against the Avalanche, he had 1 goal, 13 shots, and 10 blocked shots. For under $4.5K on DraftKings and the floor/ceiling potential, Dunn is a 'lock'.
Others To Consider (CASH/GPP): Heiskanen (DK $5.7K || FD $6.5K), Rielly (DK $5.3K || FD $6.2K)
NHL DFS Top Power Plays and Stacks
- FLA1
- DAL1
Brandon's Stack of the Day
- DAL: Marchment-Domi-Pavelski
Chalk Stack
- FLA: Verhaeghe-Bennett-Tkachuk
Sneaky Stack
- SEA: Tolvanen-Gourde-Bjorkstrand
