DraftKings and FanDuel NHL Spotlight Plays of the Day for 4/16

Another fun NHL slate that features a bunch of big names we like to see going head-to-head. If you want a look at a more tournament approach, make your way over to the Stacks Article and check out some of our top combos for GPPs. As always, Awesemo will weigh in first, then I (Tommienation1) will follow up with additional notes and matchup analysis.

Top-Tier

Auston Matthews ($6,700 DK/$7,600 FD)

“Matthews’ team total sits at 2.8 which is tied for the 3rd-highest on the slate, and he’ll get to avoid the Bruins top line for the first time this series.”

We can give Matthews (“A” points grade) a pass for his poor results in the first two games of the series, as his line just does not have the firepower to overcome an elite BOS1 line that is one of the best offensive and defensive trios in the NHL. Even though Matthews has yet to break out, he’s still attempted 17 shots and has 7 scoring chances, which is encouraging for tonight when he’ll get softer matchups at even-strength being on home ice.

Evander Kane ($6,500 DK/$6,900 FD)

“Kane has stood out offensively in this series, and he is still in a price range that makes him viable in all formats with the 2.7 team total for the Sharks.”

Kane (“A” points grade) has been fantastic in his first two playoff games with the Sharks, posting 17 shot attempts and creating 13 Scoring Chances with 6 High-Danger chances. The Sharks may free up Kane and Pavelski tonight at even-strength and give them more time against the 3rd and 4th Ducks lines, but even if Kane sees a lot of the Kesler line, that is still a matchup that he can win. He’ll be more popular tonight than he was in the first two games, but I like firing him up in GPPs by himself or as a mini-stack with Pavelski/Burns.

Tyson Barrie ($5,100 DK/$5,600 FD)

“Barrie will once again see big minutes tonight, and many of those minutes will be shared with Nathan MacKinnon and the top Avalanche line.”

I love Barrie (“B” points grade) tonight in all formats for these prices as he should see between 22 and 25 minutes of ice time tonight. He plays the most minutes with MacKinnon at both even-strength and the power-play, and if you read the stacks article, you know we are high on the Avs top line. The power-play time here is crucial for Barrie, who quarterbacks the top unit. He’s my favorite defenseman on this slate, especially if you’re playing Colorado skaters.

Value

Sami Vatanen ($4,800 DK/$4,500 FD)

“Vatanen, like Barrie, will see big minutes at even-strength and the power-play, sharing the ice with the Devils’ top skaters.”

He’s another guy who has quietly created a lot of offense but has yet to see the results we’re looking for. Over the first two games, he has 13 shot attempts and 5 scoring chances, and he’s back on the top power-play unit with Taylor Hall and Kyle Palmieri. Tampa Bay has only been short-handed 5 times so far these playoffs, but over the course of the regular season, they had the 10th most Time Short-Handed in the NHL, so we don’t see this as a sustainable trend. Vatanen and the top power-play should be able to capitalize should the Lightning return to their ways, as they had the league’s 5th-worst penalty-kill in the regular season.

Ondrej Kase ($4,000 DK/$3,800 FD)

“Kase’s promotion to the top line with Ryan Getzlaf makes him a nice value tonight in a sneaky-good even-strength matchup.”

His 15 minutes in Game-2 was up from 13 minutes in Game-1, so assuming Kase (“B” FD value) plays around that time again tonight, he makes for some nice value on both sites. His line will get the Couture line for the Sharks, which has allowed 17 shot attempts and 13 Scoring Chances Against at even-strength so far this series, meaning Kase may have some room to use his playmaking ability with great linemates by his side. At his price, it’s hard to find any other wingers with the upside he provides as a top-line winger, so he’s one of my favorite values on the night.