The second round of the playoffs begins on Thursday night and we’ll go with a balanced fantasy lineup. We will use Draft Kings prices for Thursday.
C – Ryan Kesler – Anaheim
Kesler opened at $7,700. The Ducks host the Calgary Flames in game one in their best of seven Pacific Division playoff series with a starting time of 10 p.m. ET and coverage on SN and NBCSN. You will often hear the term “sandpaper” at playoff time and Kesler epitomizes the term. Kesler brings the grit and edgy play that is required at playoff time and has been missing from the Ducks in their past playoff failures. Kesler was a key contributor to Anaheim’s opening round sweep of the Winnipeg Jets with three goals, two assists and a plus-two.
RW – Corey Perry – Anaheim
Perry opened at $9,000. Perry could prove to be one of the most valuable players in the post season as he also brings the sandpaper factor to go with an elite skill set. Perry was on fire against Winnipeg with three goals, four assists and a plus-three to go with impressive regular season totals of 33 goals, 22 assists, and a plus-13. Perry is the type of player that is hated by the opposition but is loved by his teammates and fans for what he brings to the table. Perry will be perfectly suited to match up against the plucky Flames.
LW – Johnny Gaudreau – Calgary
Gaudreau opened at $6,400. Johnny Hockey is a Calder Trophy candidate for Rookie of the Year honors after an impressive regular season in which he scored 24 goals and 40 assists with a plus-11. Gaudreau had two goals and four assists in the first round playoff series against the Vancouver Canucks. The five-foot eight-inch Gaudreau brings a complete game and element of elusiveness that is well suited for today’s game of big lumbering players that are not as mobile.
D – Kris Russell – Calgary
Russell opened at $6,300. Calgary has one of the most underrated defensive corps in the NHL and Russell is among the reasons why. The Flames defense has remained a key element of their success despite the loss of top rearguard and team captain Mark Giordano. Russell had two goals and two assists in the first round of the playoffs and had four goals with 30 assists with a whopping plus-18 in the regular season. The truculent Flames should not be taken lightly as they were written off for dead after Giordano went down but instead rallied to play inspired hockey and make the playoffs. The Flames have plenty of confidence after all of the challenges that they have had to overcome to get this far.
D – Mike Green – Washington
Green opened at $4,800. The Capitals are at the New York Rangers with a starting time of 7:30 p.m. ET and coverage on CBC and NBCSN. This is game one of the best of seven Metropolitan Division playoff series. Green is one of the top defensemen in the game and had a strong regular season with 10 goals and 35 assists to go with a plus-15. Green had two assists and a plus-one in a low scoring first round playoff series against the Pittsburgh Penguins.
G – Henrik Lundqvist – New York Rangers
Lundqvist opened at $9,200. We have yet to go with Lundqvist but now is the time as we are expecting a low scoring playoff series against the Capitals. The King posted a strong .939 save percentage in the first round of the playoffs and has the proven experience and reliability as evidenced by his backstopping the Rangers to the Stanley Cup Final last year. Lundqvist now has a better supporting cast that together combined to make the Broadway Blueshirts the Presidents Trophy winners as the top regular season team in the NHL.
Sleeper – Carl Hagelin – New York Rangers
Hagelin opened at $4,500. Hagelin had a strong and well balanced regular season in which he scored 17 goals, 18 assists and a plus-18. In an air tight opening round playoff series against the Penguins Hagelin had two goals with an assist and a plus-three. Hagelin scored the series clinching overtime goal against the Pens and is one of the better two-way players in the game.
