There is nothing better in sports than a game seven NHL playoff matchup and we will be treated to that on Wednesday night. The Tampa Bay Lightning will host the Detroit Red Wings with a starting time of 7:30 p.m. ET and coverage on both CBC and NBCSN. So far, the NHL is reverting back to the type of style that nearly destroyed the league in 2004 with a return to clutching, grabbing, and interference.
The Red Wings have taken advantage of that to strangle the top offense in the NHL. Also bear in mind that the refs usually swallow their wistles for game seven. But the Lightning found a way to force a game seven with a big 5-2 win at Detroit to prove their mettle and character. Here is our pick six and sleeper for game seven with Fan Duel prices.
C – Tyler Johnson – Tampa Bay
Johnson opened at $8,000. Johnson may be the center of the second line for the Bolts but he would be the top center on most other teams in the NHL. Johnson has six goals with an assist and a plus-three in the playoffs so far after a regular season in which he scored 29 goals and 43 assists with an insane plus-33. Johnson’s strong play may also open things up for Steven Stamkos, the Lightning’s top center, who has been shut down so far in the first six games of the series. Johnson and his second line will force the Red Wings to spread their defense thin instead of focusing on just the top line centered by Stamkos.
RW – Ryan Callahan – Tampa Bay
Callahan opened at $5,200. Callahan has been quiet in the playoffs so far with just two assists with a plus-three after a regular season in which he scored 24 goals with 30 assists and a plus-nine. Callahan is perfectly suited for a tight checking game seven that will be all about grit and character.
LW – Henrik Zetterberg – Detroit
Zetterberg opened at $5,500. Zetterberg has been relatively quiet in the playoffs so far with just three assists and a minus-three but looms potentially large in this game seven. Zetterberg had 17 goals and 49 assists on the season and has the skill to find openings against a Tampa Bay defense that is not air tight.
D – Kyle Quincey – Detroit
Quincy opened at $4,000. Quincey is thriving under the shutdown tactics of Detroit head coach Mike Babcock. So far in the playoffs he has three assists with a plus-one as he has been a major contributor in helping to shut down the top offense in the NHL. Quincey was a plus-ten in the regular season and has emerged as a key shutdown defenseman for the Red Wings.
D – Nikita Nesterov – Tampa Bay
Nesterov opened at $4,000. Nesterov has emerged as something of a wild card with one goal and two assists in the playoffs so far in the playoffs. Nesterov has shown good offensive ability and will have plenty of talented Lightning teammates to pass the puck too.
G – Ben Bishop – Tampa Bay
Bishop opened at $8,200. Bishop has been subpar in the playoffs so far with a save percentage of .904 but was solid in the regular season with a .916 save percentage and four shutouts. Detroit is not a dynamic or explosive offense team and that figures to make Bishop a potential bargain for this one. Bishop is under a lot of pressure as is the rest of his Tampa Bay teammates but we expect him to deliver the goods and backstop a winning game seven for the Bolts.
Sleeper – Steven Stamkos – Tampa Bay
Stamkos opened at $8,800. Normally a player of Stamkos caliber would not be considered a sleeper but he but he has been a non-factor in the playoffs so far with just three assists and a plus-one. Stamkos is the top player and team captain for Tampa Bay and this is the type of game in which he must deliver. With a regular season of 43 goals and 29 assists Stamkos has the proven ability to come through. Many fantasy owners are giving up on Stamkos but not us.
