NHL DFS Picks: Hot and Cold Players in Semifinals
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NHL DFS Picks
The NHL DFS landscape can be best described based on runs of success. Typically, these constitute three, four, and five-game runs but some players have strung along with longer bouts of success or futility. With the playoffs upon us, runs will be a little less than usual because of the staggered playoff series starts. We take a look at some of the best and worst of the last week.
Semifinal Schedule
- New York Islanders vs. Tampa Bay Lightning Sunday, 3 pm ET
- Montreal Canadians vs. Las Vegas Knights Monday 9 pm ET
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Heating Up The NHL DFS World
Andrei Vasilevskiy (TAM -- Goalie) -- Andrei Vasilevskiy looked like a mere mortal in Game 3 and the first two periods of Game 4 last Saturday. Then the Tampa Bay goalie flipped the switch again as he shut the door and then slammed it shut. Game 5 saw the Tampa Bay goaltender stop 29 shots in Carolina. Overall, in the Round 2 series, Vasilevskiy was 3-0 on the road while yielding just two goals (97 saves on 99 shots). That is no misprint.
Carey Price (MTL -- Goalie) -- The goaltender has been remarkable for Montreal and now has won seven straight starts. Price allowed just six goals on 103 shots versus the Winnipeg Jets. That earned Price a week off as their series with Vegas starts next Monday night. Carey Price even shut out the Winnipeg Jets in Game 2 of their series during a 1-0 goalie duel with Connor Hellebuyck. Again, the Montreal goaltender may not have had the best regular-season but he saved his best for when it counts most.
Tyler Toffoli (MTL) -- Forward) -- The leading scorer for the playoffs is Nikita Kucherov. Tampa Bay's right-winger had seven points in his last five games. However, guess who has been more a playoff savior for his team in the last round? That is right. It is Tyler Toffoli. Toffoli had two goals and three assists in the sweep of Winnipeg. Furthermore, Toffoli is familiar with Vegas from his days with the Los Angeles Kings and Vancouver Canucks.
Max Pacioretty (VGK -- Left Wing) -- Jonathan Marchessault had five goals in Round 2 versus the Colorado Avalanche and William Karlsson had six points. However, Max Pacioretty has three goals and six points in his last five games. That includes a seven-game point streak. The left-winger has two game-winning goals as well. Pacioretty could well have had nine or ten points against Colorado. He was that good all series long. Vegas' balance was a huge reason why they were able to defeat Colorado in six games. Pacioretty was a huge reason for that.
Mathew Barzal (NYI -- Center) -- The center picked up his game at the right time and had five points in the final four games of the Boston series. Barzal lit the lamp three times including a game-winning goal and power-play goal. This pivot has his work cut out for him against the Tampa Bay Lightning but his speed should create some opportunities.
Cooling Off The NHL DFS World
Victor Hedman (TAM -- Defenseman) -- It is obvious that Victor Hedman does not have the same zip on his slapshot as he had during the regular season. He has 11 points in these playoffs but all are assists. Worse, in the last four games, the defenseman has just a couple of assists. This is in spite of the fact that he is playing 26+ minutes a night and over three minutes on the man advantage.
Jesperi Kotkaniemi (MTL -- Center) -- This seems unfair but the reality is Jesperi Kotkaniemi has gone cold. In spite of a clutch goal, that is the only point the Montreal center got all series against Winnipeg. After a three-goal in a four-game stretch, the Finnish forward went pointless over his previous three contests. He had just seven shots on goal against Winnipeg during Round 2.
Anthony Beauvillier (NYI -- Winger) -- The New York Islanders forward is also struggling with no goals and just a couple of assists over his final four games against the Boston Bruins. He is one of those wingers who needs to find his goal-scoring touch quickly against a Tampa Bay team that can score as few others can. Beauvillier's best game of this stretch was one where he never hit the net with a single one of his shots (had two helpers). That does not bode well for next week.
Chris Wassel
Chris is a passionate hockey writer who writes everything from features to daily fantasy to sports betting. Hockey is the main name of the game. From being a regular on The Sweat to doing things with Dobberhockey and beyond, the goal is the same -- provide quality content with a good deal of edge. When one has written for the last 15 years or so, the realization that adaptation is essential is obvious. From Twitter, the goal is to take on all questions and bring it to the FantasyData arena. Let's get started!