This article is part of our DraftKings NHL series.
SLATE PREVIEW
It's day two of the NHL's expanded 24-team playoff and we've got another set of five games to look forward to. After a Saturday slate that was comprised solely of qualifying round matchups, we'll head into a Sunday slate featuring two round-robin games and the beginning of the other three qualifying round series.
GOALIES
Frederik Andersen ($8,400) is the most expensive netminder on the board for this slate and for good reason. The Blue Jackets only averaged 2.57 goals per game during the regular season - good for 27th in the NHL - and the Maple Leafs represent the heavy favorites to take Game 1. Even so, Andersen's price tag is a little rich for my blood.
Predators' coach John Hynes has yet to name a starter for Game 1, but regardless of who gets the call, Pekka Rinne ($8,100) and Juuse Saros ($8,100) are my favorite options on the board for Sunday's slate. I have complete confidence Nashville will get the job done and start this series off with a win. And although the Coyotes have trouble lighting the lamp consistently, they still put the puck on net at a decent clip. This means a 30-plus save win - and perhaps even a shutout - is definitely in the cards for either Nashville netminder.
If you want to swing for the fences on a value play, you could certainly do worse than Devan Dubnyk ($7,400) or Alex Stalock ($7,400). The Wild went 2-1-0 against Vancouver and I have a feeling that Minnesota could make waves in these unconventional playoffs after years of disappointing postseason exits. Picking either Wild keeper will certainly come with risk as the Canucks' offense is formidable, but that's the type of chance you have to be willing to take when looking for a budget option in goal.
VALUE PLAYS
David Perron ($4,700) is flying under the radar in a major way heading into Sunday's slate despite having racked up 25 goals and 60 points in 71 games during the regular season. He'll be skating on St. Louis' second line and top power-play unit in a round-robin matchup with Colorado that could very easily turn into a high-scoring affair. There are 21 more expensive wingers than Perron in Sunday's pool, so he'll be in a prime position to provide value and then some against the Avalanche.
Jack Studnicka ($2,500) only has two NHL games under his belt, but the 21-year-old winger is expected to skate on Boston's second line and second power-play unit Sunday following a fantastic showing at training camp. The sort of upside that comes with a role like that on a stacked Bruins' team is simply too good to pass up at his price tag.
Viktor Arvidsson ($4,400) experienced a down year with 28 points in 57 regular-season games, but that was largely due to injury issues and had plenty of time to recover during the NHL's lengthy hiatus. The 27-year-old Swede potted two goals during the Predators' exhibition game against the Stars and appears poised to be a major factor for Nashville in these playoffs. As the 25th most expensive winger on the board for Sunday's slate, Arvidsson could pay dividends.
STACKS
Blues at Avalanche
Ryan O'Reilly (C - $5,000), David Perron (W - $4,700), Zach Sanford (W - $3,800)
I've already detailed Perron's impressive regular-season stat line, but O'Reilly was no slouch either picking up 12 goals and 61 points in 71 games. Sanford was far less impressive with 16 goals and 30 points in 58 contests, but he certainly won't be an anchor on the Blues' second line against the Avalanche. And as an added bonus, O'Reilly and Perron will both skate on St. Louis' top power-play unit Sunday.
Bruins vs. Flyers
David Krejci (C - $4,100), Jake DeBrusk (W - $3,900), Jack Studnicka (W - $2,500)
Boston's second line certainly isn't as flashy as its first, which is arguably the best line in the NHL, but it should still generate plenty of chances against the Flyers on Sunday and it's hard to beat a full second-line stack with a combined salary of just $10,500. Plus, Krejci and Studnicka will both be skating on the B's second power-play unit while DeBrusk will be seeing time with the team's dominant first unit.
Wild at Canucks
Joel Eriksson Ek (C - $4,000), Zach Parise (W -$4,800), Luke Kunin (W -$3,900)
For those, like myself, that could see the Wild pulling off the upset in a somewhat high-scoring game Sunday, this is the stack for you. Sure, this is a pretty underwhelming line in terms of name recognition, but they combined for 48 goals and 106 points during the regular season and should get plenty of ice time Sunday. They're also a pretty affordable second-line stack at a combined cost of $12,700.
DEFENSE
Quinn Hughes' ($4,600) offensive upside is simply too attractive to pass up in a matchup with a Wild team that gave up the third most points to defensemen in DraftKings contests during the regular season. The Calder Trophy finalist racked up eight goals and 45 assists in 68 regular-season games and should have plenty of opportunities to put up points while skating on the Canucks' second pairing and quarterbacking the team's top power-play unit.
Alex Pietrangelo ($6,100) is one of only two defensemen in this pool that has averaged more than 12 fantasy points per game this season, yet there are three players with higher price tags on the board on Sunday's slate. He's worth paying up for in a matchup with an Avalanche squad that gave up the eighth most points to blueliners during the regular season.
Jakob Chychrun ($3,900) will be skating on the Coyotes' second pairing and second power-play unit Sunday. And although he's not really known for his offensive contributions, he did put up double-digit goals (12) during the regular season and averaged 1.5 blocked shots per game, giving him a nice blend of a solid floor and upside.
The Flyers are stingy against blueliners, but it's still hard for me to fade Torey Krug ($4,800) in a round-robin matchup that could be far more open than a typical playoff game. The offensively-minded rearguard will be quarterbacking the Bruins' star-studded No. 1 power-play unit, and that alone is worth his price tag as the 13th most expensive blueliner in this slate's pool.
