Daily Fantasy Hockey 2015: NHL DraftKings Primer for May 5
The Minnesota Wild and the Calgary Flames have serious business ahead of them Tuesday night. Both teams lost the first two games of their respective conference semifinal playoff series on the road, and if they have any realistic hope of lifting the Stanley Cup in June, they need to win their games at home.
Many expected the Wild to at least split in Chicago, but they were unable to mount a significant assault on Blackhawks goalie Corey Crawford when the game was on the line. They should get a rousing ovation from their home fans, but it may be difficult to overcome the Blackhawks' star power.
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The Flames face a more difficult task against the Anaheim Ducks. Head coach Bruce Boudreau's team is 6-0 in the postseason, and the Ducks have to be prepared for a Flames team that will be more aggressive at home than it was in Southern California.
We have a $50,000 budget, and we are planning to give you a winning DraftKings lineup in your Tuesday night attempt to win your fantasy matchup.
| Pos. | Player | Opp. | FPPG | Salary |
| C | Ryan Kesler | Calgary | 3.2 | $6,800 |
| C | Sean Monahan | Anaheim | 3.3 | $5,800 |
| W | Johnny Gaudreau | Anaheim | 3.1 | $5,500 |
| W | Jakob Silfverberg | Calgary | 2.7 | $5,200 |
| W | Zach Parise | Chicago | 4.1 | $8,500 |
| D | Cam Fowler | Calgary | 2.2 | $4,000 |
| D | Matt Dumba | Chicago | 2.8 | $2,900 |
| G | Devan Dubnyk | Chicago | 5.2 | $8,500 |
| U | Teuvo Teravainen | Minnesota | 1.7 | $2,800 |
Centers: Ryan Kesler, Anaheim Ducks ($6,800) and Sean Monahan, Calgary Flames ($5,800)
Ryan Kesler has been playing like a man possessed in the playoffs. He centers the Ducks' No. 2 line, and after coming close with the Vancouver Canucks in 2011, he is leaving it all on the ice in every shift he takes during the playoffs.
Kesler scored 23 goals and 30 assists this season, and he has three goals and three assists in his last nine games. It's more than the numbers, however, as he is playing excellent defensive hockey and dominating in the neutral zone as well. He figures to be heavily involved against the Flames and should have a productive game.
Sean Monahan has been the heart and soul of the Flames this year, and his 33 goals and 34 assists indicate how formidable he's been. He has done an excellent job of performing in the clutch, and the Flames need a big-time performance in this game if they are going to have any chance of coming back in this series. Monahan has been a huge factor on the power play with 11 goals and 11 assists, and the Flames will need him to execute in this game with the man advantage.
Wingers: Johnny Gaudreau, Calgary Flames ($5,500), Jakob Silfverberg, Anaheim Ducks ($5,200) and Zach Parise, Minnesota Wild ($8,500)
Johnny Gaudreau has the speed and quickness to make a big difference in Game 3 against the Ducks. Gaudreau is an explosive skater, and he has an array of moves that make it difficult to check him when he has the puck in full stride. Gaudreau enjoyed an excellent season with 26 goals and 44 assists, and he has been an important factor recently with three goals and five assists in his last nine games.
Jakob Silfverberg has become a key player for the Ducks. He continues to improve on the offensive end, as he gets his shot away quickly and can be a pinpoint passer. Silfverberg has been peaking recently with three goals and eight assists in his last 10 games, and his defensive play is stellar. It will be difficult for the Flames to keep him in check.
While we stayed out of the high-priced neighborhood with Gaudreau and Silfverberg, we went to the most expensive area to select Zach Parise. He has always been one of the NHL's best clutch performers, and he continues to live up to that reputation with five goals and five assists in his last nine games. This is the Wild's most important game of the year. Look for Parise to have a huge night against the Blackhawks.
Defensemen: Cam Fowler, Anaheim Ducks ($4,000) and Matt Dumba, Minnesota Wild ($2,900)
Cam Fowler is a smart, tough and opportunistic defenseman who may be too much for the Flames to handle in Game 3. Fowler had eight goals and 29 assists this season, and he is outstanding at carrying the puck and creating plays. While his defensive talent is his signature, he is capable of turning any game around with his ability to make plays in the offensive zone.
Matt Dumba is a capable NHL defenseman who skates with speed and excellent offensive instincts. While he is not the all-around player he is likely to become in the next two years, he has a wicked shot he can get away quickly. He scored a goal for the Wild in Game 2 against the Blackhawks, and he comes at a bargain price.
Goalie: Devan Dubnyk, Minnesota Wild ($8,500)
This is a real gamble, as the Blackhawks appeared to solve Dubnyk in the first two games of the series. But we have swallowed hard and figured that the Wild and their goaltender will play their best game here. Dubnyk has a quick glove hand, and he had a 2.14 goals-against average and a .927 save percentage this season. The Blackhawks could have a difficult time solving him at the Xcel Energy Center.
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