Daily Fantasy Hockey 2015: NHL DraftKings Studs and Duds for April 16

The April showers and May flowers are overrated—it's the NHL Stanley Cup playoffs that makes this time of year special, and the 2015 edition is finally here.

The postseason has begun in style already with four exciting games Wednesday, but the puck doesn't drop for eight of the 16 teams until Thursday night. Whether teams have been waiting for these games for weeks or have been fighting their way in, it all materializes now.

The rigors of playoff hockey can alter one's daily fantasy perspective as teams key in on stopping certain teams' stars, meaning overlooked forwards can rack up the points instead. With that in mind, take precaution over how you spend your DraftKings salary and take into account the following.

Studs

Forwards: C Tyler Johnson, Tampa Bay Lightning ($7,800) and Andrew Ladd, Winnipeg Jets ($5,300) 

Chris O'Meara/Associated Press

Tyler Johnson finished the regular season on a tear with five points in his final three games, and his Lightning enter the postseason riding high. They face a Detroit Red Wings team with a goaltending conundrum, going with usual No. 2 option Petr Mrazek. Expect Johnson and an offensive-minded Lightning team to smell blood.

For a much more affordable option, try Andrew Ladd out of Winnipeg. The Jets face an Anaheim Ducks team that—for all its dominance—ranks 21st against opposing left-wingers, and he had five assists in his final 10 regular-season games. He's a high-value pick with an off chance to put in a big night.

Defense: Keith Yandle, New York Rangers ($5,700)

Frank Franklin II/Associated Press

The Rangers are so loaded with defensemen that it presents a fantasy conundrum as to who to pick, but it's simple entering a series with the Pittsburgh Penguins—Ryan McDonagh's line should be leaned upon pretty heavily to stop Sidney Crosby and the first line of Pittsburgh. That should leave fellow assist machine Keith Yandle, who has a helper in six of his last 10 games, to have a bigger offensive impact and help create chances.

Goalie: Henrik Lundqvist, New York Rangers ($9,200)

Alex Brandon/Associated Press

The big bucks are best spent on reliable goaltending come playoff time, and that's pretty much the definition of Henrik Lundqvist, who is 5-2 since his return from a two-month injury layoff. It won't be easy quelling the Penguins' attack, but Pittsburgh has been fighting tooth and nail for several weeks to even get here, and it should show.

Duds

Forwards: Sidney Crosby, Pittsburgh Penguins ($9,200) and Jason Pominville, Minnesota Wild ($6,800)

Gene J. Puskar/Associated Press

This figures to be a tough series for Sidney Crosby. He has just one goal and one assist in four games versus the Rangers this season, facing the Presidents' Trophy winner and a possible Vezina Trophy finalist. He should eventually settle in, but taking a wait-and-see approach on such an expensive player is preferred for Game 1.

Speaking of tough series, the Minnesota Wild caught fire late in the season, only to play their way into an opening-round series against the peaking St. Louis Blues. Jason Pominville comes in as a top-10-ranked winger, but with just one assist in three games against a St. Louis team allowing the third-fewest points to players at his position, he's to be avoided as well. 

Defense: Ryan Suter, Minnesota Wild ($4,500)

Mark Humphrey/Associated Press

Former offensive force Ryan Suter (two goals in 2014-15) hasn't been good for anything other than assists this season, but even those have come rarely with just three in his last 10 games. He'll be tasked with slowing down St. Louis' potent top line all game long, turning most of his minutes on ice into chasing the puck and keeping things calm in his own end.

Goalie: Petr Mrazek, Detroit Red Wings ($8,100) 

Paul Sancya/Associated Press

Jimmy Howard's late-season slump allowed Petr Mrazek to overtake him for Game 1, seeming to signal the start of a younger era of Red Wings impact players, as Dan Rosen of NHL.com noted:

But perhaps the future has come a bit too early. He'll open up his postseason career facing a Lightning team that lights up opposing goalies—no other NHL team held netminders to lower point totals in 2014-15. Also, Mrazek has just one win in his last four starts.

Stats courtesy of NHL.com and DraftKings unless otherwise noted.

Steven Cook covers daily fantasy sports for Bleacher Report. Follow him on Twitter for the latest analysis and news.

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