Daily Fantasy Hockey 2015: NHL DraftKings Primer for April 22

The first round of the NHL playoffs is almost over, and both the Montreal Canadiens and Anaheim Ducks can advance to the second round with a victory Wednesday night. The Ottawa Senators and Winnipeg Jets trail their respective foes 0-3 in their series, and things are looking bleak. 

The New York Rangers and Minnesota Wild currently hold a 2-1 series lead, and the Pittsburgh Penguins and St. Louis Blues will attempt to even up the series in a pivotal Game 4. These matchups all are interesting for different reasons, and there are certain players whom you should just have in the lineup.

This is a situation where you need to look past price tags and pick the players who are getting the job done. You will have to balance your team's budget, and DraftKings gives you $50,000 to do so. With that in mind, here is a primer for Wednesday's action and some tips of certain players to pay attention to.

Center: Derick Brassard, $4,700 

Derick Brassard was kept off the board in Game 3, but you can't ignore him at $4,700. His dominance over the Pittsburgh Penguins has been impressive, and he continues to find open space to make plays. Take advantage of the fact that his price tag is deflated because of a scoreless Game 3, but know he's been money for New York against Pittsburgh.

Winger: Corey Perry, $8,500

Corey Perry has a price tag of $8,500, and it is a solid price for the Anaheim Ducks' best player. He has found ways to get into the high-traffic areas of the ice, and he has three goals and five points so far. From a fantasy perspective, he's tallied a total of 20 fantasy points in the series against Winnipeg, and that's impressive through three games played. 

With a 3-0 series lead and the potential to get some rest for the next round, look for Perry to do what it takes to complete the sweep on Wednesday. 

Winger: Jason Pominville, $6,700

Jason Pominville has come alive offensively for the Minnesota Wild, and his price tag of $6,700 is decent and quite fair. Pominville has tallied two goals and two assists through three games versus the Blues, and he will have the opportunity to make another impact at home on Wednesday. 

You want him in your lineup, because the numbers show he has been a dominant player while playing at the Xcel Energy Center.

Situation	GP	G	A	PTS	P/GP	PPG	FPPG
vs. STL ('14)	7	2	4	6	0.857142857	1	3.8
Home	42	12	23	35	0.83	3	3.7
Away	43	8	15	23	0.53	1	3.1
Advantage at Home	+1	+4	+8	+12	+0.30	+2	+0.06

Zach Parise's solid play has been a hot topic of conversation—and rightly so—but the "Mayor" has been just as good in a series whose margin for error has been slim.

Defenseman: Dan Girardi, $4,300  

Dan Girardi is a decent NHL defender who doesn't exactly jump out as someone to draft in fantasy hockey, but you should strike while the iron is hot. Girardi is tied for the lead in playoff scoring for the Rangers, and he's been a key player in shutting down the opposition.

The Blueshirts' alternate captain tallied two assists on Monday, and he's found a way to contribute meaningful points for the Rangers. His playoff history indicates that his success is unlikely to last—he had seven points in 25 games last year—but there's no harm plunking down $4,300 since he's proven to be an asset for the Rangers.

Goaltending: Craig Anderson, $8,300

Jean-Yves Ahern-USA TODAY Sports

Craig Anderson's last game prior to his Game 3 appearance was on March 29, and it was the second game in a back-to-back in which he lost both games. He played exceptionally well after making the transition from expensive benchwarmer to playoff starter, and the numbers show he should be even better in Game 4.

Anderson stopped 47 of 49 shots during Game 3 and recorded a 1.74 goals-against average while picking up 7.4 fantasy points. When you put those numbers into context, you need to realize how hard that is for a goaltender who has spent the past few weeks on the bench. 

The Senators may not win this series, but they aren't going to go down in four. There is too much on the line, and the death of former assistant coach Mark Reeds has certainly impacted the team. Anderson probably would like both goals he allowed in Game 3 back, and he is in a prime situation to redeem himself.

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DraftKings stats and details per its official site. Outside statistics via Hockey-Reference.com and NHL.com.