Daily Fantasy Hockey 2015: NHL DraftKings Picks for April 24

When the Anaheim Ducks swept the Winnipeg Jets out of the playoffs Wednesday night, that meant fantasy players would have just three games to invest in Friday night.

However, all three games are fascinating. The New York Rangers and the Montreal Canadiens will try to finish off the Pittsburgh Penguins and the Ottawa Senators, respectively, while the St. Louis Blues will return home with a chance to take a 3-2 edge over the Minnesota Wild after a convincing victory at the Xcel Energy Center two nights ago.

As usual, we have $50,000 to spend on our team, and we intend to put together a substantial DraftKings roster.

Pos.	Player	Opp.	FPPG	Salary
C	Kyle Turris	Montreal	3.4	$6,400
C	Paul Stastny	Minnesota	2.5	$,500
W	Rick Nash	Pittsburgh	4.5	$8,900
W	Jaden Schwartz	Minnesota	3.6	$6,000
W	Jason Zucker	St. Louis	2.6	$3,800
D	Jared Spurgeon	St. Louis	2.7	$4,000
D	Patrick Wiercicoch	Montreal	1.6	$3,400
G	Henrik Lundqvist	Pittsburgh	5.3	$9,000
U	Chris Kreider	Pittsburgh	2.6	$4,000

Centers: Kyle Turris, Ottawa Senators ($6,400) and Paul Stastny, St. Louis Blues ($4,500)

Kyle Turris has been sensational for the Senators in the run that saw them climb from the Eastern Conference nether regions to a spot in the playoffs. In addition to the fine numbers he put up this year, Turris has taken on a leadership role for the Sens. That means he is going to be out there when it matters most. Since Ottawa is once again in a must-win situation, look for Turris to lead the way. He has three goals and seven assists in his last 10 games.

Ann Heisenfelt/Associated Press

Paul Stastny may not have had the statistical season he would have liked after scoring 17 goals and 30 assists for the Blues. However, he plays a tough, hard-nosed game in clutch situations, and that means he will come to play in this game. Stastny scored a goal in Game 4 versus Minnesota, and that may be just the spur he needs to go on a postseason hot streak.

Wingers: Rick Nash, New York Rangers ($8,900), Jaden Schwartz, St. Louis Blues ($6,000) and Jason Zucker, Minnesota Wild ($3,800)

Gene J. Puskar/Associated Press

The Rangers have a chance to knock the Penguins out of the playoffs, and they need their best players to show their killer instincts in this game at Madison Square Garden. Rick Nash had a huge year with 43 goals and 30 assists, and this should be his time to shine. If he can create an opportunity against the vulnerable Marc-Andre Fleury, he will bury his chances.

Jaden Schwartz would be an emerging superstar on nearly every other team in the NHL. However, when you play left wing on the St. Louis Blues, you are always going to take a back seat to Vladimir Tarasenko. Schwartz has excellent acceleration and wonderful hands in the offensive zone. He has scored five goals and four assists in his last 10 games, and he could have a huge night here as the Blues return home.

Ann Heisenfelt/Associated Press

Jason Zucker is not as talented as Nash or Schwartz, but, then again, he doesn't come with the same kind of price tag. Zucker brings a nonstop motor to the ice, and he knows how to finish his plays and score important goals. Zucker is a finisher. He had 22 goals in the regular season, and he has five goals in his last 10 games for the Wild. He's not much of a playmaker, as he has just five assists in all of his games this year.

Defensemen: Jared Spurgeon, Minnesota Wild ($4,000) and Patrick Wiercioch, Ottawa Senators ($3,400)

Kamil Krzaczynski/Associated Press

The normal inclination might be inserting Ryan Suter in the lineup because this is a huge game and the Wild needs their best defenseman to step up. However, Suter scored just two goals this season, and this may not be the spot where he turns it around. However, fellow Wild defenseman Jared Spurgeon has scored 10 goals this season, and he is an opportunist who can take advantage of any opening.

Patrick Wiercioch is not a huge offensive factor for the Senators, but he is a fearless warrior who will block shots and hit opponents with bone-rattling checks, and he will step up and try to make a play when the Senators are controlling play in the offensive zone. Wiercioch has two goals and two assists in his last 10 games, and he might have an opportunity to break through in Game 5 against the Canadiens.

Goalie: Henrik Lundqvist, New York Rangers ($9,000)

Gene J. Puskar/Associated Press

Craig Anderson may have earned the start in the minds of many fantasy players after shutting out Montreal on Wednesday night, but we are not just going to put the hot goaltender in the lineup. It will be much tougher for Anderson to repeat his performance at the Bell Center against a motivated Montreal team that does not want to go back to Ottawa for Game 6. Instead, the play is Henrik Lundqvist. The King will be at home with a chance to close out the Penguins. A victory is quite likely, and a shutout is a distinct possibility.

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