Daily Fantasy Hockey 2015: NHL DraftKings Playoff Strategy for May 23 and 24

The Anaheim Ducks have a chance to impose their will on the Chicago Blackhawks and take a substantial 3-1 lead in their Western Conference Final series. 

The Ducks responded brilliantly after losing Game 2 in triple overtime by winning Game 3 in Chicago. That should force the Blackhawks to come up with their best game, but the home team has been struggling with injuries on the blue line. As a result, figuring out a way to overpower the Ducks and square the series may not be easy.

We have $50,000 to spend on our DraftKings fantasy team, and our two-game day lets us choose wisely from the Lightning and Rangers as well. We think we have a fantasy team that can bring home the money in these two games.

Pos.	Player	Opp.	FPPG	Salary
C	Ryan Kesler	Chicago Blackhawks	3.1	$6,500
C	Andrew Shaw	Anaheim Ducks	2.0	$4,800
W	Jakob Silfverberg	Chicago Blackhawks	2.8	$7,600
W	Alex Killorn	New York Rangers	2.5	$6,700
W	Brandon Saad	Anaheim Ducks	2.8	$4,100
D	Brent Seabrook	Anaheim Ducks	2.8	$5,500
D	Anton Stralman	New York Rangers	2.4	$3,600
G	Frederik Andersen	Chicago Blackhawks	5.0	$8,700
U	Marc Staal	Tampa Bay Lightning	1.8	$2.500

Centers: Ryan Kesler, Anaheim Ducks ($6,500) and Andrew Shaw, Chicago Blackhawks ($4,800)

Ryan Kesler has been playing like a man possessed in the postseason, and Kesler may be the hungriest competitor in either of the two conference final series. He has been to the seventh game of the Stanley Cup Final before, but his Vancouver Canucks lost that game to the Boston Bruins in 2011.

Kesler told NBC Sports that the pain of that defeat has never left him and it motivates him now. He has four goals and four assists in his last 10 games, but he will also deliver big hits, block shots and play superb defense to help the Ducks win. He is fearless in the dirty areas, and he should come up with at least one goal against Chicago.

Mark J. Terrill/Associated Press

Andrew Shaw is another relentless player, and while his "soccer" goal did not count in overtime of Game 2, it proved he will do anything to help Chicago win. Shaw may not be the most talented player, but he is tough, gritty and opportunistic.

He has two goals and two assists in his last 10 games, and he has had several close calls in the first three games of the series. Shaw will also throw his body around and hit bigger players in order to help Chicago gain possession of the puck. He comes at an excellent price, and he should be prepared to have his best game here.

Wingers: Jakob Silfverberg, Anaheim Ducks ($7,600), Alex Killorn, Tampa Bay Lightning ($6,700) and Brandon Saad, Chicago Blackhawks ($4,100)

Chris Carlson/Associated Press

Jakob Silfverberg has turned himself into one of the Ducks' most important players this season and his improvement has continued in the postseason. Silfverberg is a strong defensive player, and he has proven that with 15 hits and 13 blocked shots in his last 10 games. He's a sharp scorer who has scored three goals and nine assists in his last 10 games. He's a factor on the power play with a goal and three assists in that span. He should have plenty of room against Chicago's weakened defense.

Alex Killorn is one of the most dangerous players in the Eastern Conference Final. Even though the Lightning dropped a 5-1 decision to New York in Game 4, Killorn had three 10-bell chances in the game, and that followed a scintillating performance that saw him register a goal and an assist in Game 3. Killorn has four goals and eight assists in his last 11 games and it will be tough for the Rangers to contain him.

Charles Rex Arbogast/Associated Press

Brandon Saad is a dangerous pick who comes at a good price. Saad is one of the fastest of the Blackhawks, and while he is not the threat that Patrick Kane is, he excels at swooping into the offensive zone and jumping on loose pucks and firing them at the top corner. Saad has had some difficulties recently and has just two goals in his last 10 games, but we like him to break out here.

Defensemen: Brent Seabrook, Chicago Blackhawks ($5,500) and Anton Stralman, Tampa Bay Lightning ($3,600)

Mark Humphrey/Associated Press

Brent Seabrook has a history of scoring big goals in big games, and this is huge for the Blackhawks. If they lose at home, they will find themselves in a 3-1 hole, and that may be impossible to overcome against a powerful team like the Ducks. Seabrook has 29 hits and 16 blocked shots in the last 10 games, and he also has two goals and two assists. If he can get his laser-like shot on net, he will have an excellent chance to score here.

Anton Stralman is not a flashy and high-scoring defenseman, but he is solid and dependable. He will use his body to block shots and lay the lumber, and he is not afraid to step up and deliver a shot when it matters most. He had four shots on goal in Game 4, and head coach Jon Cooper will depend on the steady Stralman to deliver in Game 5. 

Chris Carlson/Associated Press

Goalie Frederik Andersen, Anaheim Ducks ($8,700)

We are gambling that the Ducks and Frederik Andersen will continue to play consistently in the postseason. The Ducks have lost just two games this playoff season and both have been in overtime. Much of that is due to Andersen's outstanding play. He has a 1.80 goals-against average and a .933 save percentage in his last 10 games, and he is simply not making any mistakes.