Fantasy picks: Hampus Lindholm hot at right time

Each day this season, NHL.com's fantasy staff will provide daily picks for DraftKings NHL contests. This article includes expensive and value plays and should be used as a basis for your roster decision-making.

TOP CENTER: Nicklas Backstrom, WSH ($7,300)
Backstrom finished tied for second in home points (49 points in 41 games) in the regular season, and has been productive against the Toronto Maple Leafs this season. He has three points and 10 shots on goal in three games against Toronto, and quietly finished fourth in the League in scoring (86 points) and first in power-play points (35). He has 62 points (24 on power play) in 83 Stanley Cup Playoff games.

VALUE CENTER: Artem Anisimov, CHI ($4,800)
Anisimov (lower body) is expected to return to the Chicago Blackhawks lineup against the Nashville Predators in Game 1 on Thursday. His constant exposure to elite wings Patrick Kane and Artemi Panarin had him fourth among Blackhawks in points per game (0.70; 45 points in 64 games). He converted on an impressive 21.0 percent of his shots for 22 goals in 64 regular-season games. He could easily put forth a multipoint game at home, where he has 25 points in 31 games.
TOP WING: Mitchell Marner, TOR ($5,900)
Marner gave the Capitals fits in the regular season, totaling five points (two goals, three assists), one block and six SOG in three games (5.2 DraftKings points per game). He has been a part of one of the most underrated lines in the NHL with left wing James van Riemsdyk and center Tyler Bozak, and makes his Stanley Cup Playoff debut for the Maple Leafs. Marner has seven points and 21 SOG in games played on three or more days rest.
VALUE WING: Justin Williams, WSH ($4,700)
Williams is a perennial postseason scoring threat, having combined for 85 points (33 goals, 52 assists) and 339 SOG in 127 playoff games. He had another solid regular season in a second-line role for the Capitals with 48 points (24 goals, 24 assists) in 80 games. He had four points in three games against the Maple Leafs in the regular season, and had nine points (four goals, five assists) in his final nine games of the regular season.

TOP DEFENSEMAN: P.K. Subban, NSH ($5,100)
Subban had a down season in points per game (0.61) compared to his 2015-16 average (0.75), but has a chance to bounce back in the postseason against the Blackhawks. He had three points, eight blocks and eight SOG in three games against Chicago in the regular season, and has the puck-moving ability and booming shot to make a difference in a potential high-scoring series. He has 38 points (11 goals, 27 assists) in 55 career playoff games, an impressive postseason track record for a defenseman.

VALUE DEFENSEMAN: Hampus Lindholm, ANA ($3,500)
Lindholm finished the season strong with six points in his final seven regular-season games after being held to 14 points over his first 59 games. He has 94 blocks and 94 SOG and has added offensive potential with Anaheim Ducks defenseman Cam Fowler (lower body) injured. An expanded power-play role could help Lindholm sustain his improved play; he had 15 PPP in 80 games last season.

GOALIE SPOTLIGHT: John Gibson, ANA ($7,900)
The Ducks got a major lift from backup goalie Jonathan Bernier late in the regular season, but Gibson will get the call against the Calgary Flames in Game 1. He missed time because of a lower-body injury late in the season, but returned in April and went 2-0-1 with a .960 save percentage and one shutout. He was 2-0-0 with 57 saves on 59 shots faced against the Flames in the regular season, and was outstanding at home (17-7-2, .934 SV%, four SO).
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