NHL.com's fantasy staff will provide daily picks for DraftKings NHL contests during the 2017 Stanley Cup Playoffs (until end of Conference Finals). This article includes expensive and value plays and should be used as a basis for your roster decision-making.
Note: This contest includes the Anaheim Ducks-Nashville Predators game on Monday and the Pittsburgh Penguins-Ottawa Senators game on Tuesday.
Fantasy picks: Predators should come out strong in Game 6
Pekka Rinne, Roman Josi of Nashville look to help close out Ducks at home, solid DFS options for May 22-23
TOP CENTER: Sidney Crosby, PIT ($7,900)
After not scoring in seven straight Stanley Cup Playoff games, Crosby has a goal in three straight for the Pittsburgh Penguins, including a goal and an assist with three SOG in a 7-0 win against the Ottawa Senators in Game 5 on Sunday (6.5 DraftKings points). Crosby has points in 11 of 15 playoff games and likely will come out strong in Game 6 in hopes of avoiding playing in a Game 7 for the second straight round.
VALUE CENTER: Nick Bonino, PIT ($4,400)
Bonino hadn't had a point in six games before getting two assists on Sunday. He also had three SOG (5.5 DraftKings points) for his first multipoint performance this postseason. He has five points (two goals, three assists) in 17 playoff games after having 18 points (four goals, 14 assists) in 24 postseason games in 2016, but could build off his strong recent performance. Pittsburgh hasn't had to rely on Bonino this postseason with the emergence of Jake Guentzel, but if the Penguins offense clicks again in Game 6, Bonino could be a factor.
TOP WING: Jakob Silfverberg, ANA ($6,400)
Silfverberg is the most expensive wing in the contest despite not scoring a goal for the Anaheim Ducks in his past three games. He had a goal in each of the first two games against the Nashville Predators and has one assist since. But with forwards Patrick Eaves and Rickard Rakell not making the trip to Nashville for Game 6, more will be counted on from Silfverberg, who is second on the Ducks in playoff scoring with 14 points (five goals, nine assists) and was second during the regular season in goals (23).
VALUE WING: Bobby Ryan, OTT ($4,600)
Ryan has one goal in five games in the series against the Penguins, but has four assists. He's still second on the Senators in playoff scoring with 14 points (five goals, nine assists) in 16 games, almost a point-per-game pace after having 25 points in 62 regular-season games. He likely won't help you in the blocked shots department and his SOG are limited (17 in past 10 games). But Ryan has gotten at least 3.0 DraftKings points in four of his past six games and has a knack for coming up big in the playoffs with three game-winning goals, including two in overtime.
TOP DEFENSEMAN: Roman Josi, NSH ($6,200)
Despite not scoring in the past two games, Josi still has managed to put up 3.0 DraftKings points in each of his past two games, thanks to a combined 10 SOG and two blocked shots. He's had at least 3.0 DraftKings points in 14 of 15 playoff games and is third on the Predators in scoring with 10 points (five goals, five assists). Josi also has 31 blocked shots this postseason and has scored 37 of his 59 points (regular season and playoffs combined) at home, where the Predators will be playing on Monday.
VALUE DEFENSEMAN: Olli Maatta, PIT ($3,200)
Maatta scored his second goal in as many games on Sunday and it turned out to be the winner against the Senators. He also had two SOG and two blocked shots (5.0 DraftKings points). With the Penguins injured on defense and at forward, Maatta has stepped up. He has seven points in 17 playoff games (two goals, five assists) with three of them coming in his past four. Maatta also has multiple blocks in four of his past 10 games, and had six blocks in a game earlier in the playoffs (Game 2, second round vs. Washington Capitals).
GOALIE SPOTLIGHT: Pekka Rinne, NSH ($7,900)
Rinne is the most expensive goalie in the contest, but that shouldn't matter. He's been the most consistent goalie in the playoffs (11-4, 1.62 GAA, .942 SV%) and has allowed two goals or fewer in 11 of his 15 playoff starts. Rinne was excellent in Game 5, making 32 saves against the Ducks (8.4 DraftKings points) and is 6-1 at home while allowing 10 goals in seven games this postseason. With Nashville one win away from its first trip to the Stanley Cup Final, Rinne should be locked in.
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