Fantasy picks: Mark Streit has upside given Penguins injuries

NHL.com's fantasy staff will provide daily picks for DraftKings NHL games 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.

TOP CENTER: Evgeni Malkin, PIT ($8,200)- DRAFTKINGS POINTS TOTAL: 1.0
Malkin has been the most consistent offensive player of the 2017 Stanley Cup Playoffs, leading the League with at least one point in 12 of 15 postseason games and a total of 20 points. He assisted on the lone goal by Pittsburgh Penguins linemate Phil Kessel in Game 2 against the Ottawa Senators on Monday and has at least 2.5 DraftKings points in eight of his past nine games. He has 68 points in 68 career NHL postseason road games, and leads the postseason in points per 60 minutes (4.28).

VALUE CENTER: Derick Brassard, OTT ($4,100)- DRAFTKINGS POINTS TOTAL: 1.0
Brassard, priced as high as $5,100 in DraftKings this postseason, saw his cost plummet for Game 3 against the Penguins after three straight games without a point and one point over his past eight games. But he responded nicely with one goal and one assist (5.5 DraftKings points) in Ottawa's 5-1 win at home. He has also totaled 25 SOG in his past 10 games to salvage his fantasy worth. He started strong with eight points in six playoff games against the Boston Bruins in the Eastern Conference First Round, and is extremely cheap for a player who ranks sixth in playoff points since 2012-13 (55 in 74 games).
TOP WING: Viktor Arvidsson, NSH ($6,300) - DRAFTKINGS POINTS TOTAL: 6.0
Arvidsson had a breakout regular season on the "JOFA line" with Ryan Johansen and Filip Forsberg, and his success on the Nashville Predators' first unit has carried over the postseason. He has four assists in his past four games, with three coming in his past two against the Anaheim Ducks in the Western Conference Final. Arvidsson is averaging three SOG per game in the regular season and playoffs combined, and has scored 19 of his 33 combined goals and each of his four power-play goals at home this season.
VALUE WING: Corey Perry, ANA ($5,300) - DRAFTKINGS POINTS TOTAL: 6.5
Perry hasn't missed a game in the past two regular seasons but had a nine-point dip (53) compared to 2015-16 (62). That said, he has seen a scoring uptick this postseason with 10 points and 32 SOG in 14 games, including one goal on two SOG in Game 3 against the Predators. He had a four-game point streak totaling six points in Games 4-7 of the second round against the Edmonton Oilers and was a big reason Anaheim advanced. Perry is $300 cheaper than in Game 3 ($5,600), so take full advantage of this moderate price tag.

TOP DEFENSEMAN: Roman Josi, NSH ($6,100) - DRAFTKINGS POINTS TOTAL: 3.0
The Predators are the highest-scoring playoff defense (36 points in 13 postseason games) with a combined three points from the position in Game 3.

, remains the pillar of this unit, especially from a fantasy perspective. His past 10 playoff games have yielded exceptional peripheral stats; he has nine points (five goals, four assists), 19 blocks and 32 SOG for an average of 4.9 DraftKings points per game (season average: 3.9). He has a high floor after scoring at least 2.0 DraftKings points in each of his past 10.

VALUE DEFENSEMAN: Mark Streit, PIT ($3,300) - DRAFTKINGS POINTS TOTAL: 0.0
Streit, 39, cracked the Penguins lineup for the first time this postseason in Game 3 of the Eastern Conference Final with Justin Schultz (undisclosed) sidelined in addition to Kris Letang (neck surgery). A fantasy-relevant power-play quarterback in the past, Streit was utilized by Penguins coach Mike Sullivan on the first unit for much of Game 3; he played 5:53 with the man-advantage and had one assist, one block and two SOG (3.5 DraftKings points). Streit is extremely affordable for a player with exposure to elite forwards in Malkin, Sidney Crosby and Kessel, so draft him as the second defenseman on your Thursday-Friday roster.
GOALIE SPOTLIGHT: Pekka Rinne, NSH ($8,000) - DRAFTKINGS POINTS TOTAL: 3.8
Rinne remained undefeated following a loss this postseason; he's 3-0 in those situations with a combined three goals allowed (.955 SV%). Rinne followed his first two losses this postseason with two straight wins, and the Predators' 10-game home playoff winning streak also bodes well for his fantasy upside in Game 4 at Bridgestone Arena. Rinne is a clear Conn Smythe Trophy candidate and is worth spending up for with an opportunity to help the Predators take a 3-1 series lead.

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