Daily Fantasy Hockey 2015: NHL DraftKings Ideal Lineup Picks for April 20 – Bleacher Report
The past weekend featured some amazing playoff hockey, and things could get really interesting on Monday. The Winnipeg Jets look to avoid going down 3-0 against the Anaheim Ducks, the New York Rangers look to hold serve with the Pittsburgh Penguins and the Minnesota Wild look to bounce back from a game in which Vladimir Tarasenko of the St. Louis Blues was an absolute beast.
There are some players who you should definitely have in the lineup, but you should try and find some diamonds in the rough who can help put you over the top. There aren’t many, because the majority of the high-scoring players from the playoffs are either off tonight or just cost way too much.
There’s a $50,000 salary cap to keep in mind, and making the most of that space is key. With that in mind, here are your ideal lineup picks for April 20.
| POS | PLAYER | OPP | FPPG | SALARY | Stat |
| C | Derick Brassard | NYR@Pit | 2.9 | $4,900 | Seven points in last nine playoff games vs. PIT. |
| C | Derek Stepan | NYR@Pit | 3.3 | $5,700 | 5.0 FP AVG in series vs. PIT. |
| W | Vladimir Tarasenko | StL@Min | 4.1 | $8,400 | Four goals and six points in last three games vs. MIN. |
| W | Chris Kunitz | NYR@Pit | 2.6 | $5,400 | Three points in two games vs. NYR this series. |
| W | Lee Stempniak | Anh@Wpg | 1.9 | $3,400 | 10 points in 18 games after trade to WPG. |
| D | Keith Yandle | NYR@Pit | 3.3 | $6,000 | 3.5 FP AVG in series vs. PIT. |
| D | Tyler Myers | Anh@Wpg | 2.6 | $3,600 | 15 points in 24 games after trade to WPG. |
| G | Jake Allen | StL@Min | 4.4 | $8,500 | 6.15 FP AVG in series vs. MIN |
| UTIL | Chris Kreider | NYR@Pit | 2.6 | $4,000 | 22 points in 43 career playoff games. |
DraftKings and Hockey-Reference
Centers: Derek Stepan, $5,700, and Derick Brassard, $4,900
The Rangers’ top two centers have played extremely well against the Pittsburgh Penguins, and both are cost-effective options for Monday night. Derick Brassard has two goals in two games, but he has six goals and seven points when you include his production from last year’s series against Pittsburgh.
NYR center Derick Brassard with his 2nd goal of the playoffs tonight. #Brass #OctagonHockey pic.twitter.com/DuCOlMEdHR
— Allan Walsh (@walsha) April 19, 2015
The Penguins haven’t had an answer for Brassard thus far, and with a 4.5 fantasy points-per-game average, he’s been one of the money players for New York in the playoffs.
Stepan has also played well against Pittsburgh, and he scored a beauty of a goal in Game 2. A post robbed him of his second goal of the game, and Stepan has just found a way to create space for himself throughout the series to date.
He has a 5.0 fantasy points-per-game average for the series and will look to extend it on Monday.
Wingers: Vladimir Tarasenko, $8,400, and Chris Kunitz, $5,400
Vladimir Tarasenko is playing like a madman for the Blues, and he’s clearly had Minnesota’s number. The young sniper has three goals and an assist so far this series, but four goals and six points in his last three games against the Wild.
St. Louis faced Minnesota on the final day of the season, and Tarasenko was the difference-maker for the Blues. Overall, he’s averaged 6.67 fantasy points per game against the Wild over the last three games, and those are some solid numbers for a player with a hefty price tag.
Chris Kunitz is a player who has historically played well against the Rangers, and he’s tallied 23 points in 31 career games against the Broadway Blueshirts. He was a factor for the Pens in Game 2, and it was a night in which he tallied a goal and two assists.
THREE points for Chris Kunitz. The @penguins leaders really stepped up tonight! pic.twitter.com/rCV39p2USN
— Penguins PR (@PensPRLady) April 19, 2015
Kunitz has a 4.0 fantasy points-per-game average so far in the series, and $5,400 is a fair price tag for the veteran scorer.
Defense: Keith Yandle, $6,000, and Tyler Myers, $3,600
Frank Franklin II/Associated Press
Keith Yandle is one of the most consistent fantasy point-producing defenders active on Monday night. The Rangers’ rear guard has averaged 3.5 fantasy points per game so far, and that includes two power-play assists and four shots through two games played.
There aren’t many defenders who have a reasonable price tag and production so far, and that’s why there’s a hunch pick here including Tyler Myers. In 24 games with the Winnipeg Jets after being dealt from the Buffalo Sabres, the towering defender had three goals, 12 assists and 15 points.
He is a talented defender looking to make critics forget his struggles in Buffalo, and it makes sense to take a risk for only $3,600.
Goalie: Jake Allen, $8,500
Whoa, that was a close call. Jake Allen just barely keeps it 2-0 @StLouisBlues. #STLvsMIN https://t.co/dg1BX7AED9
— NHL (@NHL) April 18, 2015
Jake Allen was marvelous for the St. Louis Blues in Game 2, and $8,500 is a solid rate for a talented rookie netminder. This season, he went 23-8-4 with a 2.24 goals-against average and a .915 save percentage, and he was able to win the playoff starting job from Brian Elliott for the interim.
He put up a decent showing in Game 1, stopping 25 of 27 shots, but Game 2 was even better.
Allen stopped 24 of 25 shots in Game 2, and he finished with a 1.00 goals-against average, a .960 save percentage and 6.8 fantasy points. His hot play and calm under pressure have been key for St. Louis, and he is a player who could prove to be an X-factor for the Blues.
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DraftKings stats and details per its official site. Outside statistics via Hockey-Reference.com and NHL.com.
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