NHL Building Blocks – April 2
First day of April and we’re in the home stretch toward the playoffs. Let’s dive in!
The premise of each article in this series is to feature starting spots (building blocks) for your lines. These are plays that are cash-viable as well as GPP-worthy and can be considered in all contest formats.
Starting Lineup – April 2
The Goalie: Sergei Bobrovsky ($8300 DK / $8600 FD)
The Panthers are close to being locked into a top four spot in the East, and they have a chance to improve their position. They’ll look to do that against a Canadiens team that has struggled to score all season (28th in the league in goals per game at just 2.68). Florida has the best GAA mark in hockey at 2.41 per game, and Bob (33-16-3 / 2.40 / .914) is a big reason why. Should be comfortable rostering him tonight.
The Center: Jack Hughes ($8500 DK/ $9900 FD)
Still elite production (five goals and an assist to go along with 25 shots in his last five games); Pens’ defense doesn’t intimidate. 71 points in 58 games and averaging close to five shots per contest. (Wing-eligible on DK.)
The Wing: Kirill Kaprizov ($9400 DK/ $9800 FD)
Two goals (20 shots) and four assists in his last five games and has a great matchup tonight.
The Defenseman: Roman Josi ($7800 DK / $8400 FD)
Great floor and ceiling both in this matchup; 76 points in 74 games this season (goal and five helpers in last five) and averages three shots and two blocks a game.
The Value: Vladimir Tarasenko ($3800 DK / $5600 FD)
Three points in his last five games and skating on PP1; gets a bad Canadiens defense. Much better value on DK.
The Stack: FLA2 (Tkachuk-Verhaeghe-Bennett)
Played last night, but in a very good matchup and needing every point they can get if they want a shot at the top spot in the East. Montreal’s defense is a sieve, allowing the fourth most shots per game and ranking 25th in goals allowed average. Florida’s power play is lethal (25.8%, fifth best), and these three are L1/PP1 together; mix in Reinhart as a secondary piece.
The Builder: FLA/MIN ML parlay
Florida Panthers defenseman Brandon Montour (62) celebrates his goal with teammates Matthew Tkachuk (19) and Aleksander Barkov (16) during the third period of Game 1 of an NHL hockey Stanley Cup second-round playoff series against the Toronto Maple Leafs in Toronto, Tuesday, May 2, 2023. (Frank Gunn/The Canadian Press via AP) (Frank Gunn / Associated Press)