NHL Building Blocks – April 9
A giant slate of 13 games tonight, and there are a lot of moving pieces when it comes to playoff seeding. 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 9
The Goalie: John Oettinger ($8100 DK / $8600 FD)
Depending on how Vancouver does next game) With a victory, Dallas locks up the top spot in the West. They are at home against a Sabres team that is all but eliminated from the playoff picture and that averages under three goals a game with the league’s fifth-worst power play. The Stars are deep, and they’re rolling, having won nine of their last 10 games, including two shutouts (one of Edmonton). Oettinger might be the hottest goalie in the league, having won seven straight starts with both of those aforementioned shutouts (and he’s allowed just 11 goals in those seven games).
The Center: Nathan Mackinnon ($10300 DK/ $10500 FD)
Three points out of the league lead in scoring; three goals (30 shots!) and seven assists in his last five games, and no one on Minnesota will have an answer for him.
The Wing: Alexis Lafreniere ($5100 DK/ $5700 FD)
Five goals and four assists in L5 and making a case as the most improved player in hockey this season, setting career highs in goals, assists, and points.
The Defenseman: Noah Dobson ($6400 DK / $7100 FD)
My favorite defenseman tonight as the Isles are desperate and the Rangers are elite. Two goals in his last five games and averaging nearly five shots and blocks combined per game.
The Value: Andrei Kuzmenko ($3500 DK / $4900 FD)
Five goals and four assists in his last five games and is facing the Sharks.
The Stack: NYR2 (Panarin-Trocheck-Lafreniere)
The Rangers could solidify their hold on the top spot in the East tonight with a win against their cross-town rivals who are desperately hanging onto a spot themselves. They’d like nothing better than to dash the Isles’ playoff hopes, and having won three straight (and 12 of 15) gives them great momentum to do so. This line has been incredibly productive (eight goals and 15 assists between them in the last five games), though Trocheck has been cold. Mix in Zibanejad and Kreider for power play exposure.
The Builder: COL/NYR ML parlay
Mar 2, 2022; New York, New York, USA; New York Rangers left wing Chris Kreider (20) celebrates his goal against the St. Louis Blues with center Mika Zibanejad (93) during the third period at Madison Square Garden. The Rangers defeated the Blues 5-3. Mandatory Credit: Brad Penner-USA TODAY Sports
