Welcome to the Daily Fantasy Hockey (NHL DFS) lineup picks article for May 15th and 16th of the 2015/2016 NHL season. Each day we'll be providing you with a handful of forward, defensemen, and goaltender picks for DraftKings and FanDuel GPP and cash games.
The conference finals are underway, making for a bittersweet moment. With only four teams remaining, daily fantasy hockey is nearly finished for the season. Until then, be sure to enjoy all the action offered on both DraftKings and FanDuel.
This article will cover the slate of games for Sunday and Monday. The St. Louis Blues and San Jose Sharks begin what should be a very entertaining series Sunday night.
Monday night will bring Game 2 in the series between the Pittsburgh Penguins and Tampa Bay Lightning. Tampa Bay, despite losing starting goalie Ben Bishop early, was able to pull off the upset in Game 1 in front of a hostile crowd.
The Penguins will look to repeat what happened in the Washington series, a series they won despite dropping the first game.
With only two games, choosing a lineup will be tough. There are obviously not as many targets to choose from, so finder players who will both have a low ownership number and provide production is key.
Check out my DFS picks for Sunday and Monday below.
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NHL DFS Picks for Sunday-Monday, May 15th and 16th
A couple strategy notes. For cash game construction look for players who can contribute to your score when they are not providing offense. Examples are guys who take a ton of shots, defensemen who block a lot of shots(DraftKings). Also, look for guys who get powerplay time and especially Top 6 forwards. You can find value in players who join a new line due to an injury or just get a promotion and more ice time.
For large field tournaments (GPP's) you want to find payers who have multi-point upside and can grab double-digit fantasy points. To stack the most upside in your forwards, a common strategy is to punt the defenseman position. This doesn't mean just grab anyone. Try and look for a D-man who will be playing more PP time or might get a boost in overall playing time due to an injury.
Let's take a look at some solid plays for Friday and Saturday's action.
Matt Murray - Goaltender, Penguins (DraftKings - $8,300 FanDuel - $9,300)
Murray was beat for three goals on Friday night by the Lightning, but he'll look to rebound in Game 2 Monday. The youngster has been absolutely stellar in the playoffs, particularly in the second-round series against the Capitals. Murray hasn't lost back-to-back games in the postseason and should be a good candidate to bounce back in front of the home crowd Monday.
Nick Bonino - Center, Penguins (DraftKings - $5,200 FanDuel - $5,600)
Bonino has played on Pittsburgh's best line this postseason and has benefited from the stellar play of those around him. His price has risen steadily, but it's still very reasonable when compared to the other centers available. He'll take a couple of shots per game and can provide some extra points on DraftKings with his blocked shots.
Patrick Marleau - Winger, Sharks (DraftKings - $5,700 FanDuel - $5,000)
The veteran winger has really stepped up his game in the postseason, putting up nine points in 12 games. He's coming off a huge performance in Game 7 against the Predators in which he scored and dished out an assist. The Sharks have a lot of firepower, and Marleau is a big part of that. Note: Marleau is considered a center on FanDuel.
Phil Kessel - Winger, Penguins (DraftKings - $6,900 FanDuel - $7,700)
As the regular season went on, especially in its early stages, many Penguins fans wondered if the acquisition of Phil Kessel was a good one. Well, after showing some inconsistency this season, Kessel has more than made up for it in the playoffs. He's got 13 points in 12 games and enters Monday night with a three-game point streak. It will cost you a bit, but he's well worth it.
Patrik Berglund - Winger, Blues (DraftKings - $4,200 FanDuel - $3,600)
In an effort to save some cap space, you'll be required to find a sleeper or two. One of those players should be Patrik Berglund. The 27-year-old has four goals and four assists during this postseason and currently has points in back-to-back games. He won't block many shots, take penalties, or score on the power play, but he's still a solid cheap option. His plus-9 rating will help owners on FanDuel. Note: Berglund is considered a center on FanDuel.
Kevin Shattenkirk - Defenseman, Blues (DraftKings - $6,900 FanDuel - $5,200)
Shattenkirk has been very solid for the Blues this postseason. He's got a total of 10 points in 14 games and has been the best option for St. Louis from the blue line. San Jose has been tough against opposing defensemen, but don't let that scare you away. With two assists in his last three games, he's been finding the score sheet at a good clip.
Trevor Daley - Defenseman, Penguins (DraftKings - $4,500 FanDuel - $4,600)
Daley has been arguably Pittsburgh's best blueliner during the postseason. He's logged heavy minutes and has been an important part of the success the Penguins have enjoyed. With six points, a plus-2 rating, and eight penalty minutes, Daley is becoming relevant in daily fantasy hockey contests. Choosing Daley will save you some valuable cap space, and you'll likely get some solid production from him.
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