Key Skaters

C Nathan MacKinnon (COL)

The top-seeded Avalanche will be led by MacKinnon in a matchup against the Predators in which Nashville will be without its goalie early in the series. MacKinnon registered 88 points in 65 games this season as he simply didn’t need to be the only cog in the Avalanche’s system. MacKinnon had a modest two points in three games against the Predators but much like Auston Matthews last night, I expect MacKinnon to be up for the start of the playoffs and throughout.

W Chris Kreider (NYR)

In the coming-out party that was the 2021-22 season for Kreider, the Boston College product buried a career-high 52 goals in 81 games. Three of those goals, along with three assists came in four games against Pittsburgh and the sniper along with his teammates will have a chance to hang a crooked number on Pittsburgh as goal Tristan Jarry will be out for this game and likely game 2.

Favorite Line Stacks

New York Rangers

Mika Zibanajad, Chris Kreider, Frank Vatrano, Artemi Panarin

Colorado Avalanche

Nathan MacKinnon, Mikko Rantanen, Valeri Nichuskin, Cale Makar

Calgary Flames

Elias Lindholm, Johnny Gaudreau, Matthew Tkachuk, Rasmus Andersson

Florida Panthers

Aleksander Barkov, Jonathan Huberdeau, Sam Reinhart, Claude Giroux

Positional Plays

*Not mentioned in “key skaters'” section. Last skater at each position is my favorite value

Center

Aleksander Barkov (FLA)
Mika Zibanajad (NYR)
Elias Lindholm (CGY)
Ryan Strome (NYR)
Sam Bennett (FLA)
Mikael Backlund (CGY)

Wing

Alex Ovechkin (WAS)
Jonathan Huberdeau (FLA)
Johnny Gaudreau (CGY)
Mikko Rantanen (COL)
Matthew Tkachuk (CGY)
Sam Reinhart (FLA)
Artemi Panarin (NYR)
Anthony Duclair (FLA)
Frank Vatrano (NYR)

Defense

Cale Makar (COL)
Adam Fox (NYR)
Noah Hanifin (CGY)
Devon Toews (COL)
Mattias Ekholm (NSH)
Rasmus Andersson (CGY)
Brandon Montour (FLA)

Goalies

Igor Shesterkin (NYR)
Jacob Markstrom (CGY)

NOTE: All pricing references pertain to DraftKings

GOOD LUCK!!

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