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Fantasy Hockey Cheat Sheet: Top DraftKings NHL DFS Picks, Lineup Strategy for May 4

Neil Parker gives his top NHL picks and lineup advice for Tuesday’s fantasy hockey slate on DraftKings, which starts at 7:00 p.m. ET.

There are five games in the NHL on Tuesday, and there are five notable favorites on DraftKings Sportsbook. In order, the Islanders, Hurricanes, Bruins, Oilers and Penguins are all receiving significant chalk. It’s also worth noting that all five games are rematches from Monday night, and the only favorites to lose on Monday were New York and Pittsburgh.

Below, we examine the five-game NHL slate on DraftKings and give some lineup advice.



Top Line Stacks

Oilers at Canucks

Leon Draisaitl ($7,600) - Connor McDavid ($9,200) - Jesse Puljujarvi ($5,300)

Lineup assembly begins with whether to build around McDavid, as he’s recorded multi-point showings in seven of his past eight games to the tune of eight tallies and 14 helpers. Additionally, the cap hits of linemates Draisaitl and Puljujarvi are probably a little short. After all, the trio has clicked for 7.07 goals per 60 minutes this season, and Vancouver has lost five straight with 22 goals allowed during the skid.



Hurricanes vs. Blackhawks

Nino Niederreiter ($4,500) - Vincent Trocheck ($6,600) - Martin Necas ($5,700)

Carolina’s second line dominated the Blackhawks on Monday with 17 shot attempts and six high-danger scoring chances at 5-on-5. Trocheck, Necas and Niederreiter haven’t been a high-scoring trio with just 2.45 goals and 11.22 high-danger scoring chances per 60 minutes at 5-on-5, but they clicked Monday, which is promising. Additionally, the No. 1 line of Sebastian Aho ($7,200), Andrei Svechnikov ($6,200) and Teuvo Teravainen ($5,000) are likely to be the more popular stack.


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Superstar to Build Around

Evgeni Malkin, PIT at PHI ($6,300) - The Russian proved his health with an assist during Monday’s 7-2 loss to Philadelphia. Look for another solid showing Tuesday, as Malkin is locked into a role with the No. 1 power-play unit, and Philadelphia has allowed the most goals per game in the league.


Set your DraftKings fantasy hockey lineups here: NHL $30K Sticks [$10K to 1st]


Value on Offense

Brock Nelson, NYI at BUF ($4,100) - With just four points through the past 10 games, Nelson has cooled off, but his salary has also dropped as a result. He lands in a cushy matchup Tuesday, though. The Sabres have surrendered the second most goals per game in the league, and Nelson ranks sixth in the league in individual high-danger scoring chances.

Jason Zucker, PIT at PHI ($3,000) - The winger snapped a seven-game goal drought Monday, and is a cost-effective stack candidate alongside center Evgeni Malkin ($6,300). As noted, the Flyers are a favorable matchup, and Zucker is a five-time, 20-goal scorer.


Stud Goalies

Ilya Sorokin, NYI at BUF (8,500) - If you’re comfortable with your skaters when locking in Sorokin at his hefty salary, he’s definitely the clear-cut No. 1 option in goal Tuesday. The rookie has gone 12-6-1 with a .918 save percentage and 2.18 GAA for the campaign, and Buffalo has scored the fourth fewest goals per game in the league. The Islanders also held the Sabres to just seven high-danger scoring chances Monday.

Mike Smith, EDM at VAN ($8,100) - The 38-year-old netminder is arguably having the best season of his career, as he’s gone 18-6-2 with a .924 save percentage and 2.30 GAA, and as noted, the Canucks are reeling. Vancouver has only scored nine goals during its active five-game losing streak.


Value on Defense

Noah Dobson, NYI at BUF ($2,500) - With a contest-minimum salary, Dobson stands out after quarterbacking the No. 1 power-play unit on Monday. While his numbers definitely don’t jump off the page, he’s recorded a respectable 14 points, 62 shots and 46 blocks through 42 games, and as noted, this is a soft matchup against the basement-dwelling Sabres.

Jake Bean, CAR vs. CHI ($2,500) - Here’s another minimum-salary option who receives power-play time and starts 58.2 percent of his 5-on-5 shifts in the offensive zone. Bean recorded an assist in Monday’s win and logged a season-high 18:18 of ice time. Additionally, the Blackhawks rank fifth to last in the league in penalty-kill percentage and also allow a healthy 3.27 goals per game.


Power-Play Defenseman

Dougie Hamilton, CAR vs. CHI ($6,900) - Ranking sixth in points and first in shot attempts per 60 minutes among regular blueliners, Hamilton is a high-end target Tuesday. He’s been as consistent as they come with nine tallies, 22 helpers, 12 power-play points, 115 shots and 41 blocks through his past 33 games, and it’s a soft matchup, as noted.

Tyson Barrie, EDM at VAN ($5,900) - Another solid addition to an Edmonton stack, Barrie ranks second in points per 60 minutes among regular defensemen this season and has six points, 12 shots and eight blocks through his past six games. This salary probably doesn’t match his recent or season-long production, either, and especially in the noted favorable matchup.

Set your DraftKings fantasy hockey lineups here: NHL $30K Sticks [$10K to 1st]


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I am a promoter at DraftKings and am also an avid fan and user (my username is naparker77) and may sometimes play on my personal account in the games that I offer advice on. Although I have expressed my personal view on the games and strategies above, they do not necessarily reflect the view(s) of DraftKings and I may also deploy different players and strategies than what I recommend above. I am not an employee of DraftKings and do not have access to any non-public information.


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