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DraftKings NHL Lineup Advice: Thursday (4/4)

DraftKings NHL Lineup Advice: Thursday (4/4)

The 2019 NHL playoffs are just about here, but there is still so much unknown about the playoffs, and these couple of final games will straighten it all out. The battle for the two wild-card spots in the East is still brewing with Carolina, Columbus, and Montreal all still fighting to get in. Also, supremacy in the Central division has yet to be settled with Winnipeg, Nashville, and St. Louis all still vying for the top spot. Let’s take a look at what players are available for tonight’s excitement-filled slate of games in the NHL.

Center

Bo Horvat (VAN): $6,200 @ NSH
This has been the best statistical season of Horvat’s career scoring 27 goals and dishing out 32 helpers along the way. Vancouver is still a young team and has a lot of undeveloped talent that seems to have a very bright future ahead of them. Horvat is one of the young leaders of this team and will be expected to have a positive influence around the rest of his peers going forward. He’s averaging over a point per game since mid-March and five of those points have come on the power-play during this span. The Canucks will be visiting Nashville tonight, and while the Predators do own the fifth-best penalty kill in the league (82.6%) they have been penalized the eighth-most times this year (247). Horvat will look to finish off 2019 strong in Vancouver’s final two games this season.

William Karlsson (VGK): $5,800 vs. ARI
In 2018 Karlsson had a breakout campaign compiling a career-high 43 goals and 35 assists in 82 games for the Vegas Golden Knights. This year has seen a bit of a decline as he only has scored 24 goals along with 32 assists. While these numbers are not nearly as good as last year’s, his recent play has picked up as of late with the playoffs looming not too far off on the horizon. Since March 10 “Wild Bill” has amassed 13 points in his previous 11 games, along with a plus-seven rating. Karlsson looks to have returned to his 2018 form just in time for the playoffs to help Vegas make another Stanley Cup run.

Others to Consider: Connor McDavid $7,700, Dylan Larkin $7,000

Wing

David Pastrnak (BOS): $7,600 @ MIN
It did not take too long for the young Czech winger to get back to his old form. After breaking his thumb in mid-February, Pastrnak returned to the ice with his teammates on March 19. Since his return from injury, he has been highly productive, scoring six goals, dishing out six assists and possessing a plus-five rating. He also has managed to amass a grand total of 10 penalty minutes in just the eight games back too. The most memorable game for Pastrnak since his return was the five-point massacre he had against the New York Rangers last Wednesday where he scored a hat trick and dished out two additional assists. After missing an extended period of time this year, he looks poised to take the Bruins deep into the spring this post-season with their first round match-up against their long-time rivals the Toronto Maple Leafs.

Kyle Connor (WPG): $6,400 @ COL
The young star has had a wonderful season for the Jets earning his second-consecutive 30-plus goal season. Connor has become a very valuable member for this Winnipeg Jets squad and will be depended on heavily as they look to make another deep run in the playoffs this year. Since the middle of March, Connor has is tied with Rickard Rakell and Jonathan Huberdeau for the second-most goals scored by a left-winger (7). On top of that, the Jets will be heading into Chicago Monday night to take on the Blackhawks who have allowed the second-most goals per game this season (3.35). Connor should be a solid option on the wing once again.

Others to Consider: Anthony Mantha $5,800, Jordan Eberle $4,700, Tyler Bertuzzi $4,500, Alexander Kerfoot $3,900

Defense

Vince Dunn (STL)$4,100 vs. PHI
Dunn has been playing some really good defense for the St. Louis blue line lately, owning a plus-four rating and scoring three goals along with three assists roughly over the last month or so. Believe it or not, the Blues have a legitimate chance of winning the Central division in the Western Conference as they are only one point back from both the Nashville Predators and Winnipeg Jets. They will not be resting any of their starters knowing there is an actual possibility that they can claim home-ice advantage for this post-season. This includes Dunn, who is on the top defensive pairing with Alex Pietrangelo.

Others to Consider: Tyson Barrie $6,400, Brandon Carlo $2,900, Jon Merrill $2,700

Goalie

Philipp Grubauer (COL): $7,500 vs. WPG
Without Grubauer the Colorado Avalanche’s season would probably have been long over. Due to his spectacular play as of late, the Avalanche currently hold the final wild-card spot in the Western Conference with 88 points. All they need is to get into OT tonight or a Coyotes loss and they will clinch the post-season for the second consecutive year in a row. That is something they have not done in well over a decade. The last time the Avalanche qualified for the playoffs in back to back seasons would be between the years of 2005 through 2008. Since March 17, Grubauer has posted a 6-0-2 record with a 0.954 SV% and a 1.59 GAA. He has been one of, if not the best goalie in the NHL lately, keeping the Avalanche in practically every critical game possible down the stretch. If Colorado is going to make the playoffs this year, it is going to fall on this man’s shoulders to get them there.

Others to Consider: Petr Mrazek $8,200, Carey Price $7,200

Matthew Catalano is a correspondent at FantasyPros. For more from Matthew, check out his archive and follow him @MatthewCatala16.

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