We’re off and running in the first round of the Stanley Cup Playoffs. Just when we thought we’d seen it all, the Lightning and Blue Jackets played five overtimes and effectively postponed the Bruins/Hurricanes game to the following day. It’s a good thing they did, too, because the Bruins and Hurricanes skated into double overtime yesterday themselves. Today we’ll see what both of those matchups have for an encore, as well as game two for Vegas/Chicago and Calgary/Dallas.
Center
Brayden Point (TB): $6,100 vs. CBJ
Simply put, Brayden Point is a superstar. Last season Point recorded 92 points in 72 games. After offseason hip surgery, Point got a late start to his 2019-2020 campaign, but he still managed 64 points in 66 games. He has recorded a point in each of his four games inside the bubble, including the five-overtime winner in Tuesday’s thriller. Point seemed to get more comfortable as the season went on this year, so I expect him to continue at his very best through this playoff stretch. He is the 12th most expensive player on the DK platform, and frankly, that’s still a discount to me.
Wing
Dillon Dube (CGY): $2,600 @ DAL
Let me start by saying that I hate doing this. I hate choosing a depth player that is coming off a big game, expecting lightning to strike twice. However, when you look at how Dillon Dube chipped in on Tuesday, it changes things a bit — pucks weren’t just bouncing off his shin pads into the net. Dube started the game for Calgary coach Geoff Ward. In the first period, he rifled home a one-timer on the power play. Just moments later, he was stopped on a breakaway. Later in the same period, Dube drove wide right past Andrej Sekera and tucked it in behind Anton Khudobin in an absolute beauty. Dube is a 2016 second-round pick who is only 22 years old. He will continue to skate with Sam Bennett and Milan Lucic on the Flames energy line. He will also slot into the second power-play unit. I am sure Dube will be a popular selection for this price tag, considering what he did in game one. Regardless, I can’t pass him up for this price, as it offers too much flexibility elsewhere.
Liam Foudy (CBJ): $2,700 @ TB
I’m going back to Foudy for the second time this week. He didn’t score in Tuesday’s marathon, but he did get moved up to the first line with Pierre-Luc Dubois and Alexandre Texier. He is also skating on the top power-play unit. Foudy is the youngest player in the Blue Jackets lineup, so John Tortorella could look to him for fresh legs. I’ve liked what I’ve seen from Foudy, so I’m happy to pay this price again.
Defense
Seth Jones (CBJ): $5,500 @ TB
I’m going on the assumption that Seth Jones just doesn’t get tired. In the first game, Jones played over an entire game’s worth of ice time. His quality of play did not indicate that. Seth Jones is going to win a Norris Trophy one day, and performances like the one he just had will stick in the minds of voters for years to come. It goes without saying that Jones will eat minutes on the top pairing today as well as quarterback the top power-play unit. Expect him to chip in everywhere, with points, shots on goal, and blocked shots.
Goalie
Cam Talbot (CGY): $7,900 @ DAL
It’s not that I love Cam Talbot, it’s that I don’t believe in the Stars’ ability to score. Since entering the bubble, Dallas has scored six goals in four games. This season, Dallas ranked 26th in the NHL in goals scored per game, ahead of only Columbus in terms of playoff teams. Talbot has won four of his five starts since entering the bubble, including a 31 save shutout to close out the Jets in game four. The betting odds have this game as a “pick’em,” or a true tossup. However, the point total is a measly five goals. If the Stars play their brand of hockey, I would not expect this to be a high scoring affair. Hopefully, Talbot can pick up the win.
Chris Genova is a featured writer at FantasyPros. For more from Chris, check out his archive and follow him @FantasyOneTimer.
