There is so much to say about last night’s game. The Montreal Canadiens are going to the Stanley Cup Finals as the worst regular season team to get into the playoffs. Long Pole Cole scored another beauty and another meaningful goal was scored after an incredibly bad call on the ice. Let us not mince words here, the refs look bought and paid for with absolute bull calls and the Habs still came out on top. The icing call was beyond atrocious and it is only fitting that Montreal scored within a minute of it happening. They may not be the underdog regardless of who wins tonight. They are scary.
If last night’s game is any indication then the Tampa Bay Lightning should actually be the ones who are concerned. The Islanders have pushed this to seven games and have every intention of advancing. There is no confusion about the better offense, but Long Island’s defense may be the superior one here and that is what will get them across the line. Can they withstand the 1.21 GW of power that Amelie Arena’s Tesla Coil is going to be conducting?
Here’s a surging lineup For DFS Hockey 6/25/21 (using DraftKings Values)
| Captain | A. Vasilevskiy | $15,600 | |
| Flex | Point/Barzal | ~$9,200 | |
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If anyone is going to say no to the Islanders it will be Andre Vasilevskiy. Even if Tamp’s forwards are stymied he will be solid in net. The pictures coming out from some of his play should be plastered all across sports media. His poke check the other day shows him reaching back in a really awkward manner with his stick on the goal stopping a shot from Kyle Palmieri. It is beautiful.
You know the matchup already. Brayden Point or Mat Barzal? These top two centers can break the game when they are on. Point is on an epic goal streak and may be the one to own, but Barzal is not backing down. Whichever player plays better tonight will likely be the one leading their team to the promised land.
A word to the wise; Nikita Kucherov is a little banged up and may miss game seven. We have some options for you if that is the case. Come on back behind the curtain and see what we have in store for you.
Now what do you get if you sign up now?
• Backup options for Kucherov
• Cheaper defensive options if you have no already taken Hedman
• Get 7-days for free and all-access for all sports for $99 per year after
The most obvious fill in for Kucherov is going to be Steven Stamkos. The loss hurts but Stamkos is more than capable of filling that top line role. Hopefully, he is healthy enough to play those extra minutes as his injury history is a perpetual concern.
In the middle of the pack we are taking a close look at Brock Nelson and Ondrej Palat. Even if Kuch’ plays there is a good chance Palat sees an increase in responsibility. For a guy who had a fantastic regular season we are surprised he has not shown up more in this series. It is high time for him to kick it into the next gear. Nelson has been far more consistent with four goals in his last ten games. He is the easier choice, but Ondrej may have the higher ceiling tonight.
Do you like heavy hitting defensemen? So do we. There is not much need to highlight Victor Hedman as a potential game breaker and we do not have anyone to compare him against, so we are going to pick a couple others. Adam Pelech and Ryan Pulock are a two headed monster that together sort of make one Hedman. Both can score, hit and block. Go take a peek at their recent stats to see which one will work best for you today.
To continue on the Kucherov backup train keep an eye out for Alex Barre-Boulet. He is on the taxi squad right now, but he would be one of the first to fill that spot. He will be a last minute add, so if you are patient you might find a cheap option late.
It is finally Friday and the weekend is here! We hope you have some great plans to chill and catch some top tier hockey. Get those picks in, follow us on Twitter (@FantasyDFSX) and take it easy.
