NHL DFS Picks For May 26, 2021

We are going to be rooting for the Florida Panthers not just because we like a lot of their players but because it would be great to see another Tampa Bay Lightning first round exit. We are not saying we do not like them, it would just be an amazing storyline for the Panthers to emerge victorious in this battle.

All three games today could send losers packing and the big thing to figure out is who will survive? Can the Minnesota Wild force a game seven against the Vegas Golden Knights? Can the New York Islanders complete the upset over the Pittsburgh Penguins? Can the Panthers put Lightning in a bottle?

Here’s an electric lineup For DFS Hockey 5/26/21 (using DraftKings Values)

Alexander Barkov is the big dog in this game. He will be the best player on the ice not named Andre Vasiliveskiy. Tampa has incredible talent but it is spread out across all their lines. Sure, Kucherov and Stamkos are superstars and have been playing well but Barkov needs to be the king if the Panthers are to keep their hopes alive.

Brayden Point is not that far behind but will never reach Barkov’s talent. That does not matter to him because he is already a Stanley Cup champion but he gains so much more from having Kucherov on his wing. Barkov does not need that. Point will still show up in this game and is still a phenomenal number one center. This will be one of the most intense matches of the first round.

Alex Pietrangelo. We nailed the Dougie pick yesterday and hope Pietrangelo can come anywhere close. We have talked about th difficulty in taking Vegas defensemen in the past but he is still the best option available. His attempt to save the final Wild goal left him in the net and up against the boards. He will give you everything he has and that is good enough for us. 

Ilya Sorokin. Double check one last time before you submit your card that Varlamov has not been given the nod but it had better be Sorokin. He has earned it while Varly had a couple shaky games. There have been five games against the Penguins so far and none of the losses have come while Sorokin has been in net. The future is now.

Here’s an electric lineup For DFS Hockey 5/26/21 (using DraftKings Values)

Mark Stone – W is the biggest problem the Wild face tonight. We took him last game and he got us a goal and two shots. He is the type of player where his skill alone is just below what we might describe as elite but when you put him in the playoffs he evolves into something else. We are hoping for a Game 7 but Stone might single handedly wipe Minnesota off the map tonight.

Jordan Greenway – W. We went after his center Eriksson Ek last time and he came up big. Greenway had himself a nice game as well and we are really liking where his progression is headed. He is finding that fine balance of the true power forward who can hit and make opponents miserable while also turning on offensive ability that you did not realize was there. This is his time to shine.  

Mason Marchment – W has had a great season and his future looks bright. He is up on the top line with Barkov and is a perfect cheap stack. He is in the same mold as Greenway with a huge frame that belies the skill underneath. Look out.

Noah Dobson – D. Third line minutes but top power play time is one of those fun combinations we look out for. He is young and so his minutes are sheltered but his ceiling is so, so high. We were hoping he would make more strides this year but he is no bust. If he gets on the scoresheet the Isles are heading to the second round.

Mathew Barzal – U. We got you a third baller center today and are pretty proud of that fact. Barzal has had a quiet playoffs so far but we are not worried. We like to talk about the Islanders depth here but we should not have to so often. Barzal is going to step up and learn how to be a bonafide superstar.

Yesterday we had no elimination games and today we have three. This season is a wild ride and it is not over yet. Try and keep up on Twitter (@FantasyDFSX) and get your Wednesday on.