NHL Daily Fantasy Helper: Thursday 4/28/22

NHL DFS is similar to MLB in terms of how you build lineups, how you view stacking, and how to value players.

Two main points to always focus on in NHL DFS are what lines the players are on and making sure the goalies you are rostering are confirmed as the starters. Two of the best resources for that are LeftWingLock.com or DailyFaceOff.com. That is where you can find updated forward and power-play lines for each team, along with which goalies are confirmed as the starters.

Let's jump in to take a look at today's slate and some players to consider for your lineups.

Goalie to Target

Antti Raanta ($8,200): The Carolina Hurricanes are solid -260 home favorites tonight versus the New Jersey Devils and should be able to come away with the win. It's the last two days of the regular season, and teams are playing with different levels of motivation. The Hurricanes are locked into the number one seed in their division and cannot move down. This means they technically have no motivation to play with their full lineup, and there's a good chance we see some of their stars sitting.

However, when it comes to Raanta, he should be out there giving 100% effort because the Canes' top goalie, Frederik Andersen, is expected to miss the start of the playoffs. This puts Raanta in a spot to be the new starting goalie for the Canes in the playoffs, and he needs to be in top form. This is a somewhat long-winded way of saying that Raanta, who hasn't played in four days, needs to treat this like a playoff game to get back into form.

High-Salaried Skaters

Filip Forsberg ($8,900): The Nashville Predators are one of the few teams on tonight's slate that have plenty of motivation to play and win their final games. The Predators are sitting with 95 points in the standings and two games remaining, and the Dallas Stars have 96 points and one game remaining. The difference is the first or the second Wild Card spot and not having to play the Colorado Avalanche if they can grab the first Wild Card spot.

We want to trust Forsberg, who skates on the top line and the top power-play unit for the Predators, as one of the true stars of tonight's slate. He comes in with 12 NHL points, 42 shots on goal, and 6 blocked shots over his last 10 games, providing production every single night, as the Predators make a playoff push in the final few games of the season.

Kevin Fiala ($7,500): Add the Minnesota Wild to the shortlist of teams that have something to play for. They come in with a 3.32 implied goal total against the Calgary Flames, where the total is set at 6.5 goals. We could be in for some scoring tonight since both teams are in the top six of the league for the most Goals scored per 60 minutes in five-on-five situations this season.

Fiala has been red-hot to end the season with 9 goals, 13 assists, and 33 shots on goal over his last 10 games. That's an amazingly high level of production every night on the second forward line and the second power-play unit, which continues to put him in a great spot for a fantasy ceiling in any matchup.

Value Skaters

Nick Paul ($3,900): The Tampa Bay Lightning are borderline when it comes to having something to play for in the final few days of the season. I won't be surprised to see them rest some of their stars, which could put Paul in an expanded role.

He's already on the second forward line but not on either power-play unit. If some of their top players are resting, it won't be a surprise to see Paul grab some power-play time given the fact he's looked good on offense with 8 NHL points, 14 shots on goal, and 7 blocked shots over his last 10 games.

A strong 3.90 implied goal total versus the Columbus Blue Jackets should make the Lightning a popular option tonight.

Zach Hyman ($5,800): The Edmonton Oilers have a 4.06 implied goal total, which is the second-highest on the slate and in a great matchup versus the San Jose Sharks. Hyman is on the second forward line with Leon Draisaitl and on the first power-play with Connor McDavid, who I've heard are pretty good at hockey. This gives him good offensive equity every night, and that has been consistent for the most part this season.

He enters with 5 NHL points and 24 shots on goal in his last 10 games to end the season.