The first four series are now two games in, and it probably should surprise no one that the Carolina Hurricanes are up 2-0. Last season's playoffs, they were 7-1 at PNC Arena, and 0-6 on the road. So, a few quick bucks on the Islanders for Friday might look good. The other three matches are all 1-1, and maybe you're surprised by the Florida Panthers, but I've taken them as my upset selection to not only go to seven games, but to win the series. And the two quietest arenas thus far have been in the normally-frenzied Toronto and Boston.  

Day #4 of the Stanley Cup playoffs are upon us, and most true hockey fans are bleary-eyed and sleep-deprived. Some are happy, some not. If you're a fan of one of the 16 teams playing golf instead of hockey, hopefully you can pick a couple of series out of the ongoing eight, and maybe develop a 1A/1B relationship, just like a goalie tandem. Don't try to deny that for yourself. Playoff hockey is not to be missed!

The menu tonight:

NYR at NJD

TBL at TOR

WPG at VGK

SEA at COL

….with the visiting teams up 1-0 in each matchup. 

OK, so the objective in DFS is to score points. And, sure, a couple blocked shots are nice, but the money is in goals, assists, shots, and power-play points. So, if you or I were confident as to which match would even up at 1-1, or go to 2-0 for the lower-ranked teams, we'd have a major advantage. Let's look at each contest.   

Rangers/Devils

I picked the Blueshirts to advance through this series, although certainly not by multiple 5-1 trouncings. New Jersey's strengths are youth and speed, and I see them falling to depth and experience. Jack Hughes' penalty shot was a thing of beauty, but the Devils' power play opportunities produced nearly as many shorthanded shots as quality scoring chances. If New Jersey has a chance here, it'll be to tighten their defense – a lot – and find a few odd-man rushes. But get behind early again, and sayonara, as those opportunities will be far fewer. I see this game as 2-1 (3-1 with an empty net score?) either way, and not fertile ground for DFS points. Filip Chytil ($4600) might be the best to grab, on the kid line and second power play.

Lightning/Maple Leafs

And then you'd think that after a 7-3 embarrassing loss, the Leafs should play defense, too… but you'd be wrong. The Bolts WILL score, so Toronto will need at least four goals to win this game, and their big guys to come up, well, big. If Victor Hedman and Erik Cernak are both out, Tampa Bay also knows that Andrei Vasilevskiy will have his hands full to hold off the barrage, and counterattacks from speedy…. nope, not really Tampa's game. I'd play William Nylander ($6700) for sure, plus the least-expensive top-liner in Calle Jarnkrok ($3300). And then Mikhail Sergachev ($5100), who may have 30+ minutes of ice-time in regulation, with six shots, power-play assists, and four or five blocks. 6-5 in white-knuckle overtime would be entertainment worthy of even those expensive tickets at Scotia Bank. 

Jets/Golden Knights

The surprise to me here was the Jets' defensive pressure. I expected their top-six to get chances, to score a couple, and Vegas to win or lose entirely by Connor Hellebuyck's efforts.  And yes, Hellebuyck was good. Vegas, though, led the NHL in blocked shots, and plays that swarming, in-your-face style on the back end, such that having had to start five different goaltenders over the season – yeah, they won the West. I'll say Vegas responds tonight, 5-2.  Two scores from Jack Eichel ($7000), and a goalie DFS play for Laurent Brossoit ($8100).  Nope, no confidence here that Winnipeg goes home up by two games.

Kraken/Avalanche

Prior to their first game, I saw predictions of a sweep, and most often "Colorado in five." The Avs are wounded, sure, but they're not going away anytime soon, and I for one will stick with my pick here. Nathan MacKinnon, Mikko Rantanen. Cale Makar and the gang will pull through.   However, having spent good money on star players above, my lineup needs some secondary options for this game. Valeri Nichushkin ($5900) and Evan Rodrigues ($4600) do fit under my DraftKings "salary cap," along with Bowen Byram ($4500).

Seattle fits the definition of "just happy to be there" as a playoff team, and those squads rarely do well.

Get in a nap today, we'll all need it.