NHL Building Blocks – April 21
The first round of the playoffs is officially fully underway, and we’ve got four more games tonight. Let’s dive in!
The premise of each article in this series is to feature starting spots (building blocks) for your lines. These are plays that are cash-viable as well as GPP-worthy and can be considered in all contest formats.
Starting Lineup – April 21
The Goalie: Connor Hellebuyck
Playoff Hellebuyck reared its ugly head early on in Game 1 as he allowed three goals in the first 21 minutes of action. However, he calmed down and shut out the Blues the rest of the way as he helped the Jets to a 5-3 victory. His confidence will be key in how he responds as Winnipeg tries for a 2-0 lead, and I think he’s going to step up and keep things going in a positive direction.
The Center: Mark Scheifele
The Jets had a bit of a struggle in the first half of their series opener, but Scheifele stepped up, scoring the team’s first goal and adding two helpers down the stretch as they overcame the hot Blues and their own shaky play. Things should be rocking in the whiteout for Game 2, and he should be ready to lead them to a 2-0 series lead.
The Wing: Alex Ovechkin
Now that Ovie has captured the record, the mission for him and the Caps turns to a Stanley Cup run, and they’re set up for a deep one. Their opponent, the Canadiens, barely squeaked into the playoffs, and their defense isn’t terribly intimidating, so Ovie has a chance to get Washington off to a good start in the series opener.
The Defenseman: Lane Hutson
The likely Calder winner gets his first taste of postseason action, and he draws a tough assignment in having to match (and sometimes cover) The Great 8. Montreal has got some momentum after having to fight and claw for the last spot, so we’ll see if they can carry that into a tough series.
The Value: Gabriel Landeskog
Landeskog is ready to go whenever his number is called, though the Avs may be saving his comeback for Game 3 back in Colorado. Still, if he plays today, he’s going to give them an incredible jump, which could be helpful in trying to take both of the first two games of the series on the road.
The Stack: COL (MacKinnon-Necas-Lehkonen-Makar)
The Avs continued to pile on the Stars’ late-season slump, winning Game 1 by a score of 5-1 (and it wasn’t that close). This quartet combined for three goals and three assists, and the Stars didn’t have an answer for them. Momentum is everything in the playoffs, and they’ve got a good amount of it.
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Apr 19, 2025; Dallas, Texas, USA; Colorado Avalanche center Nathan MacKinnon (29) celebrates his goal with teammates during the second period against the Dallas Stars in game one of the first round of the 2025 Stanley Cup Playoffs at American Airlines Center. Mandatory Credit: Raymond Carlin III-Imagn Images