This article is part of our DraftKings NHL series.
The NHL playoffs continue Thursday with Game 2s from the three series that started Tuesday, as well as the Hurricanes and Bruins, who just played Wednesday morning. Below, you'll find an overview of the matchups and suggested options for crafting an effective lineup.
SLATE PREVIEW
There should be some tired legs in the Blue Jackets-Lightning and Hurricanes-Bruins games. Tampa Bay needed five overtimes to escape with a 3-2 Game 1 win. The length of that contest pushed Carolina-Boston to Wednesday morning, so those two teams will be playing for the second time in as many days after going to double overtime in a 4-3 Boston decision. The biggest favorites based on Game 1 outcomes should be the Golden Knights, as they reminded the world why Chicago was 12th in the West prior to the halt in play with a convincing 4-1 win. Calgary looked more battle tested in its 3-2 Game 1 win over a Dallas team that's yet to win in the bubble, but desperation could start to set in for the Stars.
GOALIES
Andrei Vasilevskiy ($8,100) made plenty of routine stops but still piled up a robust 61 saves on 63 shots in Game 1, which needed five overtimes to be decided. With the ice usually tilted in his team's favor, Vasilevskiy should be worth paying up for again in Game 2.
On the other hand, it's apparent Joonas Korpisalo ($7,300) will need to stand on his head for Columbus to win. His NHL-record 85 saves in Game 1 weren't enough, but perhaps tired Lightning skaters will have an equally tough time solving the young netminder in Game 2.
Cam Talbot ($7,900) gave up a soft goal in Game 1 against Dallas, yet he still walked away with 24 saves and a 3-2 win. If he tightens things up a bit against the anemic Stars offense, the veteran netminder should help Calgary grab a commanding 2-0 series lead.
Ben Bishop ($7,700) has been battling an undisclosed injury and served as the backup in Game 1, but he's expected to take the starter's crease for Dallas in Game 2. Bishop's wealth of playoff experience and tremendous postseason numbers (2.16 GAA, .927 save percentage in 50 games) could make him the spark the team needs to turn things around after dropping its first four games in the bubble.
VALUE PLAYS/ONE-OFFS
Tampa's top players could see a reduction in workload after playing over two games' worth of hockey Tuesday, but Brayden Point ($6,100) is still worth locking in for the Lightning. He's quite affordable for a player who just missed out on point-per-game status in the regular season with a 25-39-64 line in 66 games. Point has taken things up a notch in the bubble, as he's yet to be held off the scoresheet in four games and potted two goals in Game 1, including the overtime winner.
While linemate Reilly Smith ($5,000) stole the show with two goals and an assist in Game 1, linemate Jonathan Marchessault ($6,100) looked like the most dangerous player on the ice. The diminutive winger set up both of Smith's goals and also led the team with six shots. Expect a repeat performance against a Blackhawks team that ranked in the bottom two when it came to defending wingers this season.
Pierre-Luc Dubois ($4,900) was the only player able to generate consistent chances for Columbus in Game 1, as he factored into both of the team's goals with a goal and an assist. The third overall pick from the 2016 draft also led his team in regular season scoring, with 49 points in 70 games.
Teuvo Teravainen ($5,700) is markedly cheaper than linemates Sebastian Aho ($7,200) and Andrei Svechnikov ($6,200), but the gap in their prices doesn't align with the difference in their production. With an assist in Game 1, Teravainen has a 1-2-3 line in four games this postseason. In the regular season, his 63 points in 68 games were three shy of Aho's total and two better than Svechnikov in just as many contests. Though he's more of a pass-first player compared to his linemates, Teravainen's cheaper valuation more than makes up for the difference in goals.
FORWARD LINE STACKS
Bruins vs. Hurricanes
David Krejci (C - $3,800), Jake DeBrusk (W - $4,000), Ondrej Kase (W - $3,700)
This Boston second line was consistently the most dangerous line for either team in Game 1, as Krejci had a goal on four shots, Kase had a helper and five shots, and DeBrusk added four shots himself. For comparison's sake, Boston's top line accounted for two goals but only six shots. Given how cheap these guys are, it makes sense to lock in all three while still giving yourself plenty of room to spend big elsewhere.
Golden Knights vs. Blackhawks
William Karlsson (C - $6,200), Max Pacioretty (W - $7,700), Mark Stone (W - $7,000)
The second line carried the mail in Game 1, but look for Vegas' top line to return the favor in Game 2 against a Chicago team that allowed 3.06 goals on a league-high 35.1 shots per game in the regular season. Karlsson owns a 1-2-3 line through four games this postseason and is just two years removed from a 43-goal, 78-point campaign. Pacioretty led the team in goals (32), points (66) and shots (307) in the regular season, edging out Stone by three points. The veteran power forward returned from an undisclosed injury in Game 1 and should be more dangerous now that he's had a chance to shake off the rust.
Stars vs. Flames
Joe Pavelski (C - $4,000), Denis Gurianov (W - $3,300), Mattias Janmark (W - $2,800)
If Dallas is going to work its way back into this series, this affordable yet dangerous second line will likely play a key role. Pavekski's skill set is tailor-made for the playoffs, as he's perhaps the best in the league at tipping pucks in front of the net. He has two goals in four games this postseason, bringing his career playoff line to 50-52-102 in 138 games. Gurianov lit the lamp in Game 1, notching his first career playoff goal on the heels of a 20-goal regular season. Janmark's a cheap filler who has been looking to put the puck on net regularly, as he has three-plus shots in four of his last seven games.
DEFENSEMEN
Miro Heiskanen ($4,500) is a can't-miss option at his price. The third overall pick from the 2017 draft showed off his all-around ability in Game 1 with an assist, five shots and three blocks. That level of production is nothing new for Heiskanen, who has five helpers and 13 shots in four games this postseason.
With a goal in Game 1, Shea Theodore ($6,600) now has a 3-2-5 line, 14 shots and seven blocks in his past three games. His elite offensive ability from the blue line makes Vegas' top fantasy defenseman a strong choice against Chicago.
Erik Gustafsson ($3,600) remains extremely affordable for the Flames, even though he's now riding a three-game assist streak. That production isn't necessarily a fluke considering Gustafsson had 60 points for the Blackhawks in 2018-19.
Olli Maatta ($3,300) has given Chicago excellent two-way production this postseason, with a 2-2-4 line and 14 blocks in five games. If you need a cheap filler on the blue line, Maatta's worth a look.
