This article is part of our DraftKings NHL series.
The Friday-Saturday NHL slate consists of Game 3 between the Golden Knights and Canadiens at 8:00 p.m. EDT on Friday followed by Saturday's Game 4 between the Lightning and Islanders. Below, you'll find suggested options for crafting an effective lineup.
SLATE PREVIEW
The Canadiens and Golden Knights are tied at a game apiece following Montreal's 3-2 Game 2 win Wednesday in Vegas, but Vegas remains heavily favored on the road. Meanwhile, the Lightning grabbed a 2-1 series edge with a 2-1 road win Thursday, and they remain slight favorites over the Islanders in Game 4.
GOALIES
Marc-Andre Fleury, VGK at MON ($8,300): Fleury has allowed four goals on 52 shots through this series' first two games for a .923 save percentage. He had a five-game winning streak come to an end in Game 2, but Fleury's in position to start building a new such streak.
Andrei Vasilevskiy, TB at NYI ($8,000): With 80 saves on 85 shots, Vasilevskiy has an excellent .941 save percentage through this series' first three games. His strong play is a big part of the reason Tampa Bay holds a 2-1 series lead, and Vasilevskiy's showing no signs of slowing down.
Carey Price, MON vs. VGK ($7,600): Price proved in Game 2 that he's capable of beating the Golden Knights, as he improved to 9-4 with a 2.14 GAA and .930 save percentage this postseason. He's an enticing value option as this slate's most affordable goalie.
Semyon Varlamov, NYI vs. TB ($7,900): Varlamov has played well in this series, allowing only seven goals, but the Islanders find themselves down 2-1. New York has been unfazed when falling behind previously, and the team should bring its best effort in front of Varlamov in Game 4 on home ice.
VALUE PLAYS/ONE-OFFS
Mathew Barzal, NYI vs. TB ($6,700): Barzal will be called upon to step up with his team trailing after a quiet Game 3. The top-line center can be forgiven for one down game given his recent form, as Barzal still has a 5-3-8 line over his last eight games, having been held off the scoresheet just once in that stretch.
Mattias Janmark, VGK at MON ($2,700): Janmark has a 4-4-8 line in 12 games this postseason, including a goal in the series opener against Montreal. Despite being tied for third on the Golden Knights in goals and fifth in points this postseason, Janmark can still be had for just $200 over the minimum valuation.
Joel Armia, MON vs. VGK ($3,000): Armia opened the scoring in Game 2, briefly grabbing sole possession of the team's goals lead with five before Tyler Toffoli tied him later in the frame. As a consistent source of secondary scoring for the deep Canadiens, Armia's a bargain at just $3,000.
Yanni Gourde, TB at NYI ($4,100): Gourde's a streaky scorer, so perhaps him putting the puck in the net to open the Game 3 scoring will prove to be the start of a productive stretch. He has just a 3-1-4 line thus far this postseason after producing a 7-7-14 line in 25 games during last year's Stanley Cup run.
FORWARD LINE STACKS
Golden Knights at Canadiens
William Karlsson (C - $5,600), Jonathan Marchessault (W - $5,800), Reilly Smith (W - $4,100)
This line continues to be Vegas' best and has been the one to step up when the going gets tough. Karlsson has a 2-6-8 line over his active six-game point streak and a 4-9-13 line in 15 games overall this postseason. Marchessault has a 5-3-8 line over his last eight games, and Smith's contributed a 1-5-6 line in the last seven games. Karlsson leads the team in points this postseason, while Marchessault leads in goals with six.
Lightning at Islanders
Brayden Point (C - $7,200), Nikita Kucherov (W - $8,300), Ondrej Palat (W - $5,100)
Point and Kucherov continue to lead the way for the Lightning, and they lead the league in goals and points, respectively, this postseason. Kucherov's 5-18-23 line through 14 games includes 11 points over his current six-game point streak, while Point's 11 goals include one in each of the past six games. Palat isn't integral to this stack, having chipped in a pedestrian 3-3-6 line in 14 games this postseason.
Canadiens vs. Golden Knights
Nick Suzuki (C - $5,900), Tyler Toffoli (W - $6,200), Cole Caufield (W - $5,000)
This is easily Montreal's most dangerous line offensively, led by Toffoli, who has a 5-5-10 line over an active eight-game point streak and a team-leading 12 points overall. Suzuki's tied with Armia and Corey Perry ($3,400) for second on the team with eight points through 13 games in these playoffs. Caufield has six points in 11 games, and the rookie comes into this one riding an active four-game point streak.
DEFENSEMEN
Alex Pietrangelo, VGK at MON ($6,500): The way he's playing right now, Pietrangelo's arguably the first skater you should be penciling into lineups. With 17.5 or more fantasy points in seven consecutive games, Pietrangelo's been dominant recently. Even when he's kept off the scoresheet, the star defenseman has been piling up enough shots and blocks to still deliver above average to elite performances, including seven shots on goal apiece in Games 1 and 2 of this series.
Jeff Petry, MON vs. VGK ($5,000): Petry returned from a hand injury in Game 2 and promptly posted an assist. Though the veteran defenseman hadn't been as effective in the playoffs prior to getting hurt, Petry's 12-30-42 line was good for second on the team in points during the regular season, trailing Toffoli by two.
Scott Mayfield, NYI vs. TB ($4,500): After a quiet Game 2, Mayfield returned to his stat-stuffing ways in Game 3, notching at least three blocks for the fourth time in the last five games and adding multiple shots for the fifth time in seven. His secondary contributions give Mayfield an excellent floor relative to his $4,500 valuation, and he has chipped in the occasional point with a 1-4-5 line this postseason.
Erik Cernak, TB at NYI ($3,600): Cernak's impact comes primarily on the defensive end, but he has enough puck-moving skills to get it to the Lightning's highly skilled forwards and let them do the rest. With his assist in Game 3, Cernak brought his playoff scoring rate back to half a point per game, with seven points in 14 contests.
