This article is part of our DraftKings NHL series.
The Thursday-Friday NHL slate consists of Game 3 between the Lightning and Islanders at 8:00 p.m. EDT followed by Friday's Game 3 between the Golden Knights and Canadiens. Below, you'll find suggested options for crafting an effective lineup.
SLATE PREVIEW
The Lightning-Islanders series shifts to New York after they split the first two games in Tampa Bay — a 2-1 Islanders win followed by a 4-2 Lightning response. Vegas and Montreal are also tied at a game apiece as they head north of the border, with the Canadiens taking Game 2 by a 3-2 score after the heavily favored Golden Knights opened the series with a 4-1 drubbing.
GOALIES
Marc-Andre Fleury, VGK vs. MON ($8,400): After allowing just one goal on 29 shots in Game 1, Fleury struggled in Game 2, as Montreal connected three times on just 23 shots to level the series. Fleury figures to bounce back in Game 3 given his 1.92 GAA and .923 save percentage this postseason, but he doesn't come cheap at $8,400.
Andrei Vasilevskiy, TB at NYI ($7,900): Vasilevskiy's 9-4 with a 2.21 GAA and .933 save percentage this postseason after allowing two goals in each of the first two games against the Islanders. The Lightning are 5-1 on the road in the playoffs, so Vasilevskiy's unlikely to be bothered by the raucous crowd on Long Island.
Semyon Varlamov, NYI vs. TB ($7,800): Varlamov had a four-game winning streak halted in Game 2, allowing at least four goals for just the third time in nine postseason starts. With a 5-4 record, 2.64 GAA and .923 save percentage, Varlamov will likely remain the Islanders' playoff goalie of choice if he shows no ill effects from Tuesday's first-period collision with Brayden Point.
Carey Price, MON vs. VGK ($7,400): Price struggled in Game 1 but bounced back with 29 stops on 31 shots in the Game 2 win to level the series. After dropping his first two home starts of the playoffs, Price has won his last three while allowing just five goals on 86 shots (.942 save percentage).
VALUE PLAYS/ONE-OFFS
Brayden Point, TB at NYI ($7,100): Brayden's been racking up plenty of points, and more specifically goals, recently. He has managed to light the lamp in seven of the last eight games, including each of this series' first two, and Point leads all skaters with 10 goals in 13 games this postseason.
Max Pacioretty, VGK at MON ($7,300): Pacioretty has failed to mark the scoresheet in the first two games against his former team, but the top-line winger is unlikely to remain quiet much longer considering he had failed to pick up a point only once in the previous 17 games. Jumping on Pacioretty before he heats back up is a risky strategy given his $7,300 valuation, but it could pay off handsomely.
Tyler Toffoli, MON vs. VGK ($6,400): Toffoli has an eight-game point streak going, with a 5-5-10 line over that stretch. Montreal's top regular-season scorer continues to carry that mantle in the playoffs and should be the first Canadiens skater you target.
Jean-Gabriel Pageau, NYI vs. TB ($4,900): Pageau leads the Islanders in points this postseason with a 3-10-13 line in 14 games, yet he's still valued below three of the team's other forwards at $4,900. With a spot on the top power-play unit, the third-line center's well-positioned to keep playing a leading role offensively, assuming he's able to shake off the undisclosed injury he suffered in the third period of Game 2.
FORWARD LINE STACKS
Lightning at Islanders
Anthony Cirelli (C - $4,000), Steven Stamkos (W - $6,100), Alex Killorn (W - $4,900)
Tampa Bay's top line has provided the vast majority of the team's offense thus far in this series, but this second line has been quite effective this postseason and should join in on the fun before long. Stamkos (5-9-14) is tied with Point for second on the team with 14 points through 13 games, trailing only Nikita Kucherov (22). Killorn's right behind them with a 6-7-13 line, while Cirelli — who's expected to be fine after exiting late in Game 2 — only has a 3-3-6 line but actually leads this trio in shots with 31.
Islanders vs. Lightning
Brock Nelson (C - $5,000), Anthony Beauvillier (W - $5,600), Josh Bailey (W - $4,000)
This line was the Islanders' most effective last postseason, and it's having another strong playoff run. With a 5-7-12 line, Bailey's one point back of Pageau's team-leading total this postseason. Beauvillier and Nelson are right behind them at 11 apiece — tied with Mathew Barzal ($6,700) for third on the team. Nelson's also tied for the team lead in goals at seven, sharing that spot with Kyle Palmieri ($3,900).
Canadiens vs. Golden Knights
Eric Staal (C - $2,700), Corey Perry (W - $3,100), Joel Armia (W - $3,000)
Montreal's veteran fourth line has provided tremendous value all postseason and is showing no signs of slowing down. Perry has dished out a helper in each of this series' first two games and has a 3-4-7 line in his last nine. Armia lit the lamp in Game 2 and shares the team postseason goals lead with Toffoli at five. Staal has gone quiet over the past three games but had five points over the previous four.
DEFENSEMEN
Alex Pietrangelo, VGK at MON ($6,500): Pietrangelo's making a late push to throw his name into the Conn Smythe Trophy race. He potted both of Vegas' Game 2 goals while putting seven pucks on net for the second time in as many games this series, and Pietrangelo has now scored at least 17.5 fantasy points in seven consecutive games.
Victor Hedman, TB at NYI ($5,900): The Islanders have struggled to keep opposing top defensemen off the scoresheet — Kris Letang had six points in six games against them in the first round and Charlie McAvoy added seven points over six games in the second. Hedman outperformed both of those guys in the regular season, so his goal and assist in Game 2 should be viewed as a harbinger of more offense to come.
Ryan Pulock, NYI vs. TB ($5,100): Pulock's goal in Game 1 was his fourth of the postseason, as he's put his rocket of a slap shot to good use. Vasilevskiy has struggled on unscreened shots from distance at times, so Pulock should be able to recreate his Game 1 goal again in this series.
Joel Edmundson, MON vs. VGK ($3,600): Edmundson's no stranger to the latter stages of the postseason, having captured the Stanley Cup with the Blues in 2019. The stay-at-home blueliner is chipping in offensively for the Canadiens, with five assists in his last six games, including a pair in Wednesday's Game 2 win.
