This article is part of our DraftKings NHL series.
Tuesday's NHL slate begins at 6:30 p.m. EDT and features two games. Below, you'll find suggested options for crafting an effective lineup.
SLATE PREVIEW
The Avalanche and Golden Knights are tied at two games apiece, but the Avalanche are favored in Game 5 at home in a series that's yet to see the home side drop a game. The Lightning stormed back to turn a 4-2 deficit into a 6-4 win in Game 4, grabbing a commanding 3-1 series lead as their series shifts back to Carolina. Tampa Bay's slightly favored to close it out Tuesday.
GOALIES
Philipp Grubauer, COL vs. VGK ($8,100): Grubauer stumbled in Games 3 and 4, but he'll be hoping that what happened in Vegas stays in Vegas. The German netminder has allowed just seven goals in four home games this postseason, winning them all, so Grubauer's well positioned to bounce back after surrendering eight goals over his last two outings.
Andrei Vasilevskiy, TB at CAR ($8,000): After two outstanding efforts to start this series (68 saves on 70 shots), Vasilevskiy struggled in Games 3 and 4, though Petr Mrazek bailed him out with an even worse performance in Carolina's net, allowing Tampa Bay to grab a 3-1 series lead with a Game 4 triumph. Vasilevskiy should right the ship in Carolina's building, where he excelled in Games 1 and 2, as the Vezina Trophy nominee still has a solid 2.46 GAA and .928 save percentage overall this postseason.
Marc-Andre Fleury, VGK at COL ($7,500): Fleury has won two of his three starts in this series, allowing six goals on 63 shots. His .905 save percentage against the Avalanche is nothing to write home about, but the stifling Vegas defense has made life easy for Fleury. Colorado's yet to lose on home ice this postseason, so Fleury will need to step up in order to change that.
Alex Nedeljkovic, CAR vs. TB ($7,600): Coach Rod Brind'Amour's decision to bench Nedeljkovic in favor of Mrazek in a misguided attempt to swing this series' momentum could prove to be the decision that costs the Hurricanes their season. Mrazek did the job in Game 3 as Carolina's offense woke up a bit, but he couldn't track the puck at all in Game 4, allowing six goals on 26 shots. Nedeljkovic should be back in the starter's crease after Mrazek's horrendous Game 4 showing, but the rookie has no margin for error with his team on the brink of elimination. He has a 2.18 GAA and .920 save percentage in eight games this postseason, including 41 stops on 45 shots (.911 save percentage) in two games against the Lightning.
VALUE PLAYS/ONE-OFFS
Mikko Rantanen, COL vs. VGK ($7,900): Rantanen's the only member of Colorado's top line that's been able to find success in this series since the team's blowout win in Game 1, adding a goal apiece in Games 2 and 3 after posting a goal and an assist in the series opener. The star winger has a 4-7-11 line in eight games overall this postseason and is a strong play whether you choose to stack Avalanche skaters or use Rantanen as a standalone option.
Max Pacioretty, VGK at COL ($7,000): Pacioretty's postseason got off to a late start, but he's quickly making up for lost time. The top-line winger has posted a five-game point streak since returning, adding 20 shots to his 3-2-5 line. Until the Avalanche show they can keep Pacioretty off the scoresheet, he deserves consideration for a lineup spot, even in this hostile road environment.
Andrei Svechnikov, CAR vs. TB ($5,300): Svechnikov has been by far the most consistent source of offense for the Hurricanes in this series. He's scored at least one point in each of the first four games against the Lightning, totaling a 1-4-5 line and 16 shots. Given his rare mix of skill and physicality, a fully engaged Svechnikov will be hard to slow down here with his team's back against the wall.
Alex Killorn, TB at CAR ($4,400): Killorn's one of the role players on bloated contracts that likely would have been shipped out to maintain cap compliance if not for Nikita Kucherov's well-timed hip surgery, but the Lightning are certainly glad they were able to skirt the salary cap rules and keep Killorn given his productivity this postseason. His active three-game point streak has Killorn's postseason line up to 6-5-11 through 10 contests, and his spot on the top power-play unit in addition to the second line has Killorn well positioned to stay productive moving forward as the Lightning look to close out Carolina.
FORWARD LINE STACKS
Lightning at Hurricanes
Brayden Point (C - $6,400), Nikita Kucherov (W - $8,200), Ondrej Palat (W - $4,600)
Tampa Bay's top line has dominated in this series, especially on the power play, which has gotten plenty of opportunities in a chippy series that's been called tightly when it comes to Carolina's transgressions. Kucherov leads all skaters in points this postseason with a 5-12-17 line over 10 games, including a 2-3-5 line and 13 shots over the last two. Point has added a goal and an assist in each of the last two games to raise his playoff line to 7-4-11 in 10 games, while Palat has been comparatively quiet (2-3-5) but is coming off a two-assist effort in Game 4.
Golden Knights at Avalanche
William Karlsson (C - $5,200), Jonathan Marchessault (W - $5,500), Reilly Smith (W - $3,900)
This has been the most productive line for either team in this series, which is quite impressive given all the talent on the ice. Marchessault scored a hat trick in Game 4, giving him a 4-2-6 line in this series, including at least one point in each game. Karlsson's trio of Game 4 helpers raised his output in this series to 2-3-5, while Smith extended his point streak to three games.
Avalanche vs. Golden Knights
J.T. Compher (C - $), Andre Burakovsky (W - $4,000), Brandon Saad (W - $3,400)
The Golden Knights have managed to slow down Colorado's top line over the last three games, leaving this affordable trio as the favored Avalanche's most enticing value option. Saad has scored a goal in six of his last seven games, as well as nine of the past 12 dating back to the regular season. Burakovsky has two assists in this series, and he's due for a breakout performance after posting a 19-25-44 line over 53 regular-season contests. Compher has delivered strong two-way play recently, with an assist, four shots and five blocks over the last two games.
DEFENSEMEN
Victor Hedman, TB at CAR ($6,000): Hedman leads all defensemen with 11 points in 10 games this postseason, as he's been a key piece of the top-heavy Lightning attack. Even when he's held off the scoresheet, Hedman's capable of racking up significant shot and block totals, which have helped him score at least 7.3 fantasy points in each of his last eight games.
Alec Martinez, VGK at COL ($5,300): If you're searching for a high floor, look no further than Martinez, who has scored fewer than 8.4 fantasy points just once in his last 15 games. His shot-blocking prowess should be on full display as Colorado's offense kicks up the intensity, and Martinez is also a reliable offensive contributor, with an 11-24-35 line in 64 games between the regular season and playoffs this year.
Ryan Graves, COL vs. VGK ($4,300): Graves has cooled off a bit in the last three games after opening the postseason with five consecutive performances of 11.4 or more fantasy points, but he continues to deliver results on both ends of the ice. He has a 1-5-6 line and 14 shots in eight playoff games, along with 24 blocked shots.
Jaccob Slavin, CAR vs. TB ($3,800): Slavin was fantastic over Games 3 and 4, totaling a goal, two assists, five shots and three blocks. The reasonably priced blueliner will look to continue that success back on home ice as his team tries to fend off elimination.
