This article is part of our DraftKings NHL series.
Wednesday's NHL slate consists of the one-game showdown contest between the Bruins and Islanders at 6:30 p.m. EDT. Below, you'll find suggested options for crafting an effective lineup.
SLATE PREVIEW
New York took its first lead of the series with a 5-4 Game 5 win in Boston, and the Islanders will now have a chance to close it out on home ice in Game 6. Despite trailing 3-2 in the series, the Bruins are favored Wednesday.
GOALIES
Semyon Varlamov, NYI vs. BOS ($10,400): Varlamov has gone 3-1 since taking over for Ilya Sorokin, who lost Game 1 of this series. He gave up just three goals on 70 shots for a .957 save percentage as these two teams split Games 3 and 4 on Long Island, and Varlamov was able to bend but not break against Boston's onslaught late in Game 5, finishing with 40 saves as Boston trimmed a 5-2 third-period deficit to 5-4 but couldn't find the tying goal. Expect another busy night for the Russian netminder in Game 6.
Tuukka Rask, BOS at NYI ($10,000): Rask has had an up-and-down series and was pulled after two periods in Game 5, having allowed four goals on just 16 shots. After posting a single-game save percentage of .946 or better in each of the last three games against Washington, Rask has reached that mark only once in this series' first five games while twice slipping below .900. Backup Jeremy Swayman ($10,000) arguably gives the Bruins a better chance to win, but the team's loyalty to Rask suggests the struggling netminder will likely get the nod if he's healthy enough to play. Rask is considered a game-time decision due to an undisclosed injury.
VALUE PLAYS/ONE-OFFS
Anthony Beauvillier, NYI vs. BOS ($8,200): Beauvillier is tied with Jean-Gabriel a Pageau for the team points lead this postseason with 11 in 11 games, and Beauvillier has four goals to Pageau's three. With a 14-13-27 line through 41 career playoff games, Beauvillier's quickly establishing himself as a perennial playoff performer. He's a sneaky choice for your Captain spot if you think it will be a high-scoring game.
David Krejci, BOS at NYI ($8,000): Krejci's been the only Bruin outside the top line that's been able to generate consistent offense in this series, and it helps that he shares the ice with its members on the No. 1 power-play unit. The veteran center has scored a goal in each of the last two games and added three assists in the series opener against the Islanders. He's also piled up 21 shots over this series' first five games.
FORWARD LINE STACKS
Bruins at Islanders
Patrice Bergeron (C - $9,800), David Pastrnak (W - $9,400), Brad Marchand (W - $10,600)
While New York has gotten scoring from up and down the lineup in this series, Boston's relied almost exclusively on its top players for offense, and that's unlikely to change now. Bergeron has a 1-4-5 line and 21 shots in this series, Marchand has added a 3-4-7 line and 17 shots, while Pastrnak's been the best of the bunch with a 5-3-8 line and 23 shots.
Islanders vs. Bruins
Mathew Barzal (C - $8,600), Jordan Eberle (W - $6,200), Leo Komarov (W - $3,800)
New York's top line offers a nice mix of skill and affordability. Barzal got off to a slow start this postseason, but the Islanders' most skilled offensive player has heated up at the right time, carrying a two-game multi-point streak, three-game goal streak and four-game point streak into this potential closeout game. Eberle has heated up alongside Barzal, chipping in a 1-4-5 line in this series and 15 shots over the past four games. Komarov's a defense-first winger, but his deployment alongside these two skilled linemates makes the veteran Russian an intriguing value option. He's chipped in a pair of helpers in this series.
DEFENSEMEN
Charlie McAvoy, BOS at NYI ($8,400): The fifth member of Boston's top power-play unit alongside Krejci and the top line is the only other player that's gotten going offensively for the Bruins in this series. McAvoy has a 1-5-6 line through five games against New York and is coming off a three-assist effort in Game 5. With the Bruins beat up on the blue line, McAvoy should see all the minutes he can handle as his team tries to keep its season alive.
Nick Leddy, NYI vs. BOS ($4,400): Leddy's a capable distributor of the puck, with four helpers in his last eight games and 35 points in 67 games between the regular season and playoffs. He's a solid value play as New York's second-cheapest active blueliner.
