This article is part of our DraftKings NHL series.
Wednesday's NHL slate consists of the one-game showdown contest between the Canadiens and Lightning at 8:00 p.m. EDT. Below, you'll find suggested options for crafting an effective lineup.
SLATE PREVIEW
Montreal staved off elimination with a 3-2 overtime Game 4 win, but the Lightning still lead the series 3-1 as the action shifts back to Tampa Bay for Game 5. The heavily favored Lightning have outscored the Canadiens 16-8 through this series' first four games and are one win from capturing a second consecutive Stanley Cup.
GOALIES
Andrei Vasilevskiy, TB vs. MON ($10,800): Vasilevskiy has seen his level drop after an outstanding start to this series, allowing three goals on 35 shots in a ho-hum Game 3 performance and three goals on just 21 shots in a poor Game 4 effort. Still, his team is favored and Vasilevskiy only gave up a goal apiece in Games 1 and 2, so he remains a strong pick for your lineup and a prominent contender for the Captain spot.
Carey Price, MON at TB ($9,800): Price finally showed up in Game 4 after posting a save percentage of .870 or worse in each of the first three games. He set aside 32 of 34 shots in the overtime win to keep Montreal's season alive. If you think the Canadiens are capable of extending this series further, then Price is a must-have for your lineup.
VALUE PLAYS/ONE-OFFS
Tyler Johnson, TB vs. MON ($2,600): Johnson has a 2-2-4 line over his active three-game point streak, yet he can be had for just $2,600. His affordability makes Johnson an excellent complementary piece with which to round out your lineup, and he's worth locking in while he's rolling.
Corey Perry, MON at TB ($5,200): Perry's one of just four Montreal forwards to score a goal in this series, and his 4-6-10 line this postseason is good for fourth on the team in points, trailing only Nick Suzuki (16), Tyler Toffoli (14) and Cole Caufield (12). The veteran winger still possesses an effective mix of toughness and skill, and it's no coincidence Perry's playing in the Stanley Cup Final for the second consecutive season, as his game is ideal for the tight-checking style of the postseason.
FORWARD LINE STACKS
Lightning vs. Canadiens
Brayden Point (C - $10,000), Nikita Kucherov (W - $10,400), Ondrej Palat (W - $7,800)
Tampa Bay's top players have been inconsistent in this series, but they've dominated at times, and coach Jon Cooper will do his best to get them favorable matchups with last change on home ice. Kucherov has a pair of multi-point efforts in this series and is a top contender for the Conn Smythe Trophy with a league-high 32 points in 22 games this postseason. Point had a three-point performance in Game 1, and he ranks second in points (23) and first in goals (14) throughout the playoffs. Palat's enjoying his best series of the playoffs against Montreal, with a 1-3-4 line over the first four games.
Canadiens at Lightning
Nick Suzuki (C - $8,200), Cole Caufield (W - $8,000), Josh Anderson (W - $5,000)
This trio combined for five points in Game 3, including Anderson's two-goal performance. Overall in this series, Suzuki has a 2-1-3 line and Caufield has three assists, tying them for the team lead with three points apiece. Anderson's the only other Montreal forward with multiple points in this series, so this is the only line that's been able to produce any sort of consistent offense for the Canadiens.
DEFENSEMEN
Victor Hedman, TB vs. MON ($9,000): Hedman has just a goal and an assist in this series, but he has remained a high floor option thanks to his bevy of shots and blocks, with nine and 11, respectively. Despite his quiet offensive output against the Canadiens, Hedman's still tied with Steven Stamkos for third in points among all skaters this postseason with 18, trailing only Point and Kucherov. The hulking blueliner has the highest floor of any skater on either team thanks to his versatile skill set and usage in all situations.
Ben Chiarot, MON at TB ($5,800): Chiarot has had a phenomenal two-way series for Montreal, chipping in a goal, an assist, seven shots and seven blocks through four games while averaging nearly 24 minutes of ice time in a top-pairing role. He's one of just five Canadiens with multiple points in this series, along with all three members of the Suzuki line and defense partner Shea Weber.
