This article is part of our DraftKings NHL series.
The Wednesday-Thursday NHL slate consists of Game 2 between the Canadiens and Golden Knights at 9:00 p.m. EDT on Wednesday and Thursday's Game 3 between the Lightning and Islanders. Below, you'll find suggested options for crafting an effective lineup.
SLATE PREVIEW
Vegas cruised to a 4-1 victory in Game 1 and is heavily favored to take Game 2 at home as well. Meanwhile, the Lightning are slight favorites on the road after winning Game 2 of their series 4-2 to level the series at a game apiece.
GOALIES
Marc-Andre Fleury, VGK vs. MON ($8,000): Fleury allowed just one goal on 29 shots in Monday's series opener, as Vegas put forth a dominant 4-1 performance. With a 9-4 record, 1.84 GAA and .927 save percentage overall this postseason, Fleury's the chalk choice in net.
Andrei Vasilevskiy, TB at NYI ($7,800): Vasilevskiy has allowed two goals in each of this series' first two games, setting aside 53 of 57 shots overall for a .930 save percentage. His solid but unspectacular performance should be enough to get it done if the Lightning's offense plays up to its capabilities, but Vasilevskiy's also capable of raising his level from here.
Semyon Varlamov, NYI vs. TB ($7,600): Varlamov missed some of the first period in Game 2 after a collision with Brayden Point, and he ultimately allowed four goals in the loss. Despite that poor result, Varlamov has likely earned the Game 3 start over Ilya Sorokin, as he's earned some slack in the leash with a preceding four-game win streak that included 30 stops on 31 shots in Game 1.
Carey Price, MON at VGK ($7,200): Even after allowing four goals in Game 1, Price still has an excellent 8-4 record, 2.15 GAA and .929 save percentage this postseason. He'll need to be at the top of his game to give Montreal a chance in Game 2.
VALUE PLAYS/ONE-OFFS
Brock Nelson, NYI vs. TB ($5,000): Nelson's power-play goal in Game 2 was his fourth goal in the last four games and brought him into a tie for the team postseason lead with seven goals. He also tied for the Islanders' team lead with nine goals last postseason, so the big-bodied center is proving himself to be a big-time playoff performer.
Reilly Smith, VGK vs. MON ($3,800): Smith and defensemen Shea Theodore were the only players to post multiple points in Game 1 between Montreal and Vegas. The winger's two-assist effort gave Smith six points in his last six games, yet he remains easy to fit into your lineup at just $3,800.
Anthony Cirelli, TB at NYI ($3,600): Assuming he's healthy after heading to the locker room in the third period of Game 2, Cirelli makes for a nice budget addition to Tampa Bay's expensive stars. The affordable second-line center has chipped in a 3-3-6 line, and Cirelli's 31 shots through 13 playoff games are tied with Victor Hedman for third on the team behind Nikita Kucherov (35) and Brayden Point (32).
Corey Perry, MON at VGK ($3,200): Perry used his role on Montreal's power play to assist on the team's lone goal in Game 1. That helper gave the affordable winger a 3-3-6 line over his last eight games, as Perry continues to provide terrific value for the Canadiens and fantasy managers alike.
FORWARD LINE STACKS
Lightning at Islanders
Brayden Point (C - $7,000), Nikita Kucherov (W - $8,100), Ondrej Palat (W - $4,900)
Tampa Bay has scored five goals through this series' first two games — three have been potted by members of this line and the other two came off defensemen's sticks. Point stretched his goal streak to five games in Game 2 and leads all players this postseason with 10 goals in 13 games. Kucherov had three assists in Game 2 to extend his playoff-best point total to 22, while Palat got in on the fun with a goal in Game 2 and could be a key factor in this series considering he scored three goals in last year's six-game series win over the Islanders.
Golden Knights vs. Canadiens
Chandler Stephenson (C - $4,500), Max Pacioretty (W - $7,500), Mark Stone (W - $6,300)
Vegas' top line will be looking to help give the team a commanding 2-0 series lead. Pacioretty has a 4-4-8 line this postseason in just eight games, Stone has added a 5-3-8 line in 14 games, and Stephenson has dished out six helpers, including one in Game 1. This line's success in the regular season suggests its members are capable of more than they've shown thus far in the playoffs.
Canadiens at Golden Knights
Nick Suzuki (C - $5,900), Tyler Toffoli (W - $6,700), Cole Caufield (W - $4,800)
This line has been Montreal's best offensively, and that was the case in Game 1, as Caufield scored the team's lone goal, which was assisted by Toffoli. Toffoli leads the team with 11 points in 12 games this postseason, while Suzuki has sole possession of second with eight points. They also share the team goals lead with Jesperi Kotkaniemi and Joel Armia at four. Caufield has added five points in 10 games, including a point in each of the last three.
DEFENSEMEN
Shea Theodore, VGK vs. MON ($5,300): While teammate Alex Pietrangelo ($7,100) has a much higher floor, Theodore possesses the highest ceiling on Vegas' blue line. After posting a goal and an assist in the series opener against Montreal, Theodore has racked up consecutive multi-point efforts and four such performances in his last eight games.
Victor Hedman, TB at NYI ($5,800): Hedman stepped up with a goal and an assist in Game 2, giving him a point-per-game pace through 13 contests this postseason. With consistent contributions in shots and blocked shots coupled with his excellent offensive ability, the star defenseman's a solid option at $5,800.
Shea Weber, MON at VGK ($4,500): Weber is Montreal's most capable defenseman at both ends, though he hasn't always looked like it this postseason, with a measly three helpers in 12 games. He's still munching major minutes, having skated at least 24:36 in nine of the past 10 games, so Weber's getting ample opportunities to get going and is likely to capitalize at some point.
Noah Dobson, NYI vs. TB ($3,500): Dobson slowed down in Game 2, but he had three shots in Game 1 after dishing out four helpers in the last three games against Boston. The offensively gifted young blueliner plays sheltered minutes, but coach Barry Trotz should put Dobson in position to make the most of his skill set with the advantage of last change on home ice.
