This article is part of our FanDuel NHL series.
SLATE PREVIEW
It's a busy Monday with five games on the slate, three of which feature teams on the brink of elimination. The Panthers may start Spencer Knight in a last-ditch attempt to stay alive against the Lightning (8 p.m. EDT) while the Wild need to find a way to break through against the Golden Knights (10:30 p.m.) in a series in which they've been dominated. The Oilers and Jets (9:45 p.m.) are playing a rare back-to-back, giving the Oilers very little time to recover after blowing a 4-1 lead Sunday night. The return of Nikolaj Ehlers, who scored the OT winner, made a big difference for the Jets, and given how far Mike Smith has carried them, I don't expect the Oilers to make a goaltending change.
The Islanders-Penguins (7 p.m.) and Maple Leafs-Canadiens (7 p.m.) series are tied and it's been difficult to get a good read on each team. The Pens have looked both dominant and lost, sometimes in the same game, while the Habs need Carey Price to be an elite goaltender for an entire series and not just one game.
GOALIES
Marc-Andre Fleury, VGK vs. MIN ($8,500): Fleury has allowed only three goals this series and the Knights have been dominant. Goal scoring on the road has been a problem for the Wild going back to the regular season where they ranked just 15th with 2.82 GF/GP.
Jack Campbell, TOR at MON ($7,800): Campbell was very good for the second straight game, allowing just one goal on 23 shots. The Leafs should be able to provide plenty of goal support and the Habs won just 13 games at home during the season, the fewest among playoff teams.
Connor Hellebuyck, WPG vs. EDM ($7,300): The Jets should have all the momentum now with a 3-1 series lead after staging a comeback win Sunday night. Hellebuyck has been peppered with shots but he's been brilliant, allowing five goals on 119 shots (.958 Sv%).
VALUE PLAYS
Frederick Gaudreau, PIT vs. NYI ($3,300): Gaudreau has two assists in his past two games and seems to have found a good home on the third line with Jeff Carter and Jared McCann. His ice time may be limited but he's been one of the more consistent Pens forwards so far in an up-and-down series.
Alex Galchenyuk, TOR at MON ($3,500): Galchenyuk did little in 11 TOI despite playing on the second line, but he's expected to stay in that spot after a dominant win for the Leafs in Game 2. Why change what isn't broke? The Leafs won't have last change so that may affect Galchenyuk's deployment, but as long as he's playing in the top six he should get some chances to score.
Jesse Puljujarvi, EDM at WPG ($4,100): The late-game collapse aside, Puljujarvi has actually shown pretty well over the past two games with nine shots even though he has yet to register a point. The Oilers' lack of quality depth means they have to lean very hard on their top six, and right now that includes Puljujarvi. You can throw Zack Kassian ($3,100), who scored a goal in 16 minutes of ice time, into the mix as well.
LINE STACKS
Maple Leafs at Canadiens
Auston Matthews ($8,500), Mitch Marner (W - $7,400), Zach Hyman (W - $4,600)
The Leafs offense remain a talented group even without their captain, and it starts with their top line. Hyman's always a nice addition because his salary is relatively lower even though he plays a significant role on this line and on PP1.
Lightning at Panthers
Anthony Cirelli (C - $4,800), Steven Stamkos (W - $7,900), Alex Killorn (W - $5,500)
Nikita Kucherov's status is uncertain so the Lightning may mix up their lines, but rather than adding a 12th forward and mixing up the lines, it's possible they go with an 11-7 setup again as they've done numerous times in the past. Stamkos and Cirelli had two points apiece while Killorn scored four to pace the Lightning.
DEFENSEMEN
Victor Hedman, TB at FLA ($6,600): Despite playing hurt, Hedman remains the cream of the crop. Another assist last game gives him seven points in a high-scoring series. He stands out among the elite defensemen available for Monday's slate because of his recent production and Florida's horrible goaltending.
Kris Letang, PIT vs. NYI ($6,400): The difference between Hedman and Letang right now is Letang hasn't been scoring very much; all three points were scored in Game 3, otherwise he's been held off the scoresheet. The Pens have been inconsistent and the Isles play a stifling defensive system, but given the lack of options, Letang still has considerably more upside than the rest.
MacKenzie Weegar, FLA vs. TB ($4,400): Weegar is a good value play given the amount of minutes he plays even though his skill isn't considered elite. He has just three points but the upside is it's been a high-scoring series.
