This article is part of our FanDuel NHL series.
SLATE PREVIEW
What will the Capitals do without Alex Ovechkin? While they are most likely assured of a playoff spot, missing one of the league's most dangerous scorers could have huge implications in their first-round matchup. They'll play host to the Islanders (7 p.m. EDT), who sit three points behind.
The Stars host the Hurricanes (8:30 p.m.) and Predators host the Panthers (8 p.m.) in the second half of their back-to-backs as both teams maintained the status quo with wins on Monday. The Stars should have the edge because Anton Khudobin (.910/2.35) is probably a better option than Pekka Rinne (.902/2.97); they also have two games in hand and overall have been the better team with a plus-15 goal differential to the Preds' minus-2.
GOALIES
Andrei Vasilevskiy, TB at CHI ($8,600): I don't like the premium for Vasilevskiy because he hasn't earned it recently after allowing at least three goals in three of his past four starts. However, the upside is he's 6-0 against the Hawks with a .937/1.81 split, and even if Vasilevskiy isn't perfect, the Hawks defense and goaltending have been sieves for much of the season.
Igor Shesterkin, NYR vs. BUF ($8,200): It wasn't the cleanest game for Shesterkin, but at least he came away with the win after allowing three goals against the Sabres on Sunday. He moved to 4-0-1 against them on the season with a .919/2.12 split, though his overall numbers have dipped slightly in April.
Sergei Bobrovsky, FLA at NSH ($7,700): Bob had to step into action after Chris Driedger left Monday's game, and he'll likely draw the start unless the Panthers want to roll the dice with Spencer Knight again. Both options should be good since expected Preds starter Pekka Rinne has struggled against the Panthers for most of the season with a .890/3.92 split. Bob should be a decent value play.
Elvis Merzlikins, CBJ vs. DET ($7,000): The wins have not come for Elvis and his .908 Sv% in his past five appearances doesn't breed a lot of confidence, but the Wings seem like a very enticing matchup. The Jackets lost by a combined 7-2 score in the past two matchups, but note four of the Wings' players who scored a point in those games are either hurt or no longer with the team: forwards Robby Fabbri, Anthony Mantha and Dylan Larkin, and defenseman Patrik Nemeth.
VALUE PLAYS
Jason Dickinson, DAL vs. CAR ($3,500): Dickinson played a massive role in the Stars' win, scoring a somewhat controversial goal off his skate and playing 21 minutes to lead all Stars forwards. Expect both Dickinson and Roope Hintz to log a ton of minutes again on a team short on centers, and his line with Jamie Benn (four points) and Denis Gurianov (one goal) was extremely effective.
Daniel Sprong, WSH vs. NYI ($3,500): Sprong scored two goals taking Alex Ovechkin's spot on the top line and rightfully earned praise from his coach. He'll likely stay in that spot as long as Ovechkin is unavailable, and even though he's struggled in the NHL for most of his career, it's no fluke; Sprong has proven to be a reliable goal scorer in both major junior and the AHL.
Sam Bennett, FLA at NSH ($3,600): Bennett's excelled as the second-line center and potted another goal on Monday, giving him four goals in six games with the Panthers, equaling his total in 38 games with the Flames. His DFS salary has not reflected his new role, and he's got skilled wingers in Jonathan Huberdeau and Anthony Duclair flanking him.
LINE STACKS
Flyers at Devils
Sean Couturier (C - $7,300), Claude Giroux (W - $6,800), Jakub Voracek (W - $6,200)
The Flyers have been unreliable all season but a matchup against a team with goaltending as terrible as the Devils' is too difficult to pass up. This line combined for five points and the Devils have allowed at least four goals in seven straight games and will once again be shorthanded on defense.
Rangers at Sabres
Mika Zibanejad (C - $8,200), Alexis Lafreniere (W - $3,800), Pavel Buchnevich (W - $6,500)
Zibanejad's hat trick powered the Rangers to the win and all three members of the line managed to find the scoresheet. Lafreniere lowers the cost of this stack and note that while Artemi Panarin's line is also stack-worthy, Colin Blackwell is not expected to be 100 percent and has not scored in four straight games.
Lightning at Blackhawks
Brayden Point (C - $7,200), Ondrej Palat (W - $5,900), Alex Barre-Boulet ($3,400)
Point and Palat had three points apiece against Columbus and Barre-Boulet, who is a good value play as the top-line winger and plays on the power play, scored his first goal. This is a very good line stack that comes relatively inexpensive compared to other top lines.
DEFENSEMEN
Victor Hedman, TB at CHI ($6,500): Hedman's come up huge against the Hawks, scoring 11 points with a plus-8 rating this season. There's plenty of top-tier defensemen to choose from, but Hedman has a very favorable matchup.
Ivan Provorov, PHI at NJ ($6,300): Provorov was a monster last game against the Devils, playing 29 minutes and finishing with an assist, three shots and three blocked shots. His fantasy value comes mostly from the fact that he plays so many minutes that it's almost impossible for him to not find his way onto the scoresheet in some fashion.
Adam Fox, NYR vs. BUF ($6,200): Scoring isn't a problem for the Sabres now but keeping pucks out of the net definitely still is. Fox notched three assists Sunday against Buffalo, including one on the power play, pushing his total to 11 points against them this season.
Miro Heiskanen, DAL vs. CAR ($4,400): With John Klingberg potentially sitting out for a second straight game, look for Heiskanen to take over all the power play duties. Esa Lindell may play more minutes, but Heiskanen's the one with more offensive upside, and in Monday's game was the only Stars defenseman to log time with the man advantage. It's a good value play especially with the Stars' awesome power play.
