This article is part of our FanDuel NHL series.
SLATE PREVIEW
It's Game 2 for Islanders and Penguins (7:30 p.m. EDT), Lightning and Panthers (8 p.m.) and Wild and Golden Knights (10 p.m.), and some pride on the line for the Flames and Canucks (4 p.m., available only on all day slate.) It's been only one game but storylines are already emerging in each series: Is Tristan Jarry good enough? Can the Panthers overcome the Lightning's elite talent? And who will get the luckier bounces between the Wild and Knights?
GOALIES
Marc-Andre Fleury, VGK vs. MIN ($8,300): Fleury was brilliant in Game 1 and the victim of an unlucky bounce. The Knights are missing key bodies up front so goal support may be scarce, but they still managed to control much of the play. Expect more of the same – the Knights should win the puck possession battle and generate more shots, just hope they can squeeze a few past Cam Talbot.
Chris Driedger, FLA vs. TB ($7,100): It was a wild back-and-forth Game 1 and this is a good value play even though the Panthers will be without No. 2 center Sam Bennett. The Panthers won the season series and held their own in front of a raucous home crowd, and going to Tampa down 0-2 in the series puts them in a huge hole. If the Panthers can tighten up a little defensively and maintain their leads, Driedger is in line for a win.
Thatcher Demko, VAN vs. CGY ($6,700): The Canucks battled back from a four-goal deficit and lost in overtime, but it showed how much they still cared even though there was no playoff spot to be had. Demko has been one of the bright spots for them this season, and despite being peppered with shots nearly every game, he's always managed to at least keep the games competitive. Even if he's tagged with the loss, expect Demko to rack up the saves.
VALUE PLAYS
Noel Acciari, FLA vs. TB ($3,200): When Barkov was hurt earlier in the season, it was Acciari who stepped up, and he may do so again with Sam Bennett serving a suspension. Alexander Wennberg will take Bennett's spot on the second line, but Acciari's style is better suited for the playoffs.
Alex Tuch, VGK vs. MIN ($4,200): Tomas Nosek started on the top line in Max Pacioretty's place but it was Tuch who ended up taking some key shifts with the top line. Vegas has a delicate juggling act with their lines to counter Minnesota's balanced lineup, but when Vegas needs a goal, Tuch seems to be the preferred choice. He'll likely start on the third line again but look for him to get moved up and down the lineup depending on game flow.
LINE STACKS
Penguins vs. Islanders
Jeff Carter (C - $5,000), Jared McCann (W - $4,300), Kasperi Kapanen (W - $4,700)
Sidney Crosby's line will draw the Isles' top pairing in Ryan Pulock and Adam Pelech, which leaves the Pens' second line with a much easier matchup. They played roughly 20 minutes in Game 1 and provided the game-tying goal to force overtime.
Lightning at Panthers
Brayden Point (C - $7,600), Ondrej Palat (W - $5,400), Nikita Kucherov (W - $8,400)
Kucherov didn't miss a beat after sitting out the season due to injury, and this looks like it will be a high-scoring series with nine goals features in Game 1. His playmaking ability added another element to an already dangerous Tampa offense, and the Panthers defense may not be deep enough to handle their high-end talent.
Panthers vs. Lightning
Aleksander Barkov (C - $8,100), Carter Verhaeghe (W - $6,100), Anthony Duclair (W - $4,100)
Barkov was incredible in Game 1 with a 59.34 5v5 xGF% when the team finished at just 42.72 percent. He doesn't have the same kind of talent on his wings as Point, but the Panthers' top line has been very effective all season and combined for two goals last game.
DEFENSEMEN
Shea Theodore, VGK vs. MIN ($5,900): Theodore once again led all Knights defensemen with five shots on goal, continuing where he left off as their leading scorer in last year's playoffs. Without Max Pacioretty, look for Vegas to continue to generate offense from their blue line.
Quinn Hughes, VAN vs. CGY ($5,400): The Canucks' top talents came alive last game against Calgary, and Hughes seems to be back on track with a three-assist effort. Though both teams have little to play for, the heated rivalry refuses to render this matchup meaningless. Look for Hughes to be heavily relied upon to generate offense once again.
Keith Yandle, FLA vs. TB ($4,000): As the temperature continues to rise, look for special teams to be a difference maker in this series. Yandle's even-strength ice time remains limited but he continues to quarterback the top power play and led all Florida defensemen with two assists.
