This article is part of our DraftKings NHL series.
Sunday's NHL slate features just the Blues-Sharks Game 5 at 3 PM EDT. While every player is listed as a flex option, the suggestions below will still be broken up by position.
GOALIE
Jordan Binnington, STL at SJ ($7,800): Binnington struggled in Game 1, but he's stopped 80 of 88 shots since, compared to Martin Jones' 69 of 79. One of those eight goals against Binnington was the controversial Game 3 overtime winner, so he's only allowed seven truly legal goals in the last three games. If you're going to pick a goalie, it's worth paying the extra $400 to snag Binnington over Jones.
CENTER
Tomas Hertl, SJ vs. STL ($8,800): Hertl's goal in Game 4 gave him sole possession of second place in the category with 10 this postseason, four shy of Logan Couture's leading total. While four goals counts as a substantial difference, so is the $3,000 gap in price between Couture and Hertl. If you can't work Couture into your lineup without making major sacrifices elsewhere, San Jose's other extremely productive center qualifies as a great consolation prize.
WINGS
Gustav Nyquist, SJ vs STL ($5,500): Nyquist's mired in a 10-game goal drought, but he continues to distribute effectively with seven assists over his last nine games - including three helpers in this series. The Swedish winger skates on the top line with Couture and Timo Meier, but Nyquist costs significantly less than his linemates and makes a nice pick for owners looking to spend big elsewhere.
Patrick Maroon, STL at SJ ($4,500): Maroon won't carry lineups, but the power forward should provide strong bang for the buck after marking the scoresheet in four of his past five games. With a spot on the second power-play unit as well as the dangerous even-strength line alongside Tyler Bozak and Robert Thomas, Maroon should continue to find himself in position to produce.
DEFENSEMEN
Erik Karlsson, SJ vs. STL ($9,800): Karlsson's having his best series of the playoffs, with two goals, two assists, 15 shots, seven blocks and a plus-3 rating over the first four games. Coach Peter DeBoer will deploy the gifted blueliner primarily in offensive situations using last change at home, further raising Karlsson's already impressive ceiling. Of Karlsson's 16 points this postseason, 11 have come on home ice.
Alex Pietrangelo, STL at SJ ($8,100): Pietrangelo has done it all for the Blues this postseason. In addition to racking up 12 points in 17 games, Pietrangelo has posted multiple shots 13 times in his last 15 games while adding multiple blocks 12 times in those 15 contests. He'll see all the minutes he can handle in this pivotal Game 5, which should once again lead to strong cross-category production.
