This article is part of our DraftKings NHL series.
Thursday's NHL slate begins at 8:00 p.m. EDT with Game 3 of the Golden Knights-Stars series, and it also includes Friday's Game 3 between the Lightning and Islanders. Below, you'll find an overview of the matchups and suggested options for crafting an effective lineup.
SLATE PREVIEW
Dallas and Vegas exchanged shutout victories in the first two games of their low-scoring series. Meanwhile, the Lightning pulled out a blowout in Game 1 before potting the winner late in Game 2 to grab a 2-0 series lead over the Islanders.
GOALIES
After logging three shutouts in the conference semifinals against the Canucks, Robin Lehner ($8,000) earned a shutout Game 2 win in his first appearance against Dallas to tie the series at a game apiece. Lehner's the hottest goalie remaining.
Andrei Vasilevskiy ($8,300) has a six-game winning streak going for the Lightning, and he has set aside 49 of 52 shots for a .942 save percentage in the first two games against the Islanders. With Tampa Bay holding a 10-3 edge in goals through two games, Vasilevskiy's the safest, albeit priciest, choice in net.
Anton Khudobin ($7,700) already has a shutout in this round as well, as the Dallas goalie has stopped 49 of 52 pucks (.942 save percentage) through the first two games against Vegas. Considering the Golden Knights have scored only seven goals in their last five games, Khudobin should continue to be a solid choice.
VALUE PLAYS/ONE-OFFS
Reilly Smith ($5,000) ranks third on the Golden Knights with 13 points this postseason (4-9-13), trailing only Shea Theodore (6-11-17) and Mark Stone (6-9-15). While both Stone and Theodore cost at least $6,500, Smith's a relative bargain at $5,000.
Yanni Gourde ($3,300) moved up to center the top line after Brayden Point exited Game 2 with an undisclosed injury, and he would be a terrific value play if Point sits out Game 3. Even if he's relegated back to the third line, Gourde remains a threat to score, as evidenced by his two-goal performance in Game 1.
Anders Lee ($5,900) led the Islanders with five shots in Game 2, bringing his postseason total to a team-high 63. With a nose for the net and seven goals already during this playoff run, Lee will likely play a major role if the Islanders are going to get back into this series.
FORWARD LINE STACKS
Golden Knights at Stars
Paul Stastny (C - $4,000), Max Pacioretty (W - $7,300), Nicolas Roy (W - $2,600)
This line was formed in Vegas' latest line reshuffling in search of offense, and it delivered instant results in Game 2, as this trio combined for four points. Stastny has heated up after a slow start to the postseason, with a 2-2-4 line in the last three games. Pacioretty was Vegas' leading scorer in the regular season, and it feels like he's on the verge of a breakout performance after going unrewarded for 22 shots with just an assist over the past five games. The affordable Roy dished a helper in Game 2 for his second assist in the last three games.
Stars vs. Golden Knights
Roope Hintz (C - $4,300), Denis Gurianov (W - $4,800), Joel Kiviranta (W - $3,300)
Dallas also reshuffled its lines, and while this is nominally the fourth line, it's arguably the most enticing. Hintz has a 2-8-10 line in 18 games this postseason following a 19-14-33 output in 60 regular season games. Gurianov is tied with Joe Pavelski ($5,200) for the team lead with eight goals, and the Russian winger's 15 points in 18 games lead all Stars forwards this postseason. Kiviranta was the Game 7 hero for Dallas in the conference semis, recording a hat trick that included the tying goal in the third period and the overtime winner.
Lightning at Islanders
Brayden Point (C - $6,400), Nikita Kucherov (W - $7,600), Ondrej Palat (W - $5,400)
Assuming Point plays after leaving Game 2 in the second period due to an undisclosed injury, the Lightning's leading scorer this postseason (8-15-23) should continue contributing to his point total against the overmatched Islanders. Kucherov showed he can find success without Point by scoring the game-winning goal with less than 10 seconds left in Game 2, upping his postseason line to 6-16-22. Palat saw his five-game goal streak come to an end Wednesday, but his top-line role has Palat well positioned to start a new streak.
DEFENSEMEN
Victor Hedman ($6,200) has a four-game goal streak going, with a 4-3-7 line over that stretch. He's among the league's best all-around defensemen and is playing like it.
John Klingberg ($4,700) has the Stars' only goal in this series. He and Miro Heiskanen ($5,400) — who leads the team with 21 points this postseason — both drive the Dallas offense from the blue line, making both blueliners worthy choices at their respective valuations. Klingberg has a 3-10-13 line despite missing one game in this playoff run.
Brayden McNabb ($2,900) is a nice cheap option on the Vegas blue line. He chipped in an assist in Tuesday's Game 2 win and has amassed seven blocks in the past three games.
