This article is part of our DraftKings NHL series.
Thursday's modest NHL slate begins at 7:00 p.m. EDT and features two games. Below, you'll find suggested options for crafting an effective lineup.
SLATE PREVIEW
The Maple Leafs have recovered nicely since dropping the series opener in Montreal, winning the next three games to set up this opportunity to close out the series at home in Game 5. Meanwhile, the Hurricanes will head to Nashville with a chance to close out their series in Game 6, though the home team has won each of the first five games. Toronto's heavily favored at home, while Carolina's a modest road favorite.
GOALIES
Jack Campbell, TOR vs. MON ($8,300): Montreal's offense hasn't generated many quality chances, and Campbell's been there to set aside most of the ones the Canadiens have gotten, which is why he's allowed just four goals in four games this series. Campbell's performance has actually gotten better with each game, culminating in a Game 4 shutout, and he's the clear-cut goalie to target in this slate.
Alex Nedeljkovic, CAR at NSH ($8,000): Nedeljkovic has been solid all series, posting a 2.10 GAA and .927 save percentage en route to three wins and two double-overtime losses. The rookie netminder should continue to play well as Carolina looks to break the streak of home team wins in this series and put it away in Game 6.
Juuse Saros, NSH vs. CAR ($7,800): Saros probably should have had two of Carolina's goals in Tuesday's 3-2 overtime Game 5 loss, but he's still had a strong series, especially on home ice. He has a 2.59 GAA and .928 save percentage through five games overall, including 110 saves on 117 shots at home (.940 save percentage) in Nashville, where the Predators are 2-0.
Carey Price, MON vs. TOR ($7,600): The best argument for using Price is that this is the Maple Leafs we're talking about, so some sort of choke job seems inevitable as Toronto tries to nail down its first series win since 2004. He has a 2.58 GAA and .920 save percentage in this series, as Price has performed about as well as you could hope for after posting a .901 regular-season save percentage.
VALUE PLAYS/ONE-OFFS
Auston Matthews, TOR at MON ($9,200): Matthews has failed to pick up a point in three of this series' first four games, but he still figures to be the primary building block of most lineups. When he did get on the scoresheet in Game 2, it was with a goal and two assists, and Matthews hasn't struggled to generate chances given his 23 shots through four games. He converted on 18.5 percent of shots en route to a league-best 41 regular-season goals, so Matthews is due for massive positive regression from his current rate of one goal on 23 shots (4.3 percent).
Jordan Staal, CAR at NSH ($4,700): Staal scored the Game 5 overtime winner, bringing his series line up to 4-1-5 along with 18 shots through five games. The veteran center has done all his damage in this series at even strength, but Staal's also a key cog on the power play, as seven of his 16 goals and 14 of 38 points in the regular season came with the extra man.
Ryan Johansen, NSH vs. CAR ($3,600): Johansen lit the lamp in both of this series' games in Nashville, and he also had an assist in Game 1 to give him a 2-1-3 line. Given his success and top-line role, Johansen's a bargain at just $3,600.
Joel Armia, MON at TOR ($3,100): Armia is one of only two Canadiens with multiple points in this series, tied with regular-season scoring leader Tyler Toffoli ($5,700) for the team lead with two. The affordable winger also had four shots in Game 4, so he's bringing the offense for a Montreal team that isn't getting much of it.
FORWARD LINE STACKS
Maple Leafs vs. Canadiens
Alexander Kerfoot (C - $3,000), William Nylander (W - $5,800), Alex Galchenyuk (W - $3,400)
This has been Toronto's best line throughout the series, led by Nylander, who has lit the lamp in each of this series' first four games. Kerfoot has added a 1-4-5 line over the past three games, and Galchenyuk just delivered a goal and two assists in Game 4. You'll be hard-pressed to find better bang for the buck with any other trio across this slate.
Hurricanes at Predators
Vincent Trocheck (C - $6,100), Martin Necas (W - $4,800), Nino Niederreiter (W - $4,200)
Carolina's top forwards have been much more noticeable than Nashville's, and that holds true for this second line as well as the first. Trocheck lit the lamp in each of this series' previous two games in Nashville, while Necas was the Hurricanes' best player in Game 5, scoring two goals to bring his series output to 2-2-4. Niederreiter's been quiet since lighting the lamp in Game 1 but reached the 20-goal mark in the regular season, having achieved that milestone five times in the last seven seasons.
Predators vs. Hurricanes
Mikael Granlund (C - $4,100), Luke Kunin (W - $3,300), Eeli Tolvanen (W - $3,500)
This was the Predators' best line in their previous two games on home ice. Granlund scored a goal in Game 3 and dished out two helpers in Game 4. Those three points are enough to have him tied for second on the team in points this series, trailing only Ryan Ellis' four. Kunin was the Game 4 hero, scoring two goals — including the double-overtime winner — on six shots. Tolvanen failed to mark the scoresheet in either of those games but totaled 10 shots on goal between them, and the talented rookie's due to break the ice on his postseason scoring at some point. Nashville may also opt to use the industrious Calle Jarnkrok ($3,200) — who has two helpers in this series — in place of Tolvanen on this line.
DEFENSEMEN
Dougie Hamilton, CAR at NSH ($6,900): Hamilton's propensity for putting the puck on net makes him an effective fantasy option even when he's not marking the scoresheet. He has just two assists in this series but has averaged 18.3 fantasy points over the last four games thanks to 28 shots and seven blocks in that stretch. If he finally gets rewarded for all those shots, Hamilton should be more than worth paying up for at $6,900.
Morgan Rielly, TOR vs. MON ($5,300): Rielly had a down game in Game 4 but posted at least 13.0 fantasy points in each of this series' first three contests, thanks in large part to a goal and two assists. He's Toronto's priciest blueliner, but not by much, and Rielly has by far the highest upside of the team's defensemen.
Ryan Ellis, NSH vs. CAR ($4,800): As mentioned earlier, Ellis leads the Predators in points this postseason thanks to a 1-3-4 line, and he's added at least three shots twice and three-plus blocks three times. His mix of all-around ability and scoring upside make Ellis a strong choice at his reasonable $4,800 valuation.
Jon Merrill, MON at TOR ($2,500): Montreal's gotten pitiful production from its blue line in this series, so you're better off looking elsewhere unless you need a cheap filler like Merrill. He's a non-factor offensively, but the steady stay-at-home blueliner has blocked seven shots in the last three games, with at least two in each, so Merrill's unlikely to give you a goose egg.
