This article is part of our DraftKings NHL series.
Wednesday's NHL featured slate begins at 3 p.m. EDT and features four Game 5s. Below, you'll find an overview of the matchups and suggested options for crafting a successful lineup.
SLATE PREVIEW
The Bruins, Avalanche and Flyers all hold 3-1 series leads and will be looking to close out their respective series as designated home teams against the Hurricanes, Coyotes and Canadiens. This will be the second meeting in as many days between the Canadiens and Flyers after Philadelphia's 2-0 win Tuesday afternoon. Concluding the day's action will be the Canucks-Blues matchup, which has seen both teams' top players provide excellent value thus far. The series is tied at two game apiece, as the defending champs have erased a 2-0 series deficit.
GOALIES
Carter Hart ($7,900) has stopped all 52 shots he has faced in the last two games, as the Flyers have grabbed command of the series with back-to-back shutouts of the overmatched Canadiens. Philadelphia seems likely to put away the series here based on how these teams have looked, so Brian Elliott ($7,700) would also be a strong choice if the Flyers turn to their backup in this second leg of a back-to-back.
Life has been pretty easy for Philipp Grubauer ($8,400) in Colorado's net, as he has won each of his three starts in this series while setting aside 58 of 61 shots. If anything, a desperate Coyotes team could help his fantasy value by keeping Grubauer busier with more shots from their low-octane offense.
Jaroslav Halak ($8,200) worked in a timeshare with Tuukka Rask during the regular season, and he's had no problems grabbing the reins since his fellow Bruins netminder opted out of the playoffs, winning both subsequent starts while stopping 45 of 49 shots. With Carolina likely to remain without one of its top forwards in Andrei Svechnikov (leg), Halak's primed to keep rolling behind the stout Bruins defense.
Jake Allen ($7,600) has keyed St. Louis' comeback in this series, winning both of his starts after Jordan Binnington dropped the first two games. Allen has carried his outstanding regular season play (12-6-3 with a 2.15 GAA and .927 save percentage) into the playoffs, stopping 61 of 64 shots in his two wins.
VALUE PLAYS/ONE-OFFS
Nathan MacKinnon ($8,500) is rarely a bad choice if you can fit his salary into your lineup. The Hart Trophy finalist sports a 1-5-6 line in this series against the Coyotes, with at least one point in every game.
Elias Pettersson ($6,800) was finally held off the scoresheet in Game 4, but he still has a 3-2-5 line in this series against the Blues and a 4-5-9 line in eight games this postseason. This level of productivity is nothing new for the fifth overall selection from the 2017 draft, who has logged a couple of 66-point campaigns to open his NHL career.
Justin Williams ($3,700) has earned the nickname Mr. Game 7 for his postseason heroics over the years, and his goal in Game 4 was the 41st of his playoff career in his 161st postseason appearance. A loss would likely mean the end of the 38-year-old winger's career, so look for Williams to pour everything he has into this game.
The Flyers haven't exactly dominated offensively against Montreal with just five goals in four games, but Jakub Voracek ($5,100) is actually having a pretty good series, with a 2-1-3 line. Considering he has 207 points in 229 games over the past three regular seasons, the veteran winger's a bargain at only $5,100.
FORWARD LINE STACKS
Blues vs. Canucks
Ryan O'Reilly (C - $5,200), David Perron (W - $5,800), Jaden Schwartz (W - $5,500)
This trio combined for three goals, five points and 13 shots in Game 4, and it's remarkable that St. Louis' top line is still this affordable given how well its members have played all series. O'Reilly has a 3-3-6 line, Perron's at 2-4-6 and Schwartz has two goals on 24 shots.
Avalanche vs. Coyotes
Nazem Kadri (C - $5,400), Andre Burakovsky (W - $4,800), Joonas Donskoi (W - $3,200)
Colorado has a 15-7 edge in goals in this series, and you don't get that level of dominance without contributions from up and down the lineup. Rather than paying up for the entire expensive top line, you could potentially get more bang for the buck by locking in the Avalanche's second line. Kadri led the offense in Game 4 with two goals and an assist, giving him a 4-5-9 line in seven games this postseason. Burakovsky has a three-game point streak rolling and a 3-3-6 line in six playoff appearances, while Donskoi has a 3-2-5 line despite also missing one game this postseason.
Bruins vs. Hurricanes
David Krejci (C - $4,500), Jake DeBrusk (W - $4,500), Ondrej Kase (W - $4,100)
Like Colorado, Boston has gotten important contributions from its second line en route to a 3-1 series lead. Krejci has at least one point in every game of this series, with a 2-4-6 line over the four contests. DeBrusk scored twice in Game 4 and has three-plus shots in all but one game, while Kase has three assists and 12 shots.
DEFENSEMEN
Cale Makar ($6,000) has at least one point in each of this series' first four games, with a 1-4-5 line and 12 shots in all. His stats could be even more impressive with slightly better puck luck, as the 21-year-old blueliner rang shots off the post in Games 3 and 4 before eventually finding the back of the net later in Game 4. With Colorado largely carrying play, the offensively gifted blueliner should have plenty of chances to get right back on the scoresheet.
Alex Pietrangelo ($6,400) has been an offensive force from the blue line for the Blues all series, with a 1-4-5 line and 19 shots. He's skating over 26 minutes per game and should continue to generate plenty of chances in what has been a fast-paced series.
Jakob Chychrun's ($3,700) strong shot from the blue line makes him a dangerous option at his affordable valuation. The Arizona blueliner scored 12 goals in the regular season and potted another in Game 4. He has also filled out the box score in this series with six shots and 10 blocks.
Jeff Petry ($4,900) has been quiet for the Canadiens against Philadelphia after scoring two game-winning goals in the play-in round against Pittsburgh. The veteran blueliner was a consistent source of offense in the regular season with an 11-29-40 line, and perhaps he'll rediscover his offensive game with his season on the line.
