This article is part of our DraftKings NHL series.
FLEX
Brad Marchand, BOS vs. STL ($10,100): He's come up huge in the playoffs again and again, scoring two points in an emphatic 5-1 win to force Game 7. Everyone's so preoccupied with his antics he hasn't been part of the Conn Smythe conversation despite leading the playoffs with 23 points, including 12 on the power play. He's averaged almost 10 fantasy points per game in the finals, and as the cheapest but most productive member of their top line, he's a good value pick.
Alex Pietrangelo, STL at BOS ($9,600): He's doing it all for the Blues with the rest of the defense struggling at times. Vince Dunn ($5,100) is too hit or miss, while Pietrangelo has recorded four assists and 11 shots on goal in his past three games. On hockey's greatest stage, Craig Berube will be leaning on his captain a lot and, without having last change, he may opt to play it safe and keep Pietrangelo on the ice as much as he can. That means tons of minutes for Pietrangelo.
Tuukka Rask, BOS vs. STL ($8,600): Comparing Rask to Tim Thomas' 2011 performance was very high praise from Patrice Bergeron. The Finnish netminder has come a long way since his milk crate-throwing days and he's simply been outstanding in elimination games with a 5-0 record, 0.80 GAA and .973 save percentage. It's taken some lucky bounces for the Blues to score more than two in a game, and Rask will have the familiarity of playing in his home rink in front of his own fans.
Jaden Schwartz, STL at BOS ($8,200): That's now four straight games without a point and just one shot on goal in his past three games for Schwartz. The skilled winger has really struggled to get through the Boston defense, attempting 42 shots but only registering three in the past four games, compared to linemate Vladimir Tarasenko's team-leading 19. That being said, Schwartz is still getting plenty of ice time and came up huge against the Sharks. He could do it again.
Torey Krug, BOS vs. STL ($8,400): Tied with Marchand in power-play points with 12, Krug has feasted on the undisciplined Blues. The Bruins' top unit has been dynamite at 32.9 percent, the eighth-best mark in the past 15 seasons. It's no fluke, either; this is the second straight postseason the Bruins power play has produced at over 30 percent, which has also been quarterbacked almost exclusively by Krug. In a physical and nasty series, there will be plenty of power plays to go around.
Sean Kuraly, BOS vs. STL ($5,500): He's the unsung hero if the Bruins win it all, emerging as a trusted bottom-six player for Bruce Cassidy. He's played over 17 minutes in each of the past two games and his ice time isn't expected to be cut dramatically even if Cassidy leans on Bergeron's line. David Krejci's line has looked better, but if the Bruins can get an early lead they'll deploy their bottom two lines to grind their opponents down. Karson Kuhlman ($4,300) is also a good value play.
