This article is part of our FanDuel NHL series.
SLATE PREVIEW
The race at the top of the Central continues to be tight, but a key matchup between the Hurricanes at Lightning (7 p.m. EDT) will determine if the Hurricanes can extend their lead or watch the Lightning pull even. The Panthers are still lurking and they could also leap into first place if they can defeat the Blue Jackets (7 p.m.). The race for fourth place is also very close, the Stars getting a favorable matchup hosting the Red Wings (7 p.m.) while the Blackhawks and Predators clash (8 p.m.)
Four more games round out Monday's eight-game slate, including Wild at Coyotes (9 p.m.) as the Coyotes attempt to further distance themselves from the Blues, and Senators at Flames (9 p.m.) as Darryl Sutter's squad scrambles for the final playoff spot in the West.
GOALIES
Robin Lehner, VGK vs. SJ ($8,500): It's a fun rivalry, but the Sharks don't stand much of a chance. The Knights have won eight of their past nine meetings, with the only loss coming in overtime. Lehner should be very fresh, having needed to make just 16 stops against the Ducks in his last start for a shutout win.
Cam Talbot, MIN at ARI ($8,100): Talbot has lost just once in regulation in April through seven games, and he's been particularly good against the Coyotes with a 1.77 GAA and .935 Sv%. After two straight losses to the Blues, including a 9-1 drubbing, the Wild have won three straight with six goals allowed.
Sergei Bobrovsky, FLA vs. CBJ ($7,800): It hasn't been pretty for Bob with 10 goals allowed in his past three starts, but that was against Tampa, Dallas and Carolina. Against Columbus, he's a perfect 4-0 with a .921 Sv%. He may not steal you any games, but at least Bob is winning the ones he's supposed to this season.
Anton Khudobin, DAL vs. DET ($7,600): Both Khudobin and Jake Oettinger are good options with the Stars facing the Wings four straight times, which means Khudobin and Oettinger will likely get two starts each. Adding Sami Vatanen has bolstered their blue line and both goaltenders have won three games each in April with a save percentage of at least .940.
Jacob Markstrom, CGY vs. OTT ($7,500): Markstrom hit a rough patch early in the month but has since battled back with a 3-1 record and just five goals allowed during that span. Sutter's Flames are back to being stalwarts on defense, and while the pesky Senators love playing spoiler, their lineup has been since the deadline losing four of their past six games. The Flames are 5-2-0 against them this season.
VALUE PLAYS
Nikita Gusev, FLA vs. CBJ ($3,200): He collected an assist in two games against the Lightning, an encouraging start for someone who was just cut by the Devils. He's playing on the top line with Aleksander Barkov, and that alone makes him an erstwhile pick.
Denis Gurianov, DAL vs. DET ($4,100): Can he keep it up? Gurianov scored five points in a two-game set against the Jackets, and the Wings are also a team that's trending downward with perhaps one of the worst defenses in the league. I like the matchup and I'm warming up to the player.
Drake Batherson, OTT at CGY ($4,100): I love Batherson's speed, and he's going to be skating circles around a plodding Flames squad, who were just called out publicly by Sutter for not being able to play with pace. Batherson's offense comes and goes because he's young and inconsistent, though he did manage to score two goals against the Habs, who are also not particularly fast and difficult to score on.
LINE STACKS
Stars vs. Red Wings
Roope Hintz (C - $6,400), Jason Robertson (W - $4,900), Joe Pavelski (W - $7,400)
This line's simply been amazing for the Stars, and all three play significant roles on offense. Robertson, who continues to pile up the points and might now be the front runner for the league's best rookie, and Hintz, who has been a point-per-game player when healthy, are also very strong value plays.
Wild at Coyotes
Victor Rask (C - $4,100), Kirill Kaprizov (W - $6,100), Mats Zuccarello (W - $4,700)
You can forget about Rask, who's scored just one goal in six games against the Coyotes. I guess someone has to play center and Rask won the lottery, and note Kaprizov and Zuccarello have combined for seven goals and 17 points against them this season.
DEFENSEMEN
Tyson Barrie, EDM vs. MON ($6,400): A power play with Connor McDavid and Leon Draisaitl against the Habs' woeful PK? Sign me up! Barrie has been as advertised this season, partly because his job is pretty easy. He's scored four points in his past four games, including a power-play goal against the Jets on Saturday.
Roman Josi, NSH vs. CHI ($6,300): Josi is the only other choice I prefer among the elite options. He's got a good matchup and he's been very productive lately, scoring two goals and two assists in his past three games.
John Klingberg, DAL vs. DET ($5,400): Klingberg has a chance to extend his streak to five games and, so far, he's already scored four points in four games against the Wings. The Stars should be a very good play all week with a four-game set against the Wings.
Jakob Chychrun, ARI vs. MIN ($5,000): There's nobody I trust more in this game between the two teams. Chychrun's quietly had an awesome season with 13 goals and 31 points, and what's been fuelling his success is his ability to get shots on goal. He's a reliable play for both shots and blocked shots, and managed to score a PPG last game against the Wild.
Gustav Forsling, FLA vs. CBJ ($3,500): Based on the number of minutes of he plays, Forsling is a good value play on the Panthers' top pair, as is MacKenzie Weegar ($4,200). The pair have combined for 12 points in six games against the Jackets, including a power-play goal for Forsling.
