This article is part of our FanDuel NHL series.
With several eliminations over the past two days, there will be only two games Thursday night -- both between the No. 3 and 6 seeds. New York vs. Washington will start off the night at 8 p.m. EDT followed by Calgary vs. Dallas at 10:30 p.m. EDT.
SLATE PREVIEW
The shortened slate makes DFS a bit simpler. You pick the teams you think will win and stack their players/goalies. I'm rolling with the favorites in this game -- the Capitals (-120) and the Stars (-135). That doesn't mean there aren't viable options elsewhere, though. If you reject the premise that both favorites will win Thursday night, I've included value options from the underdogs, too.
GOALIES
Anton Khudobin, DAL vs. CGY ($8,600): It wasn't surprising to see Khudobin return to form in Game 5, denying 28 of 29 shots to win a second straight contest. The Stars are now one win away from the second round, and they figure to have the edge if Khudobin is playing this way because Calgary ranks 15th with just 1.5 xGF/60 in the first round, per Natural Stat Trick.
Braden Holtby, WAS vs. NYI ($7,500): Holtby has been unspectacular in the playoffs, but he appeared to turn a corner in Game 3's overtime loss and took over Game 4 after a tough start. The Capitals looked in control for the first time last game, and now they're favored to win Thursday and keep their heads above water.
VALUE PLAYS
Joe Pavelski, DAL vs. CGY ($5,400): Pavelski is a seasoned veteran that knows what it takes to put a team away in the playoffs. He had a hat trick in Game 4 but has surprisingly been pointless in the other four contests. The reason it's surprising is that he leads the team with 3.43 xGF/60 this series, so seek upside with Pavelski in your lineup.
Jean-Gabriel Pageau, NYI vs. WAS ($4,800): Despite centering the third line, Pageau logs plenty of minutes and has exceeded expectations in August. He's piled up four goals and two helpers through eight games, finishing with more than 13 fantasy points in five of those contests.
Lars Eller, WAS vs. NYI ($4,000): Eller's selection as a value play is contingent on Nicklas Backstrom (concussion) remaining on the shelf, as that will ensure Eller stays on the second line and on Alex Ovechkin's power-play unit. Eller has enjoyed nearly two extra minutes of ice time per game in Backstrom's absence, and working with Ovechkin on the man advantage makes Eller a supreme value against the Islanders' struggling penalty kill (73.3 percent). Backstrom is considered a game-time decision.
Dillon Dube, CGY vs. DAL ($3,800): Dube has gone cold in the point column since stacking up four goals and an assist over four games. It's not for a lack of opportunity, however, as he generated nine shots on net over the last three contests. That volume alone makes him worth the salary.
LINE STACKS
Washington Capitals 
vs. New York Islanders 
C - Evgeny Kuznetsov ($7,500)
W - Tom Wilson ($4,600)
W - Alex Ovechkin ($8,700)
After going down 2-0 in the first period Tuesday, Ovechkin decided it was too early to go home, scoring the game-tying and game-winning goals. Don't think Kuznetsov and Wilson are dead weight, either. Kuznetsov assisted Ovechkin's first goal and Wilson posted 23 regular-season assists. If they have the same determination Thursday, the sky is the limit for the Caps' first line.
Dallas Stars 
vs. Calgary Flames 
C - Tyler Seguin ($7,300)
W - Jamie Benn ($7,200)
W - Alexander Radulov ($5,300)
After combining for zero points in the round-robin round, Seguin's line has kicked it up a notch with a combined 10 points this series and six in the last two outings. They are able to control the tempo on the ice, and they each individually command high shot volumes. If the Stars seal the deal tonight, this crew will lead the way.
New York Islanders vs. Washington Capitals
C - Brock Nelson ($5,900)
W - Anthony Beauvillier ($5,400)
W - Josh Bailey ( $4,500)
This unit racked up eight points through the first two games of this series, but there has been radio silence out of them over the last two contests. They still shoot plenty and all enjoy consistent power-play minutes, so it's a low-salary option that goes against the grain -- a smart choice in tournaments.
DEFENSE
John Carlson, WAS vs. NYI ($6,600): Carlson has showcased sheer dominance against the Islanders, piling up six assists -- the Caps have only scored eight goals -- through four games. Four of those points have come with the man advantage where he's on a unit with Ovechkin, so his upside is the highest in this slate by a long shot.
John Klingberg, DAL vs. CGY ($5,800): Klingberg can be overshadowed by younger and flashier Miro Heiskanen ($5,400), but the former has been more productive over the last four games with a goal, five helpers, 16 shots on net and five blocked shots.
Ryan Pulock, NYI vs. WAS ($5,100): Pulock has been steady this series with three straight games above 11 fantasy points, but he hit a road bump in Game 4. He generates a ton of offense when he's on the ice, though, recording 3.48 xGF/60 -- the best individual rate between both teams this series.
Erik Gustafsson, CGY vs. DAL ($4,300): Gustafsson has gone pointless in four consecutive games, but he's logged at least 2:10 of ice time with the man advantage in each of those contests. He's knocking on a door that remains wide open, as the Stars kill penalties at a brutal 77.8 percent rate.
