This article is part of our FanDuel NHL series.
SLATE PREVIEW
In a weird way, the Islanders and Lightning kind of mirror each other -- the Lightning have lost their first home game of every series only to win the second home game in pretty convincing fashion, and the Islanders could end up doing the same as well for the third straight series as they return to Long Island.
Interesting to note Varlamov has posted much better numbers on the road than at home, where he's 2-2 with a 2.48 GAA and .918 Sv%, numbers that pale in comparison to Ilya Sorokin's 2.00 GAA and .940 Sv%. If Sorokin starts, the Isles might be slightly more favoured, though Barry Trotz said there is unlikely to be any roster changes even with Oliver Wahlstrom available.
On the other hand, the Lightning have been very strong on the road having lost just once in six games, and it's also their only loss by more than one goal in the playoffs.
Puck drop is at 8 p.m. EDT.
As with all FanDuel showdown formats, no goalies are available for selection and a Captain can be designated for 1.5x fantasy points. The remaining roster spots are not restricted by position.
VALUE PLAYS
Anthony Beauvillier, NYI vs. TB ($9,000): Beauvillier's the most trigger-happy forward on the Islanders, leading them with 43 shots in the playoffs, including 20 at home. His line with Brock Nelson and Josh Bailey has been the Isles' most dependable line to date, and despite a team-leading seven shots in the series, Beauvillier has yet to score a point.
Barclay Goodrow, TB at NYI ($7,000): After the top line, Goodrow's line with Yanni Gourde and Barclay Goodrow are tied with Steven Stamkos' line for even-strength minutes, averaging 13-14 per game. Special teams haven't made a huge difference in this series with both teams going a combined 3-for-14 on the power play, and if Jean-Gabriel Pageau isn't 100 percent healthy, the Lightning may have the advantage in depth.
LINE STACKS
Mathew Barzal (C - $14,000), Jordan Eberle (W - $12,500), Leo Komarov (W - $6,000)
Barzal's 5v5 SAT% on the road: 42.4 percent, sixth among Isles forwards.
Barzal's 5v5 SAT% at home: 50.3 percent, second among Isles forwards.
It's no secret the Isles love to play the matchup game, and it's pretty clear from this that Barzal gets better matchups at home, where they can hide him from the Lightning's top checking center in Anthony Cirelli and a tough second pair in Ryan McDonagh and Erik Cernak. A Barzal-Eberle stack (Komarov can be ignored) feels expensive because Barzal and Eberle rank fourth and sixth on the team in points, but they probably get a bigger boost playing on home ice than Nelson's line.
DEFENSEMEN
Victor Hedman, TB at NYI ($11,000): Hedman tends to play a little more on the road because the Lightning have to change first and ideally they'd like to get Hedman on the ice in all key situations. He's been remarkably consistent with eight points in seven home games and five points in six road games, and also leads all defensemen in points, nearly double Ryan Pulock and Noah Dobson's totals.
Ryan Pulock, NYI vs. TB ($8,500): Pulock's monster point shot has to be feared, and it may be difficult to justify the inclusion of any defenseman in entries unless they're offering up similar upside to middle-six forwards. The Islanders defense don't score many points in general, and Pulock is usually their third option with the man advantage.
