This article is part of our FanDuel NHL series.
SLATE PREVIEW
Finally, the North Division playoff series gets underway with the Oilers hosting the Jets (9 p.m. EDT) following the season finale for the Canucks and Flames in a rare matinee weekday clash (3:30 p.m.) The Bruins-Capitals series moves to Boston for Game 3 (6:30 p.m.) while Game 2's are on the slate for the Blues and Avalanche (10:30 p.m.) and Predators and Hurricanes (8 p.m.)
GOALIES
Philipp Grubauer, COL vs. STL ($8,500): If it weren't for Jordan Binnington, Game 1 probably wouldn't have been so close. Grubauer faced just 23 shots in a game the Avs dominated, and the Blues just don't have the depth or elite talent to compete. The games may be close, but the series probably won't. Look for the Avs to continue to dominate possession and on home ice they're in good position to take a 2-0 series lead.
Alex Nedeljkovic, CAR vs. NSH ($8,300): In retrospect, going with Nedeljkovic over Petr Mrazek was probably the most rational decision since his regular-season numbers were so good. The Canes dominated possession and outshot their opponent and managed to hold the Preds to fewer than 30 shots on goal; they accomplished that four times during the season and won three of those games.
Mike Smith, EDM vs. WPG ($7,900): Based on their lines at practise, the Jets will be missing key players and some of the ones who will dress are likely still nursing injuries. It gives the Oilers an even bigger advantage after losing just two games to the Jets during the season, and they enter the playoffs with a six-game winning streak against them.
VALUE PLAYS
Kristian Vesalainen, WPG at EDM ($3,000): What the Jets lineup will look like is a game-time decision, but Vesalainen skated on the second line with Andrew Copp and Paul Stastny at practice, both of whom seem banged up. The former first-round pick played for three different teams this season, including two short but successful spells with AHL Manitoba (5 points in 6 games) and HPK in Finland's top league (8 points in 10 games).
Jimmy Vesey, VAN at CGY ($3,200): With Tanner Pearson unavailable for the final game, it will leave the Canucks short a top-six winger on Bo Horvat's line. The most likely candidate is Vesey, who is a big, left-shot left winger like Pearson and has proven in the past that he can score goals.
Jesper Fast, CAR vs. NSH ($3,500): Fast spent most of the game playing with Jordan Staal, who chipped in with two goals, and also plays on the second power-play unit.
Mike Hoffman, STL at COL ($4,800): Hoffman's upside is capped because the Blues didn't have the puck on their sticks too often in Game 1, but he still managed to get three shots on goal and would've had an open net for a goal if not for Ryan Graves' desperation stick check. Hoffman was one of the more dangerous Blues forwards that night and seems to be gelling well with Jordan Kyrou, who scored their lone goal, and Robert Thomas.
LINE STACKS
Avalanche vs. Blues
Nathan MacKinnon (C - $8,800), Gabriel Landeskog (W - $7,100), Mikko Rantanen (W - $8,500)
It's an expensive line stack but totally worth it based on their performance in Game 1. They were flat-out dominant, and Rantanen would've had a goal to go along with his two assists if not for Binnington's desperation toe save. They were a big reason why the Avs were so dominant in the possession game, combining for eight points and 16 shots.
Hurricanes vs. Predators
Sebastian Aho (C - $7,700), Teuvo Teravainen (W - $6,000), Andrei Svechnikov (W - $6,500)
The Canes juggled their lines a little bit but when they put their usual first line together, the results were dynamite: in 6:01 of 5v5 TOI, they generated 10 shot attempts and allowed just three, according to Natural Stat Trick. Though they didn't score a goal, they were dangerous all night, and given how overmatched the Preds seem to be, it won't be long before this line capitalizes.
DEFENSEMEN
Cale Makar, COL vs. STL ($5,900): Makar was very good in Game 1, playing 24 minutes and scoring a power-play goal to open the scoring. He was all over the ice and was a key reason why the Avs were able to control the puck so often. Look for Makar to continue to play a big role in their puck possession game. Both Devon Toews ($5,300) and Samuel Girard ($4,700) are good picks, too, but neither have the same kind of offensive upside.
Quinn Hughes, VAN at CGY ($5,400): Amidst all the off-ice drama, look for the Canucks to finish their season on a winning note. Hughes is on a three-game point streak after registering two assists in the first eight games of May. A raucous affair between the two bitter rivals could lead to more power plays than usual for Hughes and the Canucks.
Brett Pesce, CAR vs. NSH ($4,000): Jaccob Slavin toughed through an injury in Game 1 and it was Pesce who was the most effective on a talented blue line. He finished with two helpers and three shots on goal to tie Dougie Hamilton. The trio played the most among Carolina defensemen, and with Slavin a game-time decision for Game 2, look for Pesce to play a big role once again. The only downside is that Pesce does not play on the power play, but both teams were perfect on the penalty kill, going a combined 7-for-7 in Game 1.
