This article is part of our DraftKings NHL series.
Wednesday's NHL slate consists of the one-game showdown contest between the Canadiens and Lighting at 8:00 p.m. EDT. Below, you'll find suggested options for crafting an effective lineup.
SLATE PREVIEW
Tampa Bay blew open Game 1 with a trio of third-period goals, ultimately cruising to a 5-1 win. The heavily favored Lightning are three games from capturing a second consecutive Stanley Cup and will remain at home for Game 2 against the visiting Canadiens.
GOALIES
Andrei Vasilevskiy, TB vs. MON ($10,800): Vasilevskiy should be a popular pick for your Captain spot, especially if you're expecting a stronger defensive performance out of Montreal. The star netminder shut out the Islanders twice in the last three games of Tampa Bay's previous series, then held the Canadiens to one goal on 19 shots in Game 1.
Carey Price, MON at TB ($9,600): Price was roughed up for five goals on 27 shots in the series opener, but a strong Price performance remains the key prerequisite to Montreal's success. He's 12-6 with a 2.18 GAA and .928 save percentage this postseason.
VALUE PLAYS/ONE-OFFS
Yanni Gourde, TB vs. MON ($7,000): Gourde lit the lamp in Game 1 against Montreal after scoring the only goal for either side in Game 7 against the Islanders. Add in two more goals over the previous four games, and it's clear that the streaky scorer is currently in the midst of a hot streak. Keep locking Gourde in while he's hot.
Cole Caufield, MON at TB ($8,000): Caufield was held off the scoresheet in the series opener, but he had failed to record a point only once over the previous eight games, including goals in each of the last two. The rookie phenom has been Montreal's most dangerous offensive player since the beginning of the second round, and Caufield's mix of speed and skill should give the Lightning problems.
FORWARD LINE STACKS
Lightning vs. Canadiens
Brayden Point (C - $10,200), Nikita Kucherov (W - $10,400), Ondrej Palat (W - $7,800)
Tampa Bay's pricey top line has been worth paying up for more often than not this postseason, and that was certainly the case in Game 1. Kucherov (2-1-3) and Point (0-3-3) each delivered three-point efforts in the series opener; the former leads all players in points this postseason with a 7-23-30 line over 19 games, while the latter ranks second in points and first in goals with a 14-9-23 line. Either one of them is capable of carrying your lineup as the Captain. Palat got off to a slow start these playoffs but has heated up with a point in four of the last five games.
Canadiens at Lightning
Eric Staal (C - $2,400), Corey Perry (W - $4,400), Jake Evans (W - $2,000)
With pricey Lightning stars likely to provide the backbone of your lineup, Montreal's affordable yet effective fourth line offers nice value to complement those options. With a 3-6-9 line, Perry's tied with Caufield for third on the team in points through 18 playoff games, trailing only Tyler Toffoli (14) and Nick Suzuki (13). Staal's hot on his tail with eight points in 17 games this postseason, while Evans was able to return to the lineup in Game 1 against Tampa Bay for the first time since taking the controversial Mark Scheifele hit late in Game 1 against Winnipeg.
DEFENSEMEN
Shea Weber, MON at TB ($7,600): Weber topped 25 minutes of ice time in Game 1, and he should continue to play massive minutes in an attempt to counter Tampa Bay's highly skilled top players. The veteran blueliner had an assist in the series opener, giving Weber a 1-1-2 line, 10 shots and five blocks over his last three games. Expect him to keep stuffing the stat sheet given his role and ability.
Mikhail Sergachev, TB vs. MON ($6,400): Sergachev's no Victor Hedman ($9,000) on either end of the ice, but the Russian blueliner has been a solid two-way performer recently, racking up 11 blocks in the last three games to go with a helper in Game 1 against Montreal. He's having a disappointing postseason with just three assists through 19 games, but Sergachev's 30 points over 56 regular-season contests suggest he's capable of much more.
