Tampa Bay Lightning  Vs. Carolina Hurricanes

This is going to be an excellent matchup! Both teams have players who can score, but also elite goalies who can stop the puck. Let’s take a look at each side and choose some players to roster.

For Tampa Bay, it might be wise to move off the top line and target the second line, specifically Anthony Cirelli and Steven Stamkos. Both players are affordable and their matchup on paper is easier. Both players don’t play on the same power play unit, so that does limit their upside, but not enough to completely discredit them.

Brayden Point and Nikita Kucherov are obviously elite, and it wouldn’t be crazy to roster both. We’re trying to move off the obvious and not eat the high ownership, but if you can’t get away from the chalk, there is no issue in rostering them. 

On defence, Victor Hedman is $5500 on DK, and I’m really not sure why. The Hurricanes are a good team, but Hedman is elite, and his price tag is just too good to pass up on.

In goal, Andrei Vasilevksiy is expected to get the start. No goalie has a higher expected goals saved above average than him, so in GPPs, he’s an easy lock. 

For Carolina, I’m fully willing to pay up for Andrei Svechnikov, Sebastian Aho and Teuvo Teravainen. Any combination of the three work for me. If you can’t afford Aho, you can go with a winger-winger stack and maybe add Vincent Trocheck to the mix?

On the back end, Dougie Hamilton is the most expensive defenceman on DK, but we know he’s worth the price. In his last five games, he’s finished with five or more shots on goal four times. His show volume is high, and that is worth paying up for. 

I expect Alex Nedeljkovic to get the call in game one, as he's been pretty good in the playoffs. It’s a tough assignment for the Carolina netminder, but if you aren’t buying the Lightning in this game, he’s worth considering.


 

Vegas Golden Knights Vs. Colorado Avalanche

What a matchup this is going to be. I hope the hockey gods are kind enough to give up seven games so we can witness two of the best teams in the league go head-to-head.

Let’s start with the Avalanche, who come in as heavy favourites. Nathan MacKinoon was elite in the first round, and right now, I think he’s matchup proof. I know he’s expensive, but I’ll figure out a way to get him in my lineup in all formats. You can pair him with Mikko Rantanen and just move on.

On defence, Cale Makar is a great option, but I think we should pass on him here. There are a lot of other defenceman I like better than him, and his price tag isn’t low enough for us to take the risk.

In goal, Philipp Grubauer was good in round one, but it came rather easy. The Golden Knights are a different team, and he could struggle in this one. He’s the most expensive goalie on the slate, so a decision will have to be made. Personally, I’d play him, but only if you’re chasing the win and have the salary to spend.

For Vegas, it’s all about their top line. With Max Pacioretty back in the lineup, this team is completely different. 

I know there’s temptation to target the top line, but I think the best route is to play Pacioretty as a single-bullet. He finished with four shots and a goal last game, and his price tag is reasonable. If you need a cheap center, Chandler Stephenson is an option, but he’s gone shotless in four of the last five games, so he carries a ton of risk in any format. 

On the blue line, you already know how I feel about Alec Martinez. He’s $5K on DK and continues to be a shot blocking machine. He’s easy money right now and will continue to be in all my lineups. 

Another option is Shea Theodore. He’s slightly less expensive than Alex Pietrangelo on DK, and his shot volume has been good. I don’t expect him to block a ton of shots, but we already have that aspect covered with Martinez, so we need Theodore to shoot the puck and rack up points. He can do that in game one.

In goal, We might see Robin Lenher get the start in game one, and he’s a cool $7200 on DraftKings. At that price, we can’t discredit him completely. We know he can get the job done, but the matchup on paper isn’t good, and it’s very risky. Unless you’re completely fading Colorado, I wouldn’t roster Lehner, but he could easily pick up the win here and stop 35-plus shots. The potential is there.