Brett and I are back with some more DFS NHL Optimal Lineups this week. Again, just as a reminder, we will be posting Optimal Lineups on any slate that has four games or more, Monday-through-Saturday. 

Lineups have been posted early, but please make sure you check back in case there are any updates. I will also update my Twitter @kle18 if any changes are made. 

It has been one heck of a ride after the first set of games. Even though you would think playoff hockey is predictable in the sense that the big boys are going to be playing a ton of minutes, it's actually a lot more difficult than that. A ton of intangibles combined with some very evenly matched teams (okay, outside of Capitals/Flyers) have led to a good amount of drama. 

Here are the matchups I like tonight:

Red Wings over the Lightning

The Wings held the Bolts to just 16 shots on goal in Game 3 and completely controlled the puck possession game. They also matched up Luke Glendening's line with Riley Sheahen and Justin Abdelkader to shutdown Tampa's #1 line. They not only shut them down, but they completely controlled puck possession.

Still, it's very hard to roster too many Wings players. Their scoring is very evenly balanced, and it's difficult to predict where it will come from on any given night. Nonetheless, I like Riley Sheahen's price on DK, especially considering he's now getting more minutes, including time on the power-play.

I also like Tomas Tatar matching up with Tampa's 4th line at even strength, and getting time with the Datsyuk unit on the power-play. 

As for D, it doesn't get cheaper than Niklas Kronwall on FanDuel. 

I'm staying away from the Lightning today outside of Brian Boyle, who is a total punt play, but has some upside considering he is playing on the #1 power-play unit.

Penguins over the Rangers

This game is very tough to call, but I slightly prefer the Penguins. They are much deeper now with Evgeni Malkin back in the lineup, and are still rolling with one of the hottest lines in hockey, in Hagelin/Bonino/Kessel. In my opinion, SHOULD be highly owned tonight, but I don't know if he will. 

The only thing that scares me a bit is Jeff Zatkoff back in net for the Penguins. The Rangers can easily explode for a bunch of goals tonight against the career AHLer, but I don't really like their even strength matchups. While the Rangers have a lot of name value, they struggled in the puck possession game throughout the season. 

If I had to go with some Rangers tonight, I'd probably try to get exposure to their #1 power-play unit with Brassard, Zuccarello, Derek Stepan, and Chris Kreider, but that's a really tough call for cash games. 

Ducks over the Predators

The Predators have absolutely outplayed the Ducks through the first two games of the series. Going in to this series, I felt that it was a lot more evenly matched than most people originally assumed. The Ducks have always had a tough time against the Predators, even losing two out of three games in the Regular Season. 

Still, it's another situation where the Ducks have been controlling the puck possession game. I also don't think it helps that the Ducks have slowly brought back players who had been out for extended periods of time. This list of players include Chris Stewart, Rickard Rakell, David Perron, and Kevin Bieksa. Some of these guys were able to get in a game or two prior to the start of the playoffs, but it's tough to get into playoff hockey speed out of nowhere.

The Ducks are a better team. As a Kings fan, it pains me to say that, but they are. I like two lines tonight: the Getzlaf line (whichever line he plays on), and the Kesler line. It's tough for me to pay for Kesler on FanDuel where Getzlaf is only $500 more, so I found a spot for Cogliano. Yes, he doesn't play on the power-play, but I'm okay with this type of move on short slates.

I also like Vatanen at D, but can't pay up for him on FanDuel where Cam Fowler is worth pennies. 

It wouldn't surprise me if the Predators score some goals too. If I had to guess, the Forsberg line will matchup with Rakell's line, which is actually a matchup that favors the Nashville trio. Add in the fact that the Forsberg line will be playing with Weber/Josi on the power-play, they definitely make good GPP options.

Blackhawks over the Blues

Year after year, we've come to know that the Hawks win the big games, and the Blues blow the big games. Vegas seems to agree, because the Hawks are the biggest favorites of the night at -160.

Corsi wise, the Panarin/Anisimov/Kane line have absolutely controlled the possession game, but on the otherhand, the Schwartz/Lehtera/Tarasenko line have also been controlling the possesion game. This is possible because both head coaches are against matching the two lines up against each other. Panarin and Kane have been amazing in the United Center throughout the season, and I think they are a lock to make the scoresheet tonight. Considering there's so few locks in playoff hockey, I'll take my chances and pay up for the dynamic duo.