This article is part of our FanDuel NHL series.
SLATE PREVIEW
Whenever we count out the Islanders, they seem to find a way. They might not have as much firepower as the Bruins, but they've also limited them to just three goals in the past two games. We should've seen this coming; the Isles beat the Bruins five straight times to start the season, and finished with a 5-2-1 record in their eight meetings. Game 5 is at 6:30 p.m. EDT.
The Canadiens have a chance to advance with a sweep of the Jets in Game 6, with puck drop at 8:30 p.m. Though it's a back-to-back, don't expect any changes in net; Carey Price and Connor Hellebuyck are still expected to start. The Jets have a lot of pushback so they may have enough to force a Game 6 on home ice, but scoring has been a problem with so many key players missing. With short rest for both teams, the Habs' depth and ability to roll four lines gives them an advantage.
GOALIES
Carey Price, MON vs. WPG ($8,500): We thought the Habs had no chance, yet here we are, one game away from a sweep of the Jets and advancing to the semifinals. The Jets will not be an easy out, but Connor Hellebuyck has not been particularly sharp, their offense has sputtered without their top center and the Habs will have the home crowd behind them. Hellebuyck ($7,500) could be a value play but the Habs have the advantage in virtually every aspect of the game right now.
Semyon Varlamov, NYI at BOS ($7,900): Varlamov's a slightly better value play than Tuukka Rask ($8,200), though Rask has the home-ice advantage. Both goalies have been good, but Varlamov's been slightly better with three goals allowed on 70 shots (.957 Sv%) compared to Rask (3 GA on 61 shots, .951 Sv%). The games could go either way, but Varlamov has a better chance to rack up the saves.
VALUE PLAYS
Corey Perry, MON vs. WPG ($3,900): The Worm has scored so many key goals in the playoffs, it feels like he's definitely show up on the score sheet if the Habs advance. The fourth line centered by Eric Staal ($3,600), who is also a possible value play, has made mincemeat of the Jets so far because they don't' have enough depth to counter all four lines.
Cole Caufield, MON vs. WPG ($3,300): Because the Habs count on all four lines, it's hard for Caufield to shine, but his chemistry with Nick Suzuki is very good and he gets put in a lot of scoring situations. He has two assists in his past three games and 11 shots in his past two games.
LINE STACKS
Islanders at Bruins
Mathew Barzal (C - $6,900), Jordan Eberle (W - $6,100), Leo Komarov (W - $3,600)
Komarov keeps the price of this line stack low but he can be ignored because he provides very little fantasy value. Barzal's play has reached another level with points in his last three games, and it's a good matchup because this line is not the B's preferred matchup for their top line or their top pairing. That may change because Barzal has been playing so well, but even with the B's getting last change on home ice, Barzal can be difficult to contain.
Bruins vs. Islanders
David Krejci (C - $6,000), Craig Smith (W - $4,800), Taylor Hall (W - $6,300)
Both teams are worthy of stacking because the Habs-Jets series just tends to be a grinding, low-scoring affair. The Bruins-Isles series, on the other hand, is faster and has opened up a little. Krejci has arguably been their best forward this series.
DEFENSEMEN
Charlie McAvoy, BOS vs. NYI ($6,400): The lack of scoring defensemen for Monday's slate means McAvoy is a better pick than usual; he moves the puck very well and quarterbacks the B's top power play. Game 4 was the first time all series McAvoy failed to register a single point.
Shea Weber, MON vs. WPG ($4,800): If Jeff Petry does not play, expect Weber to play a lot more minutes even though he's been a workhorse this series. His big shot remains feared but he has yet to score a goal in the playoffs; your fantasy value for Weber will derived from shots, blocked shots and maybe an apple or two.
Matt Grzelcyk, BOS vs. NYI ($4,000): Grzelcyk is a good value play for someone who plays on the power play and shares the ice a lot with Boston's top line. That exposure alone gives him more upside than nearly all the defensemen available for selection.
