This article is part of our FanDuel NHL series.
FanDuel has a two-day contest featuring a pair of Game 6 bouts: Penguins-Capitals on Monday, Rangers-Senators on Tuesday. At this stage of the playoffs and in these particular series, line juggling has been commonplace, especially with players moving in and out of the lineup due to injuries. These contests do have a late-swap option, so it'll be important to monitor scratches, game-time decisions and line combinations leading up to puck drop both nights. With that in mind, here are a handful of recommendations to keep in mind while assembling your lineups.
GOALIE
Braden Holtby, WAS at PIT ($8,500): This is a reasonable salary to take a chance on Holtby and the Capitals. The Penguins are sizeable favorites, which should drive down the netminder's ownership, and this series could very reasonably go to seven games. Pittsburgh's talent was spread across three lines during Monday's morning skate, so there's a good chance there are fewer goals in this game than in the Rangers-Senators tilt. The Caps have also held the Pens to just 9.5 high-danger scoring chances per 60 minutes during their series.
CENTER
Evgeny Kuznetsov, WAS at PIT ($6,200): Sporting a three-game goal streak with four points and 14 shots on net, Kuznetsov might be playing the best hockey of his career. He's been on the ice for 12.6 high-danger scoring chances per 60 minutes in the playoffs, and that figure is up to 16.1 during Round 2 against Pittsburgh. The Penguins have also allowed 12.4 high-danger chances per 60 minutes during the playoffs, which is the second-most of all remaining teams.
Kyle Turris, OTT at NYR ($5,700): Following a career-best 27 goals during the regular season, Turris has picked up his production of late with three goals, five points and 13 shots over his past six games. He spent the majority of Game 5 with Mike Hoffman on his flank, and that duo has combined for a respectable 2.84 goals per 60 minutes at five-on-five this season. Turris has also avoided the shutdown pair of Ryan McDonagh and Dan Girardi for most of the series.
WING
Mike Hoffman, OTT at NYR ($6,300): With just three goals and three helpers through 11 playoff games, Hoffman has been a bit of a hit-or-miss asset. However, he does provide a decent floor through his high shot volume, and the winger is going to play an offensively tilted role. However, what's most attractive is his high ceiling. Hoffman scored twice and registered eight shots in Game 3 against Boston during Round 1, and he posted 13 multi-point outings during the regular season. He has contest-winning upside.
Conor Sheary, PIT vs. WAS ($4,400): The winger returned to the lineup for Game 5 and logged 14:03 of ice time without marking the scoresheet. He's expected to play with
Sidney Crosby at even strength in Game 6, though, and the duo combined for a remarkable 3.79 goals per 60 minutes at five-on-five during the regular season. At the beginning of the playoffs, Sheary's salary was $6,300, so there's considerable value at this price.
Andre Burakovsky, WAS at PIT ($3,700): After being on the ice for the most high-danger scoring chances per 60 minutes (21.18) of all Capitals in Round 2, Burakovsky was bumped to the No. 1 line; he rewarded his club with a goal, an assist and four shots on net in Game 5. He posted a 58.6 Corsi For percentage Saturday and was on the ice for another 12 scoring chances. This is a target-worthy salary, too.
DEFENSE
Erik Karlsson, OTT at NYR ($6,900): Despite likely playing at less than 100 percent, Karlsson logged 31:09 of ice time and collected three assists in Game 5 on Saturday. After proving his health and ending a two-game point drought, the defenseman warrants nightly consideration again. This salary isn't prohibitive enough, either. Karlsson is a top scorer in the entire player pool, not just among his blue-line peers.
Ryan McDonagh, NYR vs. OTT ($5,900): With at least 8.0 FanDuel points in eight consecutive games, McDonagh remains a go-to option. He's collected two goals, seven points, 19 shots and 24 blocked shots during that eight-game stretch, with the bulk of the production coming against Ottawa in the second round. New York's captain has also been on the ice for the most high-danger scoring chances per 60 minutes among all Ranger defensemen during this series (17.8) and in the playoffs as a whole (12.4).
