This article is part of our DraftKings NHL series.
The conference finals are upon us, and there are only four teams remaining. DraftKings has two-day contests with both Game 1s: Nashville at Anaheim on Friday, and Ottawa at Pittsburgh on Saturday. Here are a handful of recommendations to consider while assembling your lineups.
GOALIE
Pekka Rinne, NAS at ANA ($7,500): The Predators have surrendered just 7.8 high-danger scoring chances per 60 minutes at five-on-five during the playoffs while also allowing two goals or fewer in eight of 10 postseason games. For his part, Rinne has posted a .951 save percentage and 1.37 GAA. Nashville's top defensemen insulate Rinne, and Anaheim could be surprised by the Predators' well-rounded attack. The Ducks could also be suffering from a Game 7 hangover, as they get just a single day off before beginning Round 3.
CENTER
Evgeni Malkin, PIT vs. OTT ($8,200): Four games removed from a multi-point showing, the postseason scoring leader is ripe for a bounce-back performance in Game 1. Ottawa should struggle to account for both Sidney Crosby and Malkin, and No. 71 will probably see an easier matchup most of the night. Malkin's playoff track record and sky-high upside could fly under the radar with Crosby often being the higher-owned Pittsburgh center.
Calle Jarnkrok, NAS at ANA ($3,300): A low-priced flier centering an intriguing line, Jarnkrok scored his first goal of the postseason in Game 6 against St. Louis. He went on a nice late-season run with eight goals, 16 points and 40 shots over 20 games while receiving an uptick in ice time (18:05 per outing), and centering James Neal and Colin Wilson has Jarnkrok back in a similar role. Additionally, Nashville's depth should prove to be an advantage in this series.
WING
Phil Kessel, PIT vs. OTT ($6,300): After a dominant start to the playoffs (11 points through seven games), Kessel has been held to a goal and an assist through his past five outings. He had a mini bounce back in Game 7 against Washington with four shots on net, though, and Ottawa should prove to be a softer matchup than the Capitals were. When goal scorers show an uptick in shot volume, the results usually follow on the scoresheet.
James Neal, NAS at ANA ($4,800): The Ducks have allowed the most high-danger scoring chances per 60 minutes (13.49) of all remaining playoff teams, and Anaheim has struggled to kill penalties (12.0 goals against per 60 minutes with a 69.0 penalty-kill percentage). Neal scored three goals on 19 shots through the final five games of the series against St. Louis, and he provides a nice low-priced stack with center Calle Jarnkrok.
Mark Stone, OTT at PIT ($4,700): After a quiet start to the playoffs with just two goals and an assist over 10 games, Stone finished off the series against the Rangers by doubling that production with two goals and an assist in Game 6. He's capable of turning up his offensive production in a hurry, and the Pittsburgh blue line has multiple injuries. Stone's salary is far too low, too. He's averaging more than two minutes of power-play time per playoff game and is a go-to scorer for Ottawa, after all.
DEFENSE
Erik Karlsson, OTT at PIT ($7,500): The Ottawa captain proved his health with consecutive multi-point showings (a goal and four assists) to finish off the Rangers in Round 2. His ability to pad his point contributions with shots and blocked shots also provides a reliable floor. Pittsburgh is ripe for a letdown showing after an emotional seven-game series against Washington, too.
Mattias Ekholm, NAS at ANA ($3,200): The forgotten defenseman among Nashville's top-four stalwarts, Ekholm has been held to three assists, seven shots and eight blocked shots through the first 10 games of the postseason. As a result, his salary has remained low. He's averaged a hefty 24:42 of ice time per game during the postseason, so Ekholm hefty role puts him in a position to post respectable fantasy numbers. It's rare to find defensemen in his price range who receive that much ice time.
