This article is part of our DraftKings NHL series.
SLATE PREVIEW
Four games make up the Monday slate that are all sitting at 2-1 series, so nobody is going home quite yet. Still, there is plenty of intrigue, including who will get the start for the Blues as they enter the second game of a back-to-back after Jake Allen secured the team its first win of the postseason in overtime Sunday night.
GOALIES
Philipp Grubauer, ARI vs. COL ($8,500): He's the most expensive netminder on the board but with limited options, he may just be worth it. He wasn't in the crease for the Game 3 defeat, so he should be well-rested and ready to go. In his previous two clashes with Arizona, the German netminder posted a 1.00 GAA and .957 save percentage in two winning efforts.
Jacob Markstrom, VAN vs. STL ($7,600): Through the first three games of this series, Markstrom is averaging 39 shot attempts per game and stopping them at a .932 save percentage. He should continue to face plenty of rubber, which makes him a solid DFS option even if he doesn't secure the win. Since it will be the second night of a back-to-back, fantasy players will want to double-check to ensure Markstrom still gets the nod over Thatcher Demko ($7,400), though with how bad St. Louis has been thus far in the postseason, either goalie could be on the table.
Joonas Korpisalo, CBJ vs. TAM ($7,200): A subpar Game 3 performance in which he gave up three goals on 34 shots could serve to depress Korpisalo's utilization numbers. Still, the 26-year-old backstop continues to face high shot totals and has a knack for bouncing back from a bad outing considering one of his two postseason shutouts came on the heels of being benched for a game.
VALUE PLAYS
Alexandre Texier, CBJ vs. TAM ($3,000): The fact that he is still looking for his first postseason goal is no doubt a concern, yet he continues to slot into the top line alongside Pierre-Luc Dubois who has been lighting it up. Texier's drought isn't from a lack of trying, as he's averaging three shots per game and should find the back of the net soon.
Martin Necas, CAR vs. BOS ($2,900): In addition to finding himself in a top-six role alongside Vincent Trochek, Necas is logging 2:47 of ice time per game with the man advantage. The 21-year-old winger hasn't collected any power-play points just yet but has managed to tally four points through six playoff contests, making him a steal at less than $3,000.
Joonas Donskoi, COL vs. ARI ($3,100): After missing Game 2 against the Coyotes due to injury, Donskoi failed to register any fantasy points in a quiet Game 3. Prior to getting hurt, the 28-year-old winger was riding a three-game point streak, which included two goals and a pair of helpers. If Colorado shakes up the top line during the game, something coach Jared Bednar does occasionally decide to do, Donskoi could be a candidate to jump up and play alongside Nathan MacKinnon.
STACKS
Carolina vs. Boston
Sebastian Aho (C - $7,100), Teuvo Teravainen (W - $5,600), Nino Niederreiter (W - $3,000)
The loss of Andrei Svechnikov (leg) will no doubt impact the production of Aho and Teravainen, however, it presents Niederreiter with an opportunity to play with the Hurricanes' studs. The Swiss winger grabbed a power-play goal in Game 3 and makes this stack more workable when you considering Aho is the third most expensive center in the slate.
Columbus vs. Tampa Bay
Pierre-Luc Dubois (C - $5,200), Oliver Bjorkstrand (W - $5,200), Alexandre Texier ($3,000)
For all the reason's highlighted above to utilize Texier, taking the rest of his linemates without having to break the bank makes a lot of sense. Dubois currently sits at sixth in the postseason scoring with four goals and four assists, including two power-play points, both scored in this series. For his part, Bjorkstrand had a slow start to the playoffs, going pointless in the play-in series versus Toronto. Since then the winger has found his scoring touch with a pair of goals against the Lightning.
Vancouver vs. St. Louis
Elias Pettersson (C - $6,800), J.T. Miller (W - $6,000), Brock Boeser (W - $5,700)
Pettersson is currently riding a three-game goal streak while also chipping in a pair of assists along the way. Additionally, four of his five points versus the Blues have come on the power play, making him a near-lock for fantasy contests. Meanwhile, Miller is in the midst of a four-game point streak of his own and is producing similar results (three points) with the man advantage. The goals haven't been there for Boeser in this series, but he is still racking up fantasy points thanks to four assists in his last three games.
DEFENSE
Cale Makar, COL vs ARI ($5,900): He's near the top of the price range behind only Alex Pietrangelo ($6,500) and Dougie Hamilton ($6,200), yet Makar continues to make his case for the Calder Trophy, as he has garnered assists in three straight games. He also put up seven shots on goal and logged 4:13 of power-play ice time in Game 3 on Saturday, which saw him register 18.5 fantasy points.
Alexander Edler, VAN vs. STL ($5,300): Despite recording just one assist in his previous three contests, Edler's fantasy point total hasn't dropped below 12 in any of the three games versus the Blues thanks to 16 blocks and five shots over that stretch. With a floor that high, any points picked up with the No. 2 power-play unit are just icing on the cake.
Seth Jones, CBJ vs. TAM ($5,400): After logging over an hour of ice time in the Game 1 five-overtime clash, Jones has been held off the scoresheet in his last two outings. He doesn't register as many blocks as defensive partner Zach Werenski ($5,100), but Jones is the one who quarterbacks the top power-play unit and has recorded 12 shots in three matchups against the Lightning.
