This article is part of our FanDuel NHL series.
Sunday's NHL slate begins at 8:00 p.m. EDT and includes two games. Below, you'll find an overview of the matchups and suggested options for crafting an effective lineup.
SLATE PREVIEW
The powerhouse Bruins-Lightning series features the top two teams in the Eastern Conference regular season standings. Tampa Bay avenged last year's first round upset loss to Columbus with a five-game victory, while Boston knocked out Carolina in five games. In the West, the upstart Canucks knocked out the defending champion Blues in six games and will now set their sights on the Golden Knights, who played up to their lofty expectations with a five-game victory over the Blackhawks.
GOALIES
Jaroslav Halak ($7,700) won the final three games against Carolina after Tuukka Rask opted out. The Slovak netminder stopped 68 of 73 shots (.932 save percentage) in those three games, carrying over his strong play from the regular season (18-6-6, 2.39 GAA and .919 save percentage). Meanwhile, Tampa Bay's offense has struggled in the playoffs, with just 20 goals in eight games.
Robin Lehner ($8,300) has been Vegas' goalie of choice this postseason, and he has rewarded that decision with a 5-1 record and 2.44 GAA despite a shaky .904 save percentage. He should start for the well-rested Golden Knights against a Vancouver team that's coming off the high of eliminating St. Louis on Friday.
Jacob Markstrom ($7,500) was outstanding against a Blues team that threw many waves of sustained offense at him, allowing no more than three goals in any game and finishing the series with a .930 save percentage despite facing at least 36 shots in all but one game. Vancouver is the least defensively sound of the four teams in action, so Markstrom should see plenty of volume. He has a low floor and high ceiling as a result.
Andrei Vasilevskiy ($8,600) stopped 61 of 63 shots in the marathon five-overtime Game 1 against Columbus but snagged just 99 of 109 shots (.908 save percentage) over the next four games. There's some cause for concern considering Columbus averaged just 2.57 goals in the regular season while Boston scored 3.24.
VALUE PLAYS/ONE-OFFS
Brayden Point ($7,700) carried the Lightning against Columbus, posting a 5-3-8 line in that five-game series, including two overtime winners. He should be the first Lightning skater you look at when constructing your lineup.
Tyler Motte ($3,500) was a surprise source of secondary scoring for the Canucks against St. Louis. His four goals in the last two games matched his regular season total in 34 appearances, and fantasy managers looking to ride the hot hand can pick Motte up on the cheap at just $3,500.
Brad Marchand ($7,800) has been the most productive member of Boston's top line with a 3-4-7 line this postseason. It's prohibitively expensive to stack the Bruins' entire prolific top line, and the agitating winger is in the sharpest form out of its members.
Jonathan Marchessault ($6,900) failed to light the lamp against Chicago despite putting 19 pucks on net in five games, but he kept his value afloat with five helpers. The diminutive winger — who scored two goals in the final round robin game against Colorado — is due for some better puck luck.
FORWARD LINE STACKS
Golden Knights vs. Canucks
William Karlsson (C - $5,700), Max Pacioretty (W - $7,500), Mark Stone (W - $7,300)
Vancouver eliminated St. Louis despite letting the Blues' top line run wild, as the Ryan O'Reilly-David Perron-Jaden Schwartz trio combined for a 10-9-19 line. Vegas boasts a similarly skilled top trio that's primed for a strong series. Pacioretty dealt with an injury early in the postseason, but the Golden Knights' leading regular season scorer (32-34-66) finally looked like himself with a goal and an assist in the closeout game against Chicago. Stone's strong regular season play (21-42-63) has carried over into the playoffs, as he has a 4-4-8 line in eight postseason contests. Karlsson has added a 2-4-6 line this postseason.
Bruins at Lightning
David Krejci (C - $5,800), Jake DeBrusk (W - $4,900), Ondrej Kase (W - $3,600)
Boston's second line should provide strong bang for the buck. The 34-year-old Krejci was on cruise control for much of the regular season, but he ratcheted up his involvement with a 3-5-8 line in the five games against Carolina. He also plays a prominent role on Boston's top power-play unit. DeBrusk scored twice in Game 4 against the Hurricanes, while Kase has four assists in six games this postseason.
Canucks at Golden Knights
Bo Horvat (C - $6,300), Tanner Pearson (W - $4,600), Loui Eriksson (W - $3,300)
Vancouver's second line offers a nice mix of production and affordability. Horvat has a 6-2-8 line in 10 games this postseason, and the Canucks' captain opened the series against St. Louis with consecutive two-goal performances. Pearson has chipped in a 3-3-6 line despite going unrewarded for 12 shots over the past four games. The affordable Eriksson is still looking for his first point this postseason but his deployment on this line makes him an ideal cheap filler.
DEFENSEMEN
Alec Martinez ($4,000) had a productive series against Chicago, recording a goal and three assists. The veteran Vegas blueliner was a part of two Stanley Cup runs with the Kings and should continue to provide strong bang for the buck.
After posting an 8-45-53 line in the regular season, Quinn Hughes ($5,500) has answered any questions about whether his puck-moving ability from the back end would translate well to playoff hockey, as he's playing at a point-per-game pace through 10 postseason contests. Keep rolling the 20-year-old blueliner out with confidence.
Victor Hedman ($6,400) was unlucky to post only a 1-1-2 line against Columbus, as he finished the five-game series with 22 shots. If Tampa Bay's dormant offense finally wakes up, the 2018 Norris Trophy winner should play a major role. Hedman posted an 11-44-55 line in the regular season, marking his fourth consecutive campaign with at least 54 points.
