This article is part of our DraftKings NHL series.
GOALIE
Jonathan Quick, LA at VGK ($7,500) – Dustin Brown came within inches of tying Game 1 and it's hard to see how this series doesn't go the distance. Quick is an exceptional playoff performer, and given how close Game 1 was and how hard the Kings play, Game 2 could still go either way, but as expected the Kings offense has had a lot of trouble scoring. Other than Devan Dubnyk and the Flyers' goalies, Quick comes the cheapest and at a $600 discount to Marc-Andre Fleury in a game that's basically a coin flip.
CENTER
Anze Kopitar, LA at VGK ($6,300) – The only drawback to Kopitar is that Dustin Brown doesn't have the best hands, and Alex Iafallo and Tanner Pearson are second-line wingers at best. Based on Game 1, this series is highly unlikely to be a high-scoring affair, but the Kings have been resilient all season and have a good chance to even up the series. Kopitar will continue to be the focal point of their offense.
Paul Stastny, WPG vs. MIN ($5,100) – Not only is Stastny centering elite wingers Nikolaj Ehlers and Patrik Laine, he's earned the trust of Paul Maurice and has been tasked with taking most of the most crucial faceoffs in Game 1. He was dominant in the circle, winning 71 percent of his faceoffs and dishing out an assist. Mark Scheifele is the team's No. 1 center but has to go head-to-head against Eric Staal, and in the battle of the second units Stastny had the slight edge over Mikko Koivu in Game 1.
WING
Blake Wheeler, WPG vs. MIN ($6,800) – The Jets captain continues to control the power play from the half-wall and drew the primary assist on Mark Scheifele's goal. One of the advantages the Jets have over the Wild is their size and depth on the wings, and with Jason Zucker and Nino Niederreiter playing on Eric Staal's line, Wheeler has had no problems so far. He's an intense competitor and if the Jets go up 2-0 in the series it'll put them in a very good spot to secure their first ever series win.
Claude Giroux, PHI at PIT ($6,500) – The Flyers have no chance if their goaltending continues to stink, but they're not going to go down without a fight, either. Remember that in previous seasons when Giroux and Sidney Crosby went head-to-head they nearly broke each other's wrists, and although Giroux has since moved to the wing, the rivalry is still intense. It's unfathomable to think that the Flyers will get blown out again, and they'll be looking for their captain to lead the way. Giroux has just one assist in his past seven playoff games but has 62 points in 64 playoff games in his career, so he may just need a little more time to get going.
Alex Tuch, VGK vs. LA ($4,300) – He played just 15 minutes in Game 1 but made the most of it, registering a shot on goal and five hits and had a few scoring chances. His 6-foot-4, 222-pound frame makes him an ideal fit in a physical series, and he has a distinct size and strength advantage against the Kings' second-line wingers Tyler Toffoli and Tobias Rieder. Game 2 should be a low-scoring affair, but Tuch has been very visible and should be a factor in the scoring sooner than later.
DEFENSE
Kris Letang, PIT vs. PHI ($5,400) – He had an assist, three shots on goal and finished the night with a plus-4 rating in a blowout win in Game 1. The Flyers have to be very careful in Game 2; while they're obviously going to be a very frustrated bunch, their penalty kill isn't good enough to justify taking any stupid penalties, and the Penguins power play has been one of the league's best over the past few seasons. When Letang is healthy he's an elite power-play quarterback, and if the game is close expect him to play much more than the 21 minutes he played in Game 1.
Dion Phaneuf, LA at VGK ($3,800) – With Drew Doughty suspended for Game 2, someone has to fill his spot on the power play. Admittedly, going from Doughty to Phaneuf is a huge step down, but Phaneuf acclimated himself well with three shots on goal and 3:16 of ice time with the man advantage. What he has over Doughty is a big point shot, and it's likely Alec Martinez who will be the one teeing it up for him if John Stevens elects to keep playing two defensemen on the power play. Both teams went 0-for-3 on the power play in Game 1 and in a tight game special teams could be the big difference maker.
