This article is part of our FanDuel NHL series.
The first round of the NHL playoffs is incredibly close to concluding. Both the Bruins and Capitals have the chance to clinch a series win on the road. Or, perhaps, the Maple Leafs and Blue Jackets will force Game 7. Either way, it should be fun. Here are my daily fantasy recommendations.
GOALIE
Braden Holtby, WAS at CLM ($8,700): Yes, Holtby had a rough season, and he wasn't even the starter when the playoffs began. However, the fact is that every game he's started in this series the Capitals have won, and in those three games he has a 1.63 GAA and .941 save percentage. None of the other three starters have been playing all that great in this postseason, so why not go with the hot hand?
CENTER
Nicklas Backstrom, WAS at CLM ($6,800): Backstrom had three point in Game 5 to give him eight points in this series. Six of those have come with the extra man, which is perhaps not surprising given that the Blue Jackets had the 26th-ranked penalty kill. Over his last 13 games the Swedish center has 22 points, so he hasn't just been hot against Columbus.
Tyler Bozak, TOR vs. BOS ($4,400): Bozak has four points in his last four games. Though Nazem Kadri came back for Game 5, causing a drop in minutes for Bozak, he still had two points in that contest. Tuukka Rask had a .917 save percentage this season, which was his best in three seasons but not great. Plus, over his last 20 games he has a 2.87 GAA and .906 save percentage.
WING
Artemi Panarin, CLM vs. WAS ($7,900): Panarin doesn't have a point in his last two games, but before that he was scorching hot. He had a streak of eight multi-point games wherein he notched 20 points total. Though Braden Holtby has been great in this series so far, the Capitals had a 3.39 GAA on the road. With only four teams playing, it's worth trusting a player of Panarin's caliber in pretty much any matchup.
T.J. Oshie, WAS at CLM ($5,700): After ending the regular season on a six-game point streak, Oshie has four points in this series. All four of those points have come with the extra man, and he has 17 shots on net in five games as well. Sergei Bobrovsky has allowed at least three goals in every game in this series, and in his last seven contests he has a 3.24 GAA and .902 save percentage.
Rick Nash, BOS at TOR ($5,700): Nash only has one point in his series, a goal, but he's put 18 shots on net in five games. He's been active, and his 5.6 shooting percentage could easily improve. The Maple Leafs have allowed 33.9 shots on goal per contest, so Nash should be able to keep putting pucks on goal. Plus, over his last 20 games Frederik Andersen has a 3.47 GAA and .898 save percentage.
DEFENSEMEN
Torey Krug, BOS at TOR ($6,000): Speaking of putting pucks on net, Krug has 20 shots on goal in this series. However, unlike Nash he's been appearing on the score sheet plenty. The defenseman has eight points in this series, five on the power play. Given Toronto's shot-allowing proclivities, and Frederik Andersen's recent struggles, don't be surprised if Krug stays hot.
Morgan Rielly, TOR vs. BOS ($4,900): Rielly ended the regular season hot, notching 15 assists in 15 games. Ten of those came on the power play as well. In the playoffs, Rielly has kept it going, as he has five assists against the Bruins. Tuukka Rask was pulled in Game 5, and he has a 2.87 GAA and .906 save percentage over his last 20 contests.
