This article is part of our DraftKings NHL series.
GOALIE
Matt Murray, PIT vs. WAS ($7,800): Dating back to the regular season, Murray owns an 18-7-2 record with a serviceable .913 save percentage at PPG Paints Arena. Additionally, Washington has attempted 141 shots through the first two games of the series and just 23 turned into high-danger scoring chances (16.3 percent), whereas 52 were of the low-danger variety (36.9). If the trend continues, there's potential for Murray to pad his point total with easy saves in Game 3.
CENTER
Ryan Johansen, NSH at WPG ($5,100): The top-line center's two-goal showing in Game 3 snapped a three-outing point drought and improved Johansen to four goals and three assists through eight playoff contests. Johansen owns a 53.85 Corsi For percentage and has been on the ice for 18.82 high-danger scoring chances per 60 minutes at five-on-five to start the series, so this salary stands out as a discount.
Paul Stastny, WPG vs. NSH ($4,800): With a goal, three assists, four shots and four blocked shots through his past three contests, Stastny is proving to be a high-floor asset of late. He's skating with the No. 1 power-play unit while centering Patrik Laine and Nikolaj Ehlers at five-on-five. The trio has won the possession with a 53.75 Corsi For battle against the Preds percentage, and Stastny's salary also offers plenty of value.
WING
Patrik Laine, WPG vs. NSH ($6,300): With two goals, four assists and 24 shots through seven postseason contests, Laine has been anything but quiet. However, those numbers are closer to his fantasy floor than ceiling, and there's definitely positive regression ahead of his 8.3 shooting percentage. Don't be surprised if head coach Paul Maurice uses his last-change advantage to find softer on-ice matchups for Laine in Game 3.
Filip Forsberg, NSH at WPG ($6,000): The winger's playoff run has been a little hit or miss, as he's recorded three multi-point showings while also failing to mark the scoresheet entirely in another three contests. There are only so many scorers boasting contest-winning upside from this shallow player pool, though, and Forsberg's salary isn't prohibitive.
Phil Kessel, PIT vs. WAS ($5,700): Look for a bounce-back showing from Kessel in Game 3. He's missed the scoresheet in consecutive games against Washington while being held to just three shots and nine attempts. As a result, his salary has dropped $1,100. Kessel would also receive a tremendous value boost if Evgeni Malkin (lower body) returns to the lineup.
DEFENSE
Ryan Ellis, NSH at WPG ($4,700): The 27-year-old defenseman is clicking, but his salary isn't rising accordingly. Ellis has recorded an assist in three consecutive games and provided solid peripheral coverage with eight shots and seven blocked shots during that stretch. Additionally, he's locked into a go-to role with an average of 25:33 of ice time per contest (2:24 on the power play) during the postseason.
Jacob Trouba, WPG vs. NSH ($4,300): With just a single goal through seven playoff games, Trouba's underwhelmed offensively despite attempting an impressive 15.64 shots per 60 minutes. He's also moving the needle in the secondary categories with 20 shots and 22 blocked shots, which is a high fantasy floor for offense to build on.
