This article is part of our FanDuel NHL series.
There are two Game 4s Thursday, but nobody is in danger of being swept. That's good for those of us who can't get enough hockey. Hockey lovers also may want to play some daily fantasy hockey Thursday. If you do, here are some lineup recommendations…
GOALIE
Braden Holtby, WAS at PIT ($8,600):Pekka Rinne and Connor Hellebuyck had great seasons, but Nashville and Winnipeg have potent offenses and have played a lot of high-scoring games this year. Holtby had a rough regular season, but in his seven playoff starts he has six wins, a 2.09 GAA, and a .927 save percentage. Maybe Holtby has regained his form from past seasons just in time for the playoffs.
CENTER
Nicklas Backstrom, WAS at PIT ($6,800): Backstrom has 12 points in nine playoff games, including seven on the power play. His hot play extends into the regular season, though, as he has 34 points in his last 25 contests. Meanwhile, Matt Murray has a 2.91 GAA and .901 save percentage in his last 17 outings.
Paul Stastny, WPG vs. NAS ($5,600): Stastny has a four-game point streak wherein he's notched seven points. That of course means he has a point in every game in this series. As great as Pekka Rinne was this year, he has a 2.96 GAA and .906 save percentage in the playoffs. This series has seen a lot of goals, and it will be tricky for Rinne to find his footing on the road in front of a raucous Winnipeg crowd.
WING
Filip Forsberg, NAS at WPG ($8,200): Forsberg has been racking up the points, and shots, for a little while. In his last 20 games he's tallied 13 goals, 13 assists, and 78 shots on net. This season he had 64 points in 67 contests, including 21 on the power play. Connor Hellebuyck has performed well in the postseason, but he's allowed nine goals over his last two games, and gave up six goals in one game against the Wild.
Jake Guentzel, PIT vs. WAS ($7,100): Guentzel exploded against the Flyers, and he's stayed hot against the Capitals. He has a seven-game point streak and 19 points in nine playoff games. Though I chose Braden Holtby in the goalie category, the fact remains the Capitals had a 3.29 road GAA this year. I'm not predicting a Washington shutout here, and I wouldn't be surprised to see Guentzel's point streak continue.
Brandon Tanev, WPG vs. NAS ($3,500): Weirdly, Tanev has a goal in four straight games. That's a bit of a surprise given that he only had eight goals all season. However, he has been more active than usual, as he has 12 shots on net in his last four contests. As previously noted, Pekka Rinne has a 2.96 GAA and .906 save percentage in the playoffs. Hey, if you want to spend some real money on a reliable name like Forsberg, you can also take a gamble on somebody cheap like Tanev.
DEFENSEMEN
Dustin Byfuglien, WPG vs. NAS ($6,600): In addition to having five points and 10 shots in his last two games, Byfuglien has 16 points in his last 15 contests. He's also a real power-play weapon, as he had 22 points with the extra man in 69 games. With only four teams in action, it's worth hoping that Rinne is going to continue to struggle in the playoffs, especially since the Predators are on the road for Game 4. Big Buff also blocked 100 shots this season, so he can add fantasy value that way.
Dmitry Orlov, WAS at PIT ($4,100): Orlov chipped in a bit offensively this year, as he had 10 goals and 21 assists. He's played well recently, though, as he has five points in his last five contests. Matt Murray had a 2.92 GAA and .907 save percentage this season, and in the playoffs he has a 2.48 GAA and .906 save percentage. Sure, Orlov is no John Carlson, but he's also a lot cheaper.
