This article is part of our FanDuel NHL series.
We are in the conference finals now, which means there is only one game per day going forward so there will be a lot of single-game daily fantasy contests. If you aren't familiar, you choose three forwards, two defensemen, and a captain who provides you with 1.5 times the points. Here's the lineup I would choose for such a contest.
CAPTAIN
Nikita Kucherov, TAM vs. WAS ($11,600): Kucherov averaged a whopping 18.1 fantasy points per game, thanks to the fact he notched 100 points, including 39 goals on 279 shots. In the playoffs, he has 12 points and 41 shots on net in 10 games. Though Braden Holtby has played well in the postseason, the Capitals had a 3.29 GAA on the road this year.
FORWARD
T.J. Oshie, WAS at TAM ($9,400): Oshie has tallied eight points in 12 playoff games, including six on the power play. During the regular season he averaged 3:22 per game with the extra man and notched 18 power-play points in 74 contests. That could bode well in this matchup, as the Lightning had the 27th-ranked penalty kill this year.
Yanni Gourde, TAM vs. WAS ($8,300): Gourde didn't do much against the Devils, but he had four points in five games against the Bruins. The rookie also registered 25 goals and 39 assists during the regular season. Braden Holtby's playoff performance has been impressive, but he had a 2.99 GAA and .907 save percentage this year.
Lars Eller, WAS at TAM ($7,900): If Nicklas Backstrom is still out, it will help increase Eller's fantasy potential. He also had a couple strong games against the Penguins during which he notched multiple points. Andrei Vasilevskiy has been good in the playoffs, but the Lightning had a 3.36 GAA after the All-Star break.
DEFENSEMEN
Victor Hedman, TAM vs. WAS ($9,600): Hedman was great against the Bruins, notching a point in all five games in the series. None of them were goals, but over his last two seasons the Swede has 33 goals total. He definitely knows how to light the lamp. As previously noted, the Capitals had a 3.29 GAA in away games this season.
Mikhail Sergachev, TAM vs. WAS ($7,900): Sergachev started 70.2 percent of his shifts in the offensive zone, highest on the Lightning. Though his minutes are down in the playoffs, his power-play minutes remain steady. Over his last seven games he's averaged 2:50 per contest with the extra man. That improves his fantasy potential.
