FLEX
Mark Scheifele, WPG at NSH ($10,900) – The sample size is small, but in four career games against the Preds, Scheifele's scored two goals and two assists on 13 shots on goal. The marquee matchup between Scheifele and Ryan Johansen will be interesting to watch; both players were top-10 picks, both stand 6-foot-3 and both are considered premier playmakers. Scheifele, however, has the slight edge because he's a far more consistent player and doesn't lose his cool like Johansen.
Blake Wheeler, WPG at NSH ($10,300) – The Jets captain heads into Game 1 with a three-game point streak and traditionally has fared very well against the Preds; in 28 career games he's scored 24 points, including six points in five games this season. Both teams have a lot of firepower, but the Jets certainly have the advantage on the wings with more overall skill, size and depth.
Pekka Rinne, NSH vs. WPG ($8,300) – Connor Hellebuyck's track record against the Preds isn't very good, which is why Rinne has the advantage, not to mention the home-ice advantage. Rinne's regular season performances against the Jets wasn't good with a 3.52 GAA and .901 save percentage but managed to win three of the four contests. While the second round is familiar territory for the Preds, the same can't be said for the young Jets.
Kevin Fiala, NSH vs. WPG ($5,900) – The talented playmaker has been very quiet in the playoffs so far and registered just two points against the Avs. Depth could be a difference maker in this series, and if the Preds want to win they'll need their depth scorers to step up. Fiala's line may go head-to-head against the Jets' second line with Patrik Laine and Nikolaj Ehlers, so if both team's top lines cancel each other out, the Preds will need Fiala to start scoring if they want a chance.
Jacob Trouba, WPG at NSH ($5,600) – He finally got on the board with a goal in Game 6 against the Wild, registering his first point of the playoffs, but he's been vital to the Jets' success. Dustin Byfuglien has more offensive upside and will get a lot more scoring opportunities, but with only one game Friday it'd be wise to go off the board. Trouba is an excellent two-way player who can rove around the offensive zone as well as anybody.
Bryan Little, WPG at NSH ($4,800) – With the emergence of the Jets' young players, Little has been pushed down the depth chart, but they're a deep team and Paul Maurice has a lot of trust in the veteran forward. Little is one of the team's longest tenured players, and after scoring in Game 6 should head into the series with a lot of confidence. In five games against the Preds this season, Little scored four points, the most he's scored against one team.
