This article is part of our DraftKings NHL series.
Thursday's two-game NHL slate begins at 7:00 p.m. EDT and features Game 3s from the Flyers-Islanders and Golden Knights-Canucks series. Below, you'll find an overview of the matchups and suggested options for crafting an effective lineup.
SLATE PREVIEW
Philadelphia and New York will be facing off for the second time in as many days after the Flyers squared the series at a game apiece with a 4-3 overtime win Wednesday. Meanwhile, the Canucks responded to a 5-0 loss in Game 1 with a 5-2 win in Game 2 to tie their series with the Golden Knights at a game apiece.
GOALIES
Jacob Markstrom ($7,400) bounced back along with the rest of his teammates in Game 2, stopping 38 of 40 shots after snagging only 29 of 34 shots in the series opener. Markstrom should continue to face a heavy onslaught of shots, giving him a high ceiling. He's 8-4 with a 2.64 GAA and .925 save percentage this postseason.
Robin Lehner ($8,000) has posted a sub-.900 save percentage in four of eight games this postseason, but the dominant group of skaters in front of him has still allowed Lehner to compile a tidy 6-2 record and 2.34 GAA to go with his .909 save percentage. Despite his personal inconsistency, Lehner remains a solid option in net for the favored Golden Knights.
Semyon Varlamov ($7,700) got the hook after allowing three goals on just 10 shots in Game 2, as he came crashing back down to earth after consecutive shutouts in his previous two starts. Considering he entered play Wednesday with an 8-2 record, 1.50 GAA and .941 save percentage, the Russian netminder is likely to bounce back quickly. Just make sure he indeed gets the nod in this second leg of a back-to-back.
VALUE PLAYS/ONE-OFFS
Kevin Hayes' ($5,400) excellent play this postseason had gone largely unrewarded in the goal column until Game 2, when he potted a pair to bring his playoff line to 3-6-9 in 11 games. The well-rounded center should continue to make a noticeable impact for the Flyers in Game 3.
Anthony Beauvillier ($5,000) has caught fire at the perfect time, as he has a team-high seven goals this postseason to go with three helpers in 11 games. New York's 2015 first-rounder has consistently generated chances in this series, with 11 shots through two games to go with his goal in Game 2.
Paul Stastny ($4,400) is the cheapest member of Vegas' top-six forward group, making the second-line center a nice value play. He had a helper and four shots in Game 2, and Stastny's a proven playoff performer, with a 23-38-61 line in 87 career playoff contests.
Bo Horvat ($6,100) recorded his third two-goal game of the playoffs in Tuesday's Game 2 win, giving him eight goals in 12 games this postseason. Vancouver's captain has led by example all postseason, and Horvat now has 15 power-play goals between the regular season and playoffs, making him a major threat to light the lamp any time a Vegas player goes to the box.
FORWARD LINE STACKS
Canucks vs. Golden Knights
Elias Pettersson (C - $6,800), Tyler Toffoli (W - $5,500), Tanner Pearson (W - $4,500)
What a difference Toffoli made Tuesday in his first action since Aug. 2. He lit the lamp on his first shift for Vancouver's first goal of this series and ultimately finished the game with a 1-2-3 line, giving the trade deadline acquisition a 7-6-13 line over 12 games in a Canucks uniform. Pettersson also had a goal and two assists in Game 2, giving him a 5-11-16 line in 12 games this postseason. Pearson potted a goal as well in Game 2, giving him a 4-3-7 line in the playoffs.
Golden Knights at Canucks
William Karlsson (C - $5,900), Max Pacioretty (W - $7,000), Mark Stone (C - $6,700)
Pacioretty's back to rolling on all cylinders after battling an injury to begin the postseason. Vegas' leading scorer in the regular season (32-34-66 in 71 games) has a three-game goal streak going, and Patches has added an assist and 15 shots in this strong stretch. Stone's playing at a point-per-game pace this postseason with a 5-5-10 line, while Karlsson's benefiting from playing alongside a healthy Pacioretty with three helpers and nine shots in the last three games.
Islanders vs. Flyers
Mathew Barzal (C - $6,900), Anders Lee (W - $6,200), Jordan Eberle (W - $5,600)
All three members of this line scored a point in Game 1, and only Eberle was held off the scoresheet in Game 2. All told, Barzal now has a 3-6-9 line in 11 games this postseason, as his speed continues to cause problems for opposing defenders. Lee has potted five goals on 29 shots in his last seven games, including two goals on 11 shots in two meetings with the Flyers. Eberle's 3-3-6 postseason line is the least impressive of the bunch, though his regular season output (16-24-40 in 58 games) suggests he's capable of more.
DEFENSEMEN
Shea Theodore's ($6,200) pair of assists in Game 2 gave him a 4-7-11 line in 10 games this postseason and stretched his point streak to four games. During this four-game point streak, Theodore has a 1-5-6 line and 21 shots. He's the cream of the crop when it comes to offense from the back end in this slate.
Alexander Edler ($5,400) continues to stuff the stat sheet for the Canucks, with eight shots and eight blocks in this series' first two games to go along with two assists in Game 2. His ability to rack up secondary stats gives the veteran blueliner a high floor, regardless of whether his team's offense is clicking on a given night.
After a well-rounded three shots and three blocks in Game 1, Philippe Myers ($2,900) scored the overtime winner in Game 2, giving him double-digit fantasy points in every game of this series so far. Given his affordability, it's worth riding the young Flyers blueliner while he's hot.
