This article is part of our DraftKings NHL series.
SLATE PREVIEW
Dallas has won all three of its games by one goal as it leads the series 3-1 and will look to close things out Monday night. It would be the first trip to the Stanley Cup Final for the Stars since 2000, when they lost to New Jersey.
GOALIES
Anton Khudobin, DAL ($15,900/$10,600): In general, the exorbitant price tag for netminders, especially as captains, makes me leary of trying to fit them into the lineup. Still, Khudobin is sporting a .952 save percentage through the first four games of the series and is facing an average of 31.25 shots. After a rough series versus Colorado, the Dallas backstop is rolling right now, including his Game 1 shutout performance.
Robin Lehner, VGK ($16,500/$11,000): Unlike his opponent, Lehner hasn't faced a significant workload in this series, as he is seeing a mere 22.3 shots per night and was watching from the bench in Game 1. The Swede's .925 series save percentage might look decent enough, yet it is bolstered by his shutout in Game 2. After giving up two goals on just 20 shots his last time out, it's not out of the question that coach Pete DeBoer might consider using Marc-Andre Fleury for Monday's win-or-go-home contest.
Captain Options
Goalies (See Above): To utilize a netminder as the captain, you'll need to get creative throughout the rest of the lineup given their high price tags. Still, if the keeper can limit the goals allowed, or even record a shutout, they are likely to be near the top in fantasy points. As mentioned, the premium is a little too steep for me, especially considering the uncertainty between the pipes for the Golden Knights.
Miro Heiskanen, DAL ($11,400): While the blueliner didn't get into the action in Game 4's 2-1 victory, he remains the top point producer for the Stars in the postseason, with eight of his 22 points coming on the power play as well. The blueliner also represents a significant saving compared to the top price forward captain options which will allow fantasy players some salary flexibility for the rest of their lineup.
Joe Pavelski, DAL ($11,700): With his goal in Game 4, Captain America moved into third all-time among American-born players with 57 career playoff goals. The 36-year-old winger leads the Stars with his nine tallies this postseason and needs just four more to secure the No. 1 all-time spot. Despite not scoring a power-play goal in his last nine outings, he does have a pair of helpers with the man advantage, Pavelski continues to log big power-play minutes (2:40 per game) over that stretch.
STACKS
Dallas Starts
Joe Pavelski (C - $7,800), Denis Gurianov (W - $6,400), Mattias Janmark (W - $3,600)
If you don't want to pay up for Pavelski as a captain, instead utilize him as a stack option with his linemates. Gurianov, for his part, is tied right behind his center in goals with eight, though he remains pointless in four games against the Golden Knights. Janmark is no doubt a high-risk play, especially considering he is stuck in a five-game pointless streak and has yet to find the back of the net in the postseason. Still, he's the type of player you'll want to consider if you are going to insert one of the goalies into your lineup; low-cost with high potential upside given his spot on the depth chart.
Vegas Golden Knights
William Karlsson (C - $8,200), Mark Stone (W - $9,000) Max Pacioretty (W - $10,000)
If there is a player in this trio that represents the most risk, it's probably actually Pacioretty due to his high price tag. The winger is bogged down in a seven-game goal drought during which he's managed just one assist. His inability to bend the twine certainly isn't from a lack of trying, as he is averaging 3.85 shots during his slump. He'll continue to log significant ice time with the man advantage and will need to break out sooner rather than later if Vegas is going to extend the series. Stone, who is second on the team in scoring with 18 points, is dealing with an undisclosed injury after blocking a shot in Game 4, which could see Alex Tuch elevate to the top line if Stone can't play.
DEFENSE
Since classic contests require you to utilize defensemen, looking for players that can contribute with blocks certainly is a solid strategy. However, that's unlikely to bring home the bacon when you get into the open flex format of showdown contests. As such, finding the offensive contributors will be a necessity for fantasy players.
Shea Theodore, VGK ($9,400): Much like his contemporary Miro Heiskanen ($7,600), it is Theodore that is leading the scoring for the Golden Knights with 18 points in 19 games. In the previous four contests in this series, the defenseman registered a goal and an assist, both with the man advantage, and put 13 shots on net. Theodore should continue to pepper Anton Khudobin with pucks Monday night.
Nate Schmidt, VGK ($7,000): He won't offer the same level of offensive firepower as Theodore, though he did garner an assist in Game 4. Still, the 39-year-old Minnesota native has recorded 10 or more fantasy points in three of his last four contests thanks primarily to 14 shots and five blocks in those appearances.
