This article is part of our DraftKings NHL series.
GOALIE
Curtis McElhinney, CAR vs. NYI ($8,000): They say you need a good goalie to win the Cup; what if you had two? McElhinney turned aside 28 saves in Game 3 and now gets a chance to send the 'Canes to the conference finals for the first time in 10 years. He's gotten a lot of help from his defense, which put on a clinic in the last half of the third period, and whatever momentum the Islanders gathered in a first-round sweep has clearly dissipated. The 'Canes have outscored them 8-3 this series and should be able to complete the sweep in front of a raucous home crowd.
CENTER
Ryan O'Reilly, STL vs. DAL ($6,800): The Blues will dictate the defensive matchups at home after allowing four goals in Dallas, so picking Tyler Seguin and paying the $400 premium doesn't seem like a sound plan. O'Reilly, on the other hand, is one of the league's most dependable players, and with two assists in Game 4 has extended his point streak to three games while averaging over 21 minutes.
Sebastian Aho, CAR vs. NYI ($6,500): Aho's splits in the playoffs this year have been much better at home (five points in four games versus two points in six contests on the road). Nick Leddy was on the ice for 60 percent of Aho's shifts in Game 2 (courtesy of Left Wing Lock), limiting him to zero points and zero shots. In Game 3, the Islanders were only able to do that 40 percent of the time with Rod Brind'Amour using last change to his advantage, giving Aho the room to score two points. Expect Brind'Amour to do more of the same in a clinching scenario.
WING
Jamie Benn, DAL at STL ($6,000): Like O'Reilly, the Stars captain has been a model of consistency, registering a point in three games this series and over the past two games been a force at both ends of the ice. The Stars are at a disadvantage on the road, but last game it seemed like Benn did start to bother the usually calm Jordan Binnington. If the Blues are a crumbling wall, Benn is the perfect wrecking ball.
Justin Williams, CAR vs. NYI ($4,900): He has a knack for big moments, scoring his first playoff goal in Game 6 against the Caps to force Game 7 and assisting on the series winner. He scored the game winner in Game 3, so if the 'Canes sweep, you bet Williams is going to be a significant contributor. He's a good line stacking option with Aho and/or Warren Foegele ($3,600).
Jason Spezza, DAL at STL ($2,800): Spezza is a boom-or-bust pick, having notched three assists in the past four games but offering little in other categories and averaging less than 10 minutes per game. The strength and mobility aren't there anymore, but he's clearly got plenty of playmaking ability left. In what is becoming a nasty series, Spezza's presence on the power play still gives him some potential value.
DEFENSE
Jaccob Slavin, CAR vs. NYI ($4,700): He had an assist for the second straight game and added another three shots and two blocked shots. He does it all for the 'Canes, unlike specialists Dougie Hamilton or Justin Faulk. If Game 4 features as many goals as the last game, Slavin is good enough to take advantage, but if it's a close game, he has one of the higher floors among defensemen.
Miro Heiskanen, DAL at STL ($4,300): The gap between Heiskanen and John Klingberg ($5,500) just isn't that big; the only upside for Klingberg is his role on the top power-play unit and half of his assists came in one game against Nashville. Esa Lindell ($4,000) is also a good play because he plays in all situations, but Heiskanen is a little better at jumping up on the play and was robbed by Binnington on a breakaway last game.
