This article is part of our FanDuel NHL series.
SLATE PREVIEW
The Lightning are just a .500 team at home during the playoffs, but in both series against the Panthers and Hurricanes, they managed to claim the key third victory on home ice. It has been an incredibly close series and although FanDuel's Sportsbook has the Lightning (-180) favored by quite a bit, consider the following:
- Three of the four games have been decided by just one goal
- The Lightning have not lost two games in row in the playoffs and the Islanders have done it twice
- The Islanders are the only team in the playoffs with a winning record on the road (5-3) but a negative goal differential (minus-1)
It's probably going to be another close game.
Puck drop is at 8 p.m. EDT.
As with all FanDuel showdown formats, no goalies are available for selection and a Captain can be designated for 1.5x fantasy points. The remaining roster spots are not restricted by position.
VALUE PLAYS
Anthony Cirelli, TB vs. NYI ($7,000): Hard to bet on anyone not on Tampa's top line because they're doing the bulk of the scoring and Cirelli has now gone five games without a point. The Isles make it very difficult to score, but Cirelli's still getting tons of usage with seven shots on goal in the series and ranks fourth in 5v5 CF% among Tampa's forwards, according to Natural Stat Trick. The puck might just bounce his way, for once…
Cal Clutterbuck, NYI at TB ($6,500): Can the Identity Line keep doing it? Clutterbuck and Co. have been excellent so far, and Clutterbuck has three points on eight (!) shots in the past two games. The Lightning have played a tough, nasty series, but that's also the calling card for Clutterbuck's line. If the Isles win, it could have something to do with their fourth line.
LINE STACKS
Brock Nelson ($11,500), Anthony Beauvillier ($8,500), Josh Bailey ($10,500)
I think this is still the better value play against Tampa's top line, and while Beauvillier hasn't been scoring very much, his speed is still helping him create offensive chances. All three players registered a point last game.
DEFENSEMEN
Victor Hedman, TB vs. NYI ($13,000): It's rare for Hedman to not find the score sheet and he ranks second among Tampa players in fantasy points per game because he can rack up the blocked shots. Offensively, he's the one Tampa defenseman who can provide the same upside as a top-six forward on a nightly basis.
