This article is part of our FanDuel NHL series.
It's time for another weekend of NHL playoff action. We've got a couple Game 5s coming up in two series that are tied at two games apiece. The opportunities to play daily fantasy hockey are dwindling. Here are my recommendations.
GOALIE
Marc-Andre Fleury, VGK vs. WPG ($8,600): While both Braden Holtby and Connor Hellebuyck have both slipped recently, Fleury is still going strong. He has a 1.70 GAA and .945 save percentage this postseason. Flower is clearly the, "hot goalie" of these playoffs. Go with the most trustworthy netminder left.
CENTER
Evgeny Kuznetsov, WAS at TAM ($7,800): Kuznetsov scored a goal Thursday, giving him a seven-game point streak. He's also been quite active recently, as he has a whopping 20 shots on net in his last three games. In truth, the Russian pivot has been hot for a while. He's notched 40 points in his last 27 contests.
Brayden Point, TAM vs. WAS ($6,700): Point has been consistent, as he has a goal and an assist in each of his last three games. After having 32 goals during the regular season, he has six goals in his last eight contests. Meanwhile, the Capitals had a 3.29 GAA on the road this year.
WING
James Neal, VGK vs. WPG ($6,900): Neal ended the regular season a little cold but he's been fine in the playoffs. He has nine points, including four goals, and has put 51 shots on net. He has a 7.8 shooting percentage in the playoffs, which is below his regular-season number of 12.4. As was just noted, Connor Hellebuyck has a .912 save percentage in his last nine starts.
Reilly Smith, VGK vs. WPG ($6,000): Smith only has one goal in the playoffs, but he has been contributing. He's notched 14 assists in 13 games. Additionally, the 27-year-old only has a 3.1 shooting percentage in the postseason, so if he regresses toward the mean he'll end up lighting the lamp eventually. Though Connor Hellebuyck started the playoffs off well, over his last nine games he has a .912 save percentage.
Tom Wilson, WAS at TAM ($4,400): Wilson is known more for his physical play, but he also skates on Washington's top line with Alex Ovechkin and Evgeny Kuznetsov. That means he gets to play alongside two elite forwards, which increases his fantasy potential. He's been able to contribute a little offensively, as he has 10 points in 11 playoff games.
DEFENSEMEN
Dustin Byfuglien, WPG at VGK ($6,100): Byfuglien has 15 points in the playoffs, and he came into the postseason on a five-game point streak. He's also put 46 shots on net, including six in Game 3. Big Buff has also averaged 2:48 per game with the extra man in the playoffs, and he had 22 power-play points in 69 regular-season contests. Though this is a tough matchup, Byfuglien has the skill to rise above it.
Dmitry Orlov, WAS at TAM ($4,200): Orlov scored an impressive goal in Game 4, and though it was only his second of the playoffs, he had 10 goals during the regular season. He does have six assists in the playoffs, and he's put 26 shots on net in the postseason. As for the Lightning, they had a 3.36 GAA after the All-Star break, and Andrei Vasilevskiy has had a couple off starts recently.
