This article is part of our DraftKings NHL series.
There are three games in the NHL on Tuesday, and all three road teams hold the lead in their respective series. The Penguins can also punch their ticket to the second round with a win over Columbus. With that in mind, here are a number of players to consider while assembling your DraftKings lineups.
GOALIE
Marc-Andre Fleury, PIT at CLM ($7,900): Columbus put the pedal to the metal in Game 3 and still came up short. Fleury didn't turn in his best outing, but Pittsburgh should have completely crushed any hope the Blue Jackets had of winning this series. Even after his underwhelming showing Sunday (four goals allowed on 37 shots), Fleury still boasts a .945 save percentage for the series.
CENTER
Sidney Crosby, PIT at CLM ($8,400): With a goal, four assists and nine shots through the past two games, you're fading Crosby at your own risk Tuesday. After all, he posted 1.77 goals and 3.54 points per 60 minutes during the regular season and has been on the ice for 18 high-danger scoring chances the past two games.
Mika Zibanejad, NYR vs. MON ($5,200): The pivot picked up an assist in Game 3 and remains locked into a top-six role while receiving power-play time with the No. 1 unit. This is a manageable cap hit, and you have to expect a solid pushback from the Blueshirts in Game 4. During the regular season, Zibanejad was also on the ice for the most high-danger scoring chances per 60 minutes (13.22) at five-on-five of all Rangers.
WING
Jake Guentzel, PIT at CLM ($6,100): The rookie has five multi-point games for seven goals and four helpers with 17 shots on net through his past six games, including a Game 3 hat trick. He's locked in with Sidney Crosby at even strength, and Guentzel's 1.51 goals and 3.12 points per 60 minutes during the regular season were elite marks. His salary still hasn't caught up to his production, either.
Alexander Radulov, MON at NYR ($5,400): To win in the playoffs, your best players need to be your best players, and Radulov has earned every cent of his $5.75 million salary with a monster two-game performance. He's posted two goals and three helpers in Montreal's two wins and is set to continue thriving in a top offensive role. The Rangers are still allowing plenty of high-danger scoring chances (12.39 per 60 minutes) in the playoffs, too.
Joel Ward, SAN vs. EDM ($3,800): Playoff hockey suits Ward's gritty style, and he's already scored a goal during the series. He's has also provided a respectable floor with nine shots while averaging 15:02 of ice time (3:02 on the power play) through the first three games of the series. Ward is projected to skate with Logan Couture and Patrick Marleau on the second line, which is a sneaky trio, and Ward checks out as an upside source of cap relief.
DEFENSE
Ryan McDonagh, NYR vs. MON ($5,100): Ripe for a breakout showing, McDonagh has been held off the scoresheet through the first three games of the series despite averaging 26:40 of ice time with 4:05 on the power play. He had 42 points -- 15 with the man advantage -- during the regular season and also provides coverage in the peripheral categories.
Trevor Daley, PIT at CLM ($3,600): A low-priced candidate to round out your lineup, Daley is eyeing his first scoresheet appearance of the series in Game 4. He has seen an uptick in ice time in each of the past two games and owns the two-way acumen and speed to contribute. Additionally, he's been on the ice for the most high-danger scoring chances among all Pittsburgh defensemen this series, so look for his puck luck to turn Tuesday.
