This article is part of our FanDuel NHL series.
The first round of the NHL playoffs is nearing a close. There are two Game 6s on Sunday, both of which could lead to a series ending. For now, though, here are some daily fantasy lineup recommendations.
GOALIE
Pekka Rinne, NAS at COL ($8,800): Of the four goalies starting Sunday, Rinne had far and away the best regular season. He posted a 2.31 GAA and .927 save percentage, putting him at the forefront of the Vezina conversation. Sure, his playoff performance hasn't been quite as strong, but that's a sample size of five games. Go with the big Finn's long track record.
CENTER
Sean Couturier, PHI vs. PIT ($6,500): Though Couturier's minutes were limited in Game 5, he still scored a goal on three shots. Now that he's had a chance to get himself back in the lineup, it wouldn't be surprising to see him return to his normal minutes load. Meanwhile, the Penguins had a 3.37 GAA on the road this season.
Ryan Johansen, NAS at COL ($6,200): Johansen went pointless in Game 5, which ended a six-game point streak. In fact, before Game 5, the center had notched 11 points in 10 games. Jonathan Bernier is still day-to-day, and even though Andrew Hammond impressed in Game 5, he still had to face a whopping 45 shots. The Hamburglar is a 30-year-old journeyman who has played in only seven games over the last two seasons.
WING
Mikko Rantanen, COL vs. NAS ($6,200): Rantanen started 57.4 percent of his shifts in the offensive zone, highest on the Avalanche. That paid off for the winger, as he scored 84 points this year. He was also a power-play maven, as he tallied 35 points with the extra man. With only four teams playing, matchup options are slim. Though Rinne had a great season, he's on the road and hasn't been his usual self in the playoffs. It's not completely unreasonable to take a very minor gamble on a player like Rantanen who had a great campaign of his own.
Jake Guentzel, PIT at PHI ($5,800): Guentzel has been something of a breakout performer for the Penguins in this postseason. He has eight points in five games, thanks in part to playing alongside Sidney Crosby. Michal Neuvirth played well in his first start of this series, but he had a .915 save percentage in 22 games this year. Additionally, the Flyers had the 29th-ranked penalty kill.
Kevin Fiala, NAS at COL ($3,800): It hasn't been a good series for Fiala, but it was a good season. He notched 23 goals and 25 assists, including 13 points with the extra man. The Swiss forward also started 64.2 percent of his shifts in the offensive zone, second highest on the Predators. If he can find his footing, Fiala could really pay off for fantasy players.
DEFENSEMEN
Tyson Barrie, COL vs. NAS ($5,500): Barrie has started 62.4 percent of his shifts in the offensive zone, highest on the Avalanche. He notched 57 points in 68 games, including a whopping 30 on the power play. The defenseman has looked good in this series as well, notching four assists. He's also averaged 4:43 per game with the extra man, which certainly bodes well for his fantasy potential.
Ivan Provorov, PHI vs. PIT ($5,300): Provorov took a major step forward this season, notching 17 goals on 203 shots. He also blocked 169 shots, adding fantasy value on the defensive end of the ice. The Russian defenseman has played a ton of minutes in this series, as he's averaged 25:43 per game. As previously noted, the Penguins had a 3.37 GAA in away games.
