Value pick: Alex Tuch, W, VGK ($7,000) -- The rookie forward is on the verge of an offensive outburst with no goals on 11 SOG over the past three games. Tuch, who's on the second line again in addition to the first power-play unit, is tied with his linemate James Neal ($8,200) for third on the Golden Knights in playoff goals (six). Investing in two value breakout candidates, Tuch and Capitals second-line wing Jakub Vrana ($5,300), is a bold strategy that could pay large dividends and differentiate your lineup from the pack in the process.
Overall strategy:With the Capitals one win away from their first Stanley Cup title and elite forwards Alex Ovechkin ($12,500) and Evgeny Kuznetsov ($11,700) having high floors, it's worth spending up for both on the road, where each is better than a point per game this postseason. Round out your lineup with underrated defenseman Michal Kempny ($4,800), who plays on the first pair with high-scoring John Carlson ($9,500). Kempny has a point in three of four games this series and totaled eight blocks over his past two games.
Game 5 prediction: Golden Knights win, 3-2 (OT)
Rob Reese (@NHLReese)
Must-own player: Nicklas Backstrom, C, WSH ($9,100) -- The Capitals center had three assists, two on the power play, one SOG and six blocks (18.2 DK Showdown points) in Game 4 against the Golden Knights. Backstrom now has at least 13.0 DK Showdown points in three of his past four games but saw his Game 4 price of $9,900 drop to $9,100 for Game 5. The cheaper salary allows you to stack him with fellow stars Kuznetsov ($11,700) and Ovechkin ($12,500). Despite missing four games with a hand injury in previous rounds, Backstrom is tied with Kuznetsov for the NHL lead in playoff power-play points (12). The 30-year-old native of Sweden gains added value in DK Showdown contests with his consistency in the face-off circle (50.8 percent; fourth among skaters; minimum 19 games).
Value pick: Devante Smith-Pelly, W, WSH ($5,400) -- The Capitals wing had a goal, three SOG and a block (15.1 DK Showdown points) in Game 4. Smith-Pelly has now scored in two straight games, raising his DFS price above $5,000 for the first time in the playoffs. Even though his salary his climbed, it can still be considered value when other similarly priced players like Vrana ($5,300) and Dmitry Orlov ($5,200) have not been producing. Spending up for Capitals wing Andre Burakovsky ($6,100) along with the top three Capitals forwards is a high-risk, high-reward play considering Burakovsky has not had a point in two straight games and it would leave you with $10,600 left to spend on your remaining two players. Even though his DFS value may rise and bottom-six scoring is difficult to predict, Smith-Pelly remains the most-logical option.
