Islanders-Panthers fantasy pool preview, picks

NHL.com's fantasy hockey staff makes picks for playoff pools counting the entire 24-team tournament and predictions for each Stanley Cup Qualifiers series. For more fantasy coverage, visit NHL.com/Fantasy and subscribe for free to the NHL Fantasy on Ice podcast.

MORE SERIES PICKS: CAR-NYR | PIT-MTL | EDM-CHI | NSH-ARI

VAN-MIN | CGY-WPG | Mock draft | Fantasy pool cheat sheet

MVP FOR EACH TEAM:

NOTE: Below is each team's highest-ranked player by NHL.com for Stanley Cup pools.

New York Islanders: Mathew Barzal, C

Florida Panthers: Jonathan Huberdeau, LW

NOTE: Huberdeau and elite center Aleksander Barkov have been playing on separate lines in training camp.

PAST PLAYOFF PERFORMERS:

Islanders: Jordan Eberle, RW

-Had nine points (four goals, five assists), including four on the power play, in eight games last postseason.

Panthers: Sergei Bobrovsky, G

-Went 6-4 with a .925 save percentage in 10 games last postseason.

SLEEPER PICKS:

Islanders: Jean-Gabriel Pageau, C

Panthers: Evgenii Dadonov, LW/RW

Read: Fantasy sleeper candidates for Stanley Cup pools

SERIES X-FACTORS:

Islanders: Semyon Varlamov, G

Panthers: Mike Hoffman, LW/RW

Read: Fantasy X-factors | Bounce-back candidates

PREDICTIONS FOR FIVE-GAME SERIES:

Pete Jensen: Panthers in 4

Rob Reese: Islanders in 5

David Satriano: Panthers in 4

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