This article is part of our DraftKings NHL series.
FLEX
Alex Ovechkin, WAS at VGK ($12,200): If he can start off Game 7 scoring on his first shot of his first shift, I can't wait to see what he can do on the league's biggest stage. True, Marc-Andre Fleury has had his number in their previous matchups, but not when the Caps are playing like this and not when Ovechkin has established such good chemistry with fellow countryman Evgeny Kuznetsov.
Jonathan Marchessault, VGK vs. WAS ($11,500): He was held without a point against the Jets in Game 5, the first time that's happened in the series, but he was never benched at any point and put six shots on goal. As good as William Karlsson has been for the Knights, Marchessault is their top scorer and the most creative playmaker on their top line.
Braden Holtby, WAS at VGK ($7,100): He's coming off back-to-back shutouts to beat the Lightning, and he's got a lot of momentum in a showdown against his former Pens rival at the other end of the ice. After getting benched to start the playoffs, Holtby has been excellent for the Caps. He's known for his strict pre-game rituals, so whatever he's doing to stay focused and motivated is clearly working and he should be able to at least hold his own in the opener.
Tom Wilson, WAS at VGK ($6,100): How long into the game before Ryan Reaves steps onto the ice and lets it be known that he's the toughest? Despite having been suspended in the playoffs already, Wilson has not let his foot off the gas pedal, sparking his team to a win with an assist and a fight against the Lightning. His offensive production depends a lot on his linemates, but he's a fixture on the Caps' top line so he'll almost always be playing with an elite scorer.
Nate Schmidt, VGK vs. WAS ($5,500): He had just one assist against the Jets, but he was an all-situations workhorse for Gerard Gallant, playing at least 22 minutes in each of the five games. The Caps will be tough but they're not as big as the Jets. The tendency is for teams to be a little passive in the first game to feel out their opponents a little bit, but the Caps and Knights are both very aggressive, and fast north-south games benefit good skaters like Schmidt.
Andre Burakovsky, WAS at VGK ($5,100): There's always someone – not a star player – who steps up in the Stanley Cup Final and tips the scales. Burakovsky is getting very little ice time, but he scored two goals against the Lightning in the series finale and even though he hasn't developed into a reliable top-six forward just yet, the talent is obviously there. Remember that Burakovsky is coming off an injury suffered against the Blue Jackets, and he didn't seem to find his legs until his two-goal effort in Game 7. He's a wild card, but perhaps worth the risk with so many unknowns going into Game 1.
