This article is part of our DraftKings NHL series.
Cue up that footage of Bobby Orr flying through the air, because the Boston Bruins and St. Louis Blues are meeting in the Stanley Cup Finals. Game 1 kicks off Monday night, making this a fine way to spend your Memorial Day. Don't forget about daily fantasy hockey, though! The contests are under Showdown rules. That means you pick six players and at least one from each team. Here's a lineup that fits under the budget that I think is quite promising.
David Pastrnak, BOS ($11,500)
Pastrnak has gotten some stick this postseason, even though he's got 14 points in 15 games. That comes after he notched 81 points in 66 games during the regular season. The Czech forward has also started 67.4 percent of his shifts in the offense zone in the playoffs, a massive number, and second on the Bruins. Plus, out of the two goalies in action Monday, I'm less confident in the rookie Jordan Binnington.
Vladimir Tarasenko, STL ($11,000)
If you have to have a Blue, you might as well get a proven commodity like Tarasenko. He's tallied at least 33 goals in each of his five seasons. On top of that, the Russian is on a six-game point streak. If he stays hot, he could prove capable of solving a goalie on his game like Tuukka Rask.
Tuukka Rask, BOS ($9,000)
Speaking of Rask, there's a reason I'm skeptical about many players on the Blues in this game. The Finn leads the postseason in both GAA (1.84) and save percentage (.942). This season, including the playoffs, Rask has a 2.23 GAA at home. He's the Conn Smythe favorite, and I like his odds of getting the win at home.
Jake DeBrusk, BOS ($6,700)
DeBrusk started 64.7 percent of his shifts in the offensive zone in the regular season, highest among Bruins forwards, and he's started 61.5 percent of his shifts there in the playoffs. Jordan Binnington has a 2.36 GAA in the postseason, which is really impressive, if not as good as Tuukka Rask. Plus, the rookie netminder "only" has a .914 save percentage to go with that GAA.
Tyler Bozak, STL ($6,400)
Bozak had quite the series against the Sharks. He notched three goals in six games, including one with an assist. Bozak also gets power-play time, as he averaged 2:24 per contest with the extra man. Tuukka Rask has been amazing, but the Bruins did have the 16th-ranked penalty kill this season.
Marcus Johansson, BOS ($5,400)
Johansson has impressed on Boston's surprisingly good third line. He's picked up nine points in his last 11 contests. Perhaps he's been helped by the fact he's started 64.4 percent of his shifts in the offensive zone, third highest on the Bruins in the playoffs. At this price, you can stick Johansson in your lineup, save cash for guys like David Pastrnak and Vladimir Tarasenko, and still get some upside.
