This article is part of our FanDuel NHL series.
SLATE PREVIEW
The Canucks and Flyers are both on the brink of elimination for the first time this postseason, and the FanDuel Sportsbook believes both teams will be booking their trips home tonight. I still think the Golden Knights are the favorite to make it out of the Western Conference, but the Canucks have a ton of young firepower that won't go down without a fight. I'm fading the Golden Knights as a result, and I'm doing the same with most of the Flyers. That's not to say there isn't value to be found with all four teams, though, so read on to discover some hidden gems for tonight's DFS slate.
GOALIES
Semyon Varlamov, NYI vs. PHI ($8,300): It feels like this series is over. The Islanders have controlled this series from the start, posting a 53.99 xGF% over four games to reach a 3-1 series lead, according to Natural Stat Trick. While Varlamov was lit up in Game 2, he's been outstanding in his other two starts, allowing just one goal on 56 shots. The Islanders failed to close out the Capitals on their first opportunity, but don't expect Barry Trotz's team to let that happen again.
Jacob Markstrom, VAN vs. VGK ($7,300): The Golden Knights (-230) are the heavy favorites, according to FanDuel Sportsbook, and it's also expected to be a high-scoring affair with a 6.5 O/U. While Robin Lehner ($8,700) is the chalk play, he's been wildly volatile. That's not to say Markstrom has been stable -- he's been up and down as well -- but Markstrom comes at a discount with a higher ceiling, as he's faced at least 30 shots in 10 straight outings.
VALUE PLAYS/ONE-OFFS
Jean-Gabriel Pageau, NYI vs. PHI ($5,000): Pageau has been exactly who the Islanders needed him to be when they acquired him from Ottawa at the trade deadline: a defensive-minded, third-line center. He's filled that role in the postseason, but he's gone for extra credit with three goals on 10 shots this series. Pageau flies under the radar a bit, making him an intriguing tournament option.
Alex Tuch, VGK vs. VAN ($4,600): Tuch's four-game goal streak snapped in Game 4, but he's still been one of the Golden Knights' best players this series with 3.51 xGF/60. He consistently generates fantasy value, evident from 10 shots on net and five blocked shots against Vancouver, and his upside makes the modest salary worth it.
Joel Farabee, PHI vs. NYI ($3,700): Farabee hasn't blown the doors off this postseason, so he's a boom-or-bust player. The young winger is getting consistent power-play minutes, and the floodgates could open up tonight since the Islanders' penalty kill ran at a brutal 78.4 percent in August.
SLATE PREVIEW
Vancouver Canucks 
vs. Vegas Golden Knights 
C - Elias Pettersson ($7,400)
W - Tanner Pearson ($4,200)
W - Tyler Toffoli ($5,700)
First things first, head coach Travis Greene will be behind the bench for his first every elimination game at the NHL level, so the lines are subject to change. Make sure to check out our lineup tool before the games start, but I'd expect at the very least Pettersson and Toffoli stick together for Game 5, especially on the power play where they've combined for four points over the last three contests.
New York Islanders 
vs. Philadelphia Flyers 
C - Brock Nelson ($6,300)
W - Anthony Beauvillier ($6,300)
W - Josh Bailey ($4,900)
Neither of the Islanders' top-two lines has been very consistent, but it's so much more reasonable to fork up the second-line salary versus the first line's. The first line has just one more point in this series, but the second line's shot volume provides a nice enough floor that it's easy to bet on its upside because they won't be a complete dud after 60 minutes.
DEFENSEMEN
Shea Theodore, VGK vs. VAN ($6,500): I really can't get enough of Martinez -- you'll see my tip a few guys down -- but Theodore and Martinez aren't mutually exclusive. Theodore has been incredibly productive, riding a six-game, nine-point streak into this contest, and he's racked up 29 shots in that stretch.
Alexander Edler, VAN vs. VGK ($4,600): It takes discipline to fade a generational talent like Quinn Hughes ($5,600), but the 20-year-old has just three shots over four games this series. The Golden Knights have made a deliberate effort to shut the Calder candidate down. Edler is a sound choice instead. He's accrued a whopping 15 shots on net and 18 blocked shots against Vegas, and he has the same point total (three) as Hughes.
Adam Pelech, NYI vs. PHI ($4,100): Pelech hasn't converted as much as we'd like, but he's generating a ton of chances -- he has a 3.73 xGF/60 this series -- without capitalization. He's logging tons of minutes, too, and he'll be a low-rostered player that fits the tournament mold well.
Alec Martinez, VGK vs. VAN ($3,900): Martinez was a regular in these articles during August, and that's not going to change with the calendar flipping. He's been an absolute stud with at least 14.4 fantasy points in five of the last six contests due to a high blocked-shot count and a helper in four of those outings. He may not have reached his peak, either, as he ranks second to Theodore among remaining blueliners with 3.84 xGF/60.
