NHL DFS Showdown Playbook: New York Islanders vs Tampa Bay Lightning
Published: Jun 21, 2021
NHL Showdown Slate: New York Islanders @ Tampa Bay Lightning
Spread: TB -1.5
O/U: 5
Injuries
Islanders
None
Lightning
None
MVP/CPT
Nikita Kucherov , F TB
Kucherov just continues to rack up the points. He has at least a point in the last five games.
Andrei Vasilevskiy, G TB
There might not be a safer floor in this game than Vasilevskiy. He hasn’t given up more than two goals in just two of his last nine games.
Ryan Pulock D NYI
The hero of game four, with these games expected to stay low-scoring, getting guys like Pulock who will give you the peripherals are going to prove worthwhile, especially when they are hitting the bonuses.
Brayden Point, F TB
With points in seven straight games, Point continues to get it done. He is point dependent, because he doesn’t offer many shots or blocks, but he is in a great place to get points, especially at home.
Mid-Tier
Victor Hedman, D TB
Seemingly the one very safe floor for Hedman has dissolved before our eyes. He isn’t blocking the shots he once did, and the rate at which he shoots has varied from game to game. He still has big upside, it just hasn’t been really reliable in this series.
Scott Mayfield, D NYI
With the minutes that Mayfield is seeing, he should continue to block lots of shots, but you might not get much more than the blocked shot points though.
Mathew Barzal, F NYI
Barzal has scored a goal in three of his last four games, as he continues to be a difference maker for the Islanders in this series.
Value Tier
Tyler Johnson F TB
Not only did Johnson score in game four, but he looked great at times looking for his scoring game. He could be well worth his price tonight.
Ryan McDonagh F TB
McDonagh is a player that can hit the block bonus and still give you some shots. He isn’t likely to get you any points(even if he has a great spin move), but in low scoring games, those points are valuable.
Noah Dobson, D NYI
Dobson is a nice value play. He is the primary defense men on the Islanders power play, which is a nice path for him to get points.
Player News
Dolphins signed No. 13 overall pick DT Kenneth Grant to a four-year contract.
ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler reports that Grant will sign his contract today. The former Michigan defensive tackle is expected to fill a major void left by Christian Wilkins, who left for the Raiders in the 2024 offseason. Grant totaled 32 tackles, three sacks, and seven TFLs in his final season at Michigan and excelled at stopping the run while also generating 27 pressures in his final season, per PFF.
Daulton Varsho picked up three hits, three RBI and a homer in a win over the Angels on Thursday.
Varsho has only played in seven games this year, but they’ve been seven good ones. He’s homered three times already, and his slugging percentage is a remarkable — and entirely unsustainable — .727 over 22 at-bats. Varsho has been a mediocre offensive player in his two seasons with the Blue Jays, but it’s possible at the age of 28 he’s having a breakout campaign. Far from a guarantee, but possible.
Taylor Ward hit a two-run homer in a loss to the Blue Jays on Thursday.
Ward, 31, gave the Angels a 2-0 lead with a two-run homer off Chris Bassitt in the first inning. He’s now gone deep in two of his last three games, and it ‘improves’ his slash to .181/.224/.391. Ward has been one of the most hot/cold players players in the sport over the last few years, so fantasy managers who can afford to make some roster moves may want to look at Ward while the going is good.
Vladimir Guerrero Jr. picked up three hits and scored twice in an 8-5 win over the Angels on Thursday.
Guerrero also drew a walk. It gives the first baseman multiple hits in back-to-back games, and it’s the third time in May that he’s reached that mark. That’s helped raise his average from .268 to .295, and the only thing fantasy managers can be disappointed with is his .432 slugging percentage. That number should continue to climb as the season unfolds, but Vladdy Jr. has had some inconsistent seasons when it comes to power production.
Chad Green picked up his first save of 2025 with a scoreless ninth against the Angels on Thursday.
Green got the save after Jeff Hoffman worked in back-to-back games — and struggled — in the first two contests against the Angels. He struck out two and looked the part while needing just nine pitches to get through the inning. Hoffman should remain the closer, but Green is on his tail if the struggles were to continue.
Chris Bassitt allowed five runs — four earned — while working six-plus innings against the Angels on Thursday while picking up a win.
Bassitt allowed three runs over the first two innings on a pair of homers, but settled down over his next four frames. He came out to work the seventh, but ended up being charged for two more runs after leaving the contest. The 36-year-old veteran has forged a 3.35 ERA and outstanding 49/8 K/BB ratio over the first quarter of the season, but this wasn’t him at his best. He’ll get the Rays next week if the rotation order stays the same for Toronto.