NHL playoff pool may hinge on your own line-juggling

Should you be looking for a plan of attack in your playoff fantasy draft as the quest for the Cup continues, it's time to put it all on the line.

As mentioned last week, one of the keys for playoff fantasy success is to narrow down your Cup favorites to the four teams you figure will advance to the Stanley Cup conference finals.

Now it's time to focus on the high-flying forward lines for those teams and stock up on as many as possible. Those combined points could have you in the driver's seat of your fantasy draft if they are still playing a few weeks from now.

Here are five units you may want to pay attention to if you can re-shuffle the deck in your pool round-by-round:

5. Ovechkin-Backstrom-Kozlov, Capitals

The explosive Alex Ovechkin may have been held in check in the early stages of this series, but it is probably only a matter of time before he finds another gear. OV is the obvious ringleader for this trio, but Backstrom is making a case for the Calder while Kozlov is taking advantage of a pretty ideal situation being paired with both of them. It is hit or miss whether the Capitals can sneak by a resilient Flyers' squad, and if they do, look out. Either way, this line will give goaltenders many a sleepless night in the coming years.

4. Michalek/Clowe-Thornton-Cheechoo, Sharks

Clowe's hot hand early in these playoffs earned him a promotion to the top line, but the way Joe Thornton has pulled another playoff disappearing act early on, it could be seen as a demotion. Well, maybe things aren't quite that dramatic, but the uncertainty of whether or not Thornton gets going bumps this unit down to the #4 spot.  If Thornton can get untracked, and right now that is a very big if, Cheechoo and either of Clowe or Michalek are sure to cash in.  Then again, if things remain status quo, it will be another early exit for the Sharks.

3. A. Kostitsyn-Plekanec-Kovalev, Canadiens

Kostitsyn and Plekanec have both benefitted from a rejuvenated Kovalev in Montreal and the Habs could very well be rewarded with an extended stay into the post-season. With Carey Price starting to stir up memories of a couple guys named Dryden and Roy and Montreal's top unit ready to pounce, they are thinking #25 in Montreal. If you need to know what that stands for, check your history book.

2. Zetterberg-Datsyuk-Holmstrom, Red Wings

No, I am not dyslexic. These guys are actually ranked number two and you'll see why in a moment. That said, an argument could be made that this trio is the best in the league. We may find out soon enough, as it seems the Wings and Penguins are on a collision course to meet later this spring.

1. Dupuis-Crosby-Hossa, Malone-Malkin-Sykora, Penguins

You know the Penguins are stacked up front when they can come at you with two legitimate #1 lines. And these units aren't even etched in stone. The Penguins can throw any three of the six over the boards to knock down a goalie's save percentage a few digits, seemingly at will. If someone doesn't find a way to slow them down, the Pittsburgh Express could roll through everyone on their way to the Cup final.