This article is part of our Yahoo DFS Hockey series.
You'll have to get your lineup in early Sunday, because the Islanders and Lightning square off at 3:00 p.m. EDT. There are still two series going, and I certainly hope both go seven games. Not just for having more hockey to watch, but also for having more DFS contests on the docket. Here are my recommendations.
GOALIE
Andrei Vasilevskiy, TAM vs. NYI ($35): Vasilevskiy just suffered his first off game in a while and first loss in seven games. But I'm not concerned, as the Russian has posted a 1.98 GAA and .929 save percentage in the playoffs. The Isles have averaged the fewest shots on net per game in the playoffs of the four teams left and also only scored 2.78 goals per contest during the regular season, which ranked them 22nd in the NHL.
GOALIE TO AVOID
Anton Khudobin, DAL vs. VGK ($34): Since I figure you already aren't interested in Semyon Varlamov, this comes down to Khudobin and Robin Lehner. It's not so much I believe less in Khudobin than his counterpart, but the Golden Knights scored 3.15 goals per game this season and led the NHL with 34.5 shots on net per contest.
CENTER
Anthony Cirelli, TAM vs. NYI ($14): Even if Brayden Point is able to return for the Lightning, I still like Cirelli for your lineup. I had wanted to recommend Yanni Gourde, but he's listed as a wing so that leaves the No. 2 center for the Lightning who notched 44 points over 68 games. The potential for Cirelli to get extra playing time and power-play duty makes him worth a shot. And in his last seven appearances, Semyon Varlamov has managed a 3.37 GAA and .874 save percentage.
CENTER TO AVOID
Tyler Seguin, DAL vs. VGK ($21): Seguin has an assist in this series, but it's his only point in his last eight games. This comes after a tough season where he only scored 17 goals in 69 contests. Vegas has allowed the fewest shots on net per game of any team, so Lehner isn't going to be scored on too often as long as he is on his game.
WING
Jamie Benn, DAL vs. VGK ($21): Unlike Seguin, Benn has been solid in this series. In fact, he's been excellent all postseason with 17 points across 17 games and a point in three of four contests this series. With only four teams in action, I'm happy to go with a hot player like Benn who has an Art Ross to his name.
Ondrej Palat, TAM vs. NYI ($20): After a game without a point, Palat got back on the score sheet in Game 3 and now has registered a point in seven of his last eight outings. He skates on Tampa's top line, and he scored a goal in his last game even without Point as his center. If Point comes back, Palat's ceiling is even higher.
WINGS TO AVOID
Reilly Smith, VGK vs. DAL ($21): Speaking of guys who haven't been scoring goals recently, Smith hasn't tallied a goal in his last 10 games. He's getting pucks on net, but they aren't going in. Khudobin has recently looked more like the goalie who posted a .930 save percentage in the regular season, which hurts Smith's potential of turning it around.
Anders Lee, NYI vs. TAM ($19): Lee doesn't have a goal in his last four games and only one in his last seven contests. This is mostly about the matchup, as Vasilevskiy has been the best netminder of the four remaining teams with his 1.98 GAA and .929 save percentage.
DEFENSE
Nate Schmidt, VGK vs. DAL ($18): Schmidt got back on the score sheet in Game 4 with an assist. I'm mostly interested in how many pucks he's putting on net, as he's directed 52 shots on goal in his last 15 games, which is prolific for a defenseman. That's enough to give Schmidt some fantasy value, and will be a real boon for your roster if he finds the score sheet again.
Mikhail Sergachev, TAM vs. NYI ($17): Even though Sergachev barely got any power-play time in Game 3, he still produced a goal and an assist and has notched six points over his last six contests. The Russian skates on Tampa's top power-play unit and posted 13 points with the extra man this season.
DEFENSE TO AVOID
Miro Heiskanen, DAL vs. VGK ($17): Heiskanen has enjoyed an excellent postseason, which is why his salary is so high. However, he only has one point in this series and only two shots on net in his last two contests. That's a small sample size, but this also represents a lofty salary. For at least this outing, I'm eschewing Heiskanen.
Ryan Pulock, NYI vs. TAM ($17): Pulock produced an assist in his last game, but you know what he doesn't have? A goal in his last 17 games. He's racked up seven assists during that time, but only three of those have come in his last 12 contests. Add in Vasilevskiy's performance and you have a recipe for disappointment.
