This article is part of our Yahoo DFS Hockey series.
Wednesday's NHL slate begins with Game 3 between the Sharks and Blues at 8:00 PM Eastern time while also featuring Thursday's Game 4 between the Bruins and Hurricanes. Read on to see which players are primed to provide the best value and which ones are best avoided at their respective prices.
GOALIE
Tuukka Rask, BOS at CAR ($32): Carolina's PNC Arena magic finally ran out in Game 3, as Boston took a convincing 3-0 series lead. With just five goals allowed over this series' first three games and in the midst of a six-game winning streak, a locked-in Rask is primed to help the Bruins finish the sweep in Game 4.
GOALIE TO AVOID
Jordan Binnington, STL vs. SJ ($31): Binnington was solid in Game 2, but he's now given up seven goals on 50 shots through this series' first two games. There's plenty of risk surrounding the rookie at $31 against San Jose's high-octane offense.
CENTER
Logan Couture, SJ at STL ($26): Couture leads all players in goals (13) and points (19) this postseason, including four goals and an assist over this series' first two games. Nobody has figured out how to stop him yet, so keep getting Couture in your lineup as long as he keeps producing.
CENTER TO AVOID
Patrice Bergeron, BOS at CAR ($33): While the Bruins have largely dominated this series, Bergeron has been just pedestrian with a goal and an assist through three games. That level of production isn't worth a $33 investment, especially with a number of enticing alternatives still available at the center position.
WINGS
Jaden Schwartz, STL vs. SJ ($20): Schwartz's nine goals this postseason lead the Blues, and they've all come over his past 11 games. Certain guys just know how to raise their level in the playoffs, and Schwartz appears to be one of them. He offers the best bang for the buck among St. Louis' forwards.
Sean Kuraly, BOS at CAR ($14): Kuraly's a nice option for owners looking to spend big at other positions. He was all over the ice in Game 3, finishing with an assist and seven shots. With at least three shots on net in seven of his last 11 games and three points over the past six contests, Kuraly has been a better source of offense than most people realize.
WINGS TO AVOID
Danton Heinen, BOS at CAR ($16): Heinen's not seeing enough ice time to be a major difference-maker, topping 12 minutes just once in the last six games. He hasn't earned any more playing time with just one goal, three assists and 16 shots over the past 12 games.
Nino Niederreiter, CAR vs. BOS ($16): You can say a lot of Hurricanes haven't shown up for this series, but Niederreiter has looked particularly brutal with no points, five shots and a minus-1 rating. He also took a costly and undisciplined penalty in Game 3, which could lead to a reduction in role as the Hurricanes try to save their season.
DEFENSEMEN
Joel Edmundson, STL vs. SJ ($16): St. Louis has gotten a major scoring boost from the blue line of late, including the normally defensive-minded Edmundson, who has generated four points in his last four games while skating alongside Alex Pietrangelo on the top defensive pairing. Edmundson also has multiple shots and multiple blocks in four of his last five games, making him a well-rounded asset. Despite his recent success, Edmundson is still priced below three other St. Louis blueliners.
Justin Faulk, CAR vs. BOS ($17): Faulk isn't to blame for Carolina's 3-0 series deficit, as he's been a nice source of offense from the blue line after a poor showing in Game 1. He's racked up a helper apiece in Games 2 and 3, adding seven shots over those two contests. If the Hurricanes are able to stave off elimination, expect Faulk to play a major part in them doing so.
DEFENSEMEN TO AVOID
Erik Karlsson, SJ at STL ($25): Nobody has been more reliant on last change in these playoffs than Karlsson, who has just two assists and a minus-7 rating through six road games this postseason. Defense has never been his strength, and opponents have consistently found ways to take advantage of that when they control matchups.
Jaccob Slavin, CAR vs. BOS ($16): Slavin had been an assist machine for most of the postseason, but he's gone cold at the worst time, entering Game 4 in the midst of a four-game point drought. While fellow $16 Hurricanes blueliner Brett Pesce has been even worse in this series, the extra offensive upside of Faulk at $17 or Dougie Hamilton at $19 makes them worth paying up for over Slavin.
