This article is part of our Yahoo DFS Hockey series.
Monday's slate sees two teams looking to avoid elimination on home ice in crucial Game 6s. Check out some of the best player values from the two games.
GOALIE
Tuukka Rask, BOS at CLS ($28): This is the time of year when goalies, more so than skaters, have to put their best feet forward to propel their teams through the playoffs. After some ups and downs during the regular season, Rask seems to have found his game in the postseason, posting a .932 save percentage and allowing four goals in a game just once. The Finn presents great value even when the Bruins don't win, making him a safe pick.
Goalie to Avoid
Sergei Bobrovsky, CLS vs. BOS ($35): Bobrovsky was tremendous in these playoffs leading up to Game 4 of this series, but it appears the Bruins have figured him out – the Russian keeper has allowed four goals in consecutive games, including a soft one near the beginning of Game 5. The fact that the Blue Jackets have averaged 35.9 shots allowed per game over the last seven poses too much risk at this price.
CENTER
David Krejci, BOS at CLS ($19): Krejci is the type of reliable veteran that many think of as a great real-life player rather than in fantasy games, so it seems like many forget that he recorded 73 points with 20 goals this season. Because of his reliability, the 33-year-old finds himself involved in many key situations, including on the
Monday's slate sees two teams looking to avoid elimination on home ice in crucial Game 6s. Check out some of the best player values from the two games.
GOALIE
Tuukka Rask, BOS at CLS ($28): This is the time of year when goalies, more so than skaters, have to put their best feet forward to propel their teams through the playoffs. After some ups and downs during the regular season, Rask seems to have found his game in the postseason, posting a .932 save percentage and allowing four goals in a game just once. The Finn presents great value even when the Bruins don't win, making him a safe pick.
Goalie to Avoid
Sergei Bobrovsky, CLS vs. BOS ($35): Bobrovsky was tremendous in these playoffs leading up to Game 4 of this series, but it appears the Bruins have figured him out – the Russian keeper has allowed four goals in consecutive games, including a soft one near the beginning of Game 5. The fact that the Blue Jackets have averaged 35.9 shots allowed per game over the last seven poses too much risk at this price.
CENTER
David Krejci, BOS at CLS ($19): Krejci is the type of reliable veteran that many think of as a great real-life player rather than in fantasy games, so it seems like many forget that he recorded 73 points with 20 goals this season. Because of his reliability, the 33-year-old finds himself involved in many key situations, including on the man advantage, and he is really finding his stride with even-strength linemate Jake DeBrusk.
Center to Avoid
Logan Couture, SJ at COL ($23): Couture's praises have been sung far and wide this postseason after he scored nine goals in nine games between the first two rounds, an indicator that his roster percentage may continue to stay high among daily players. That alone is reason to stay away, but another is the lefty pivot's inconsistency – he's had tremendous games, but also three games with less than one fantasy point, making him a boom-or-bust option.
WINGS
Artemi Panarin, CLS vs. BOS ($24): Panarin is playing like the superstar he (arguably) is, but isn't being priced like one – the Bread Man has tallied eight goals and 22 points to go with a plus-9 rating in the last 17 games dating to March 24. These types of numbers generally indicate a higher price, especially given his career-high 87 points this regular season, so you're essentially picking him up on a discount in his current form.
Kevin Labanc, SJ at COL ($16): The fact that Labanc has not recorded a point in four consecutive games may indicate that this is actually a good time to draft him in the daily game – despite his sometimes limited ice time, the New York native went more than four games without scoring just once in the regular season or playoffs. Labanc is a power-play specialist, giving him opportunity in high-leverage situations and adding allure for those supercharged power-play points.
Wings to Avoid
Gabriel Landeskog, COL vs. SJ ($24): The Sharks have mostly stifled Landeskog this postseason, limiting him to a goal and an assist, both of which came in Game 2 in San Jose. That last bit is notable because the Swedish winger has actually not had a lot of success on home ice this year, putting up 11 fewer points and eight fewer goals in just three fewer regular season games. His price is too high for that kind of risk.
Evander Kane, SJ at COL ($20): The shots aren't falling for Kane at the moment, as he's converted just one goal on 34 shots in the last 10 contests. Perhaps more concerning is the fact that the 27-year-old shows a minus-5 rating over that time, posting negative ratings in seven of those games. Kane has always been more of a scorer than a playmaker, so if he can't find the back of the net, then it's hard to salvage anything from him.
DEFENSEMEN
Tyson Barrie, COL vs. SJ ($21): Considering he leads his team in overall ice time in the playoffs, Barrie is one of Colorado's most important players. Generally, when a team faces elimination in Game 6, it is these players who tend to step up and there's no reason to think the Canadian defenseman can't do so – he generates plenty of opportunity for himself, as shown by his 3.1 shots on goal and 4:41 of average power-play ice time per playoff game.
Matt Grzelcyk, BOS at CLS ($15): Grzelcyk provides excellent value in this spot because he is afforded great opportunity at low cost. The Massachusetts native continues to see time with the potent second power-play unit where he has already put up four of his five points this postseason, and he has taken 15 shots on net in the last four games. Look for him to capitalize against a Columbus team with its back against the wall.
Defensemen to Avoid
Erik Karlsson, SJ @ COL ($25): Karlsson has not scored a goal since Dec. 31. That is not a typo. He stays involved in the offense by nabbing apples, but in that 27 game span – taking injuries into account – the veteran blueliner shows an even rating and has taken 70 shots, all in vain. For this kind of daily fantasy budget, you should expect some scoring and there's just no indication that that is going to change.
Cale Makar, COL vs. SJ ($18): Makar has been one of the feel-good stories of these playoffs and the increased interest in him likely means he will be a high-percentage pick among daily players. If he was a more surefire play, this might be fine, but the fact of the matter is that the 20-year-old is still quite unproven and so requires way more risk than you would normally take on for this type of pick.
