This article is part of our Yahoo DFS Hockey series.
The Monday slate on Yahoo will feature the single game on Monday night, as well as the next two on Tuesday. Here are some of the best values to be found across the two days.
Goalie
Philipp Grubauer, COL vs. SJ ($33)
The Avs were absolutely dominant on home ice against the Flames in Round 1 and their goalie had a lot to do with that success -- Grubauer allowed four goals on 66 shots for a .939 save percentage over the two wins against a very potent offense. The German goalie is up to a .924 save percentage for the playoffs and boasted a 2.56 GAA in home games this regular season.
Goalie to Avoid
Jordan Binnington, STL @ DAL ($33)
Binnington's numbers look pretty solid on their own, but a deeper dive reveals that it's the St. Louis defense that has been doing most of the heavy lifting this playoffs -- the Canadian keeper has seen 30 shots or more in just three of eight games, one of those contests having gone to overtime. His .911 save percentage doesn't look as strong in that context, especially against a hot Dallas team at home.
Center
Charlie Coyle, BOS @ CLS ($15)
The bottom six for Boston has been hot as can be in the last three contests, as they were on ice for eight of the team's last 10 goals. Coyle, with three goals and an assist, has been central to this success and his chemistry with fellow trade acquisition Marcus Johansson is starting to show through. It's also worth noting that the Massachusetts native recorded a power-play point in each of the first two road games of the Toronto series.
Center to Avoid
Ryan O'Reilly, STL @ DAL ($25)
For a central figure on this St. Louis offense, O'Reilly doesn't quite see the volume of scoring opportunities that you would want for someone priced this high. The 28-year-old has taken just seven shots on goal over the last five games, adding a minus-2 rating over that span. In fact, O'Reilly has put up more than 10 fantasy points just once in these playoffs, so you shouldn't waste your budget here.
Wings
Mikko Rantanen, COL vs. SJ ($26)
Following a rocky Game 1 in the first-round series against Calgary, Rantanen picked up where he left off before going down with an upper-body injury and has now recorded five goals and 11 points in the last six games. Even when he doesn't play on the top line with Nathan MacKinnon and Gabriel Landeskog -- but especially when he does -- the Finnish winger is a huge goal threat on home ice, as shown by his 20 home scores this season.
Timo Meier, SJ @ COL ($19)
Meier is the whole package for a feisty winger -- he provides a sizable scoring boost and is also quite physical, which doesn't directly help his fantasy stats but does put him on the ice in key situations. The Swiss national was riding a four game point streak prior to Sunday's loss, and he launched 10 shots on goal in Game 7 in the first-round series against Vegas. He'll be part of a large San Jose contingent looking to bounce back.
Wings to Avoid
Cam Atkinson, CLS vs. BOS ($21)
If you're picking Atkinson for your daily lineup, it's likely because you're counting on him finding the back of the net. The only problem is that goals have been hard to come by when he plays against the Bruins -- the 29-year-old has yet to score in this series and he managed just one assist, six shots on goal and a minus-4 rating in three regular season games against the B's.
Evander Kane, SJ @ COL ($20)
It's hard to doubt Kane's potential as an offensive weapon, but what gets him into trouble in fantasy situations is his consistently poor plus-minus ratings. The Canadian winger finished five of the last seven contests with a negative rating, adding up to a poor minus-4, which was the same as his cumulative total in the regular season. As we have seen, the Avalanche can score seemingly at will, making Kane a risky proposition.
Defensemen
Miro Heiskanen, DAL vs. STL ($16)
Heiskanen has carved out a nice role for himself with the Stars at the tailend of his rookie season, as he's averaging 25:48 of ice time, including 2:43 with the man advantage, in these Stanley Cup Playoffs. The young Finn gets involved offensively, but he also plays traditional defense by giving up the body, as his 17 blocked shots in the playoffs will attest. He's a sneaky good play at home.
Charlie McAvoy, BOS @ CLS ($16)
McAvoy is a playmaking defenseman who seems to get himself involved in every facet of the game -- in the last six contests, the American blueliner has posted five points and 11 blocked shots to go with a plus-5 rating. McAvoy has picked up the pace in the postseason when it comes to the man advantage, as he has already matched his power-play point production from the regular season in just nine playoff games.
Defensemen to Avoid
Vince Dunn, STL vs. DAL ($18)
For all the opportunity he's afforded, Dunn can't seem to convert that into usable fantasy statistics. The offensive-minded defenseman sees plenty of looks in high-leverage offensive situations, including the power play, but he's converted that into just two assists, 12 shots on goal and a minus-6 rating in eight playoff games. His lack of overall ice time should keep fantasy players at bay as well.
David Savard, CLS vs. BOS ($18)
Savard saw something of an increase in notoriety when he recorded five points in three games at the end of the regular season and into the playoffs, but the reality is that he has made his career as a stay-at-home defenseman and his role is not about to change at this stage. Remember, the 28-year-old recorded a paltry 16 points last season and barely sees the ice with the man advantage, so don't overreach here.
