This article is part of our Yahoo DFS Hockey series.
Several of Wednesday's playoff games will change the balance of their respective series, while one series could be over by the end of the night. Take a look at some of the best across the board.
Goalie
Cory Schneider, NJ vs. TB ($24)
At the time of writing, the Devils have not chosen their starting goalie for Wednesday's tilt, but considering the way Schneider has seized the opportunity to get the starting job back in the playoffs, it seems likely that he'll go. The 32-year-old's sudden resurgence, in addition to the facts that he has not lost to the Lightning this season and was outstanding in Games 2 and 3 against them, gives me confidence in his value in this spot.
Goalie to Avoid
Pekka Rinne, NSH @ COL ($33)
Rinne picked a very bad time to get cold. The Finnish keeper had looked Vezina-worthy throughout most of the regular season, but his last nine games have seen him allow 28 goals to go with a .882 save percentage and five losses. Colorado's offense was fantastic on home ice during the regular season, averaging 3.54 goals per game there, so Rinne could be in for another rude awakening unless he can break out of this slump.
Center
Ryan Johansen, NSH @ COL ($19)
While the beginning of Johansen's 2017-18 campaign may have been disappointing, he has turned it on big time in the last month -- in the 14 games since March 19, the Vancouver native has recorded six goals, 13 points, including five with the man advantage, and a plus-6 rating to go with 3:02 of power-play ice time. He already has four points through the first three games of this series, so expect him to keep rolling in Game 4.
Center to Avoid
Claude Giroux, PHI vs. PIT ($25)
Giroux put forth the finest campaign of his career in 2017-18, but that run of dominance has come screeching to a halt thus far in the postseason. Pittsburgh has been a thorn in the Flyers captain's side all season, as they did not allow him to score once and he ended the regular season with a minus-3 rating against them. With linemate Sean Couturier (undisclosed) a possibility to miss Wednesday's contest, don't risk it with Giroux.
Wings
Evander Kane, SJ vs. ANH ($23)
Kane was a tremendous acquisition for the Sharks at the trade deadline and perhaps the biggest reason why is because of his ferocity attacking the opposing net -- the 26-year-old has not taken fewer than three shots in a game since March 10, and in the 15 games since then, he is averaging an astounding 5.47 shots on goal per game. Anaheim does not have an answer to Kane and this San Jose offense thus far, so keep riding them.
Patrick Maroon, NJ vs. TB ($15)
While Maroon hasn't gotten on the scoresheet this series, the opportunities have been there and aren't likely to disappear in Game 4. The American winger has fired 11 shots on goal through the first three playoff games while averaging 3:56 of power-play ice time. Since coming over to New Jersey via trade, Maroon has recorded almost a third of his points with the man advantage, so he'll look to get on the board against Tampa Bay's 27th-ranked penalty kill.
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Wings to Avoid
Mikko Rantanen, COL vs. NSH ($25)
Rantanen does not generate the sort of scoring you'd expect from a player priced this high, averaging just two shots on goal per game in his last eight contests. Additionally, the 21-year-old is proving to be a defensive liability, as he shows a minus-4 rating over that same span. This Nashville squad is amongst the most dangerous on both ends of the ice, so if you're going to drop this kind of cash, do it elsewhere.
Wayne Simmonds, PHI vs. PIT ($18)
Simmonds endured one of the worst campaigns of his career during the regular season and things haven't gotten better in the postseason, as he shows just one assist through three games. The Ontario native's statistical splits don't do him any favors either, as he tallied 19 points at Wells Fargo Center and one assist and a minus-4 rating against the Penguins during the regular season. Don't count on a sudden revival here.
Defensemen
Ryan Ellis, NSH @ COL ($23)
The Avalanche have been one of the worst teams in the league when it comes to defending defensemen, as the team allowed 2.31 points per game to the position this season. Ellis in particular had a high degree of success against the team -- he was able to put three points on the scoresheet between two regular season games. The two points he notched in Game 3 are a good sign that he's ramping up the offense.
Brandon Montour, ANH @ SJ ($14)
For a low-priced blueliner to finish out your lineup, you could do a lot worse than Montour in this situation. The 24-year-old is a thoroughly established member of Anaheim's power play, averaging 3:06 of ice time and having already attained an assist with the unit in these playoffs. Combined with the notion that he is a high-volume shooter and the fact that he has had moderate success against the Sharks this season, Montour makes for a nice, cheap add.
Defensemen to Avoid
Tyson Barrie, COL vs. NSH ($23)
While Barrie's offensive contributions were highly pronounced this season, his ability to stop scoring from the opposition proved to still be a problem area, as his minus-15 rating on the campaign will attest. Indeed, over the last seven contests, the Canadian blueliner holds a minus-7 rating, and that's including a plus-3 he attained in the last game. Nashville has been adept at stopping defensemen this season, so if Barrie can't score, the plus-minus could continue to take a hit.
Marc-Edouard Vlasic, SJ vs. ANH ($20)
Vlasic is not creating the offense that you'd normally expect from a defenseman priced in the 20-dollar range, as his two points in the last 11 games will attest. He is certainly an elite shot blocker, but the Ducks are not known for being a particularly shot-heavy squad, as evidenced by their 30.2 shots per game average in the regular season. Also considering Anaheim allows a league-low 1.49 points per game to defensemen, you can do better.
