This article is part of our Yahoo DFS Hockey series.
The two East Coast series going on in the second round of the NHL playoffs are both heading into Game 3. Basketball's Magic Johnson would tell us that Game 3 is always pivotal. I will tell you some players I would target, and avoid, for your DFS lineup. Let's get to it. Best of luck with your fantasy hockey this Thursday!
GOALIE
Andrei Vasilevskiy, TAM vs. CAR ($38): Vasilevskiy is a finalist for the Vezina for the fourth season in a row, and nobody can complain about that. He had a 2.21 GAA and .925 save percentage this year. The Russian had a couple rough games against the Panthers in the first round, but over his last five starts he has a 1.41 GAA and .960 save percentage. Vasilevskiy picked up two wins in Carolina by only allowing one goal each time. I'm betting on talent here.
GOALIE TO AVOID
Tuukka Rask, BOS at NYI ($33): In the regular season, the Islanders only scored 2.71 goals per game. However, in the playoffs they've averaged 3.38 goals per game over eight contests. Boston coach Bruce Cassidy has said that Rask is dealing with "nagging" injuries of an unspecified nature, which isn't uncommon this time of the year. That's enough to give me a bit of pause on a goalie I normally feel confident in.
CENTER
David Krejci, BOS at NYI ($21): Krejci got hot down the stretch once Taylor Hall hopped on his line, and he's kept that going in the playoffs. Through seven playoff games he has five assists and 21 shots on goal. While he didn't notch a point in Game 2 of this series, he tallied seven shots on net. Additionally, during the regular season Krejci had 16 power-play points. Sure, the Islanders had the sixth-ranked penalty kill, but that's actually the worst of the four teams in action Thursday. Apparently being good at killing penalties helps teams make the playoffs. Who knew?
CENTER TO AVOID
Sebastian Aho, CAR at TAM ($31): Aho was held off the scoresheet in both games of this series in Carolina, and now he had to head to Tampa. In fact, in both games he only put two shots on net as well. Vincent Trocheck is banged up, which means the Finn might not have Trocheck on his wing on the power play. Aho has also been skating with Brock McGinn on his wing instead of Andrei Svechnikov or the injured Nino Niederreiter, and that doesn't help.
WING
Alex Killorn, TAM vs. CAR ($17): Tampa's second line of Killorn, Anthony Cirelli, and Steven Stamkos is providing some excellent support to the team's excellent first line. Killorn has been a big part of that, as he has five goals and four assists over his last seven contests. Rookie goalie Alex Nedeljkovic has a 2.18 GAA and .920 save percentage in the playoffs, and that's quite good, but it's also a step down from his regular season numbers of a 1.90 GAA and .932 save percentage.
Jordan Eberle, NYI vs. BOS ($16): Eberle started 61.3 percent of his shifts in the offensive zone, which was highest on the Islanders. He also has five points over his last six outings. Rask did have a 2.28 GAA this season, but he also had a .913 save percentage, which is not on the level of the other goalies in action Thursday. Plus, like his coach said, the Finnish netminder is not at full strength.
WINGS TO AVOID
Ondrej Palat, TAM vs. CAR ($21): In truth, when you look at the defensive numbers of these four teams, none of these matchups are really what you would call "good" or "favorable." As such, some of my recommendations are going to be about an individual's play as opposed to the matchup. That's the case with Palat, who doesn't have a point in his last four games. Also, though he had 20 power-play points during the regular season, he only has one point with the extra man over his last 15 games.
Martin Necas, CAR at TAM ($20): It's not just that Necas is facing a goalie who had a .925 save percentage this season and only allowed one goal in each game so far during this series. On top of that, Trocheck seemed to injure his knee after colliding with teammate Warren Foegele in Game 2. If Trocheck can't play, Necas won't have his usual center at even strength, and that's not encouraging.
DEFENSE
Charlie McAvoy, BOS at NYI ($19): McAvoy has taken on a new role for himself in this postseason: power-play quarterback. He's averaged 3:13 per game with the extra man and six of his seven playoff points have come on the power play. Hey, the Islanders had the worth penalty kill of these four teams. Also, the Islanders have surprisingly allowed 39.1 shots on net per contest in the playoffs. Yes, overtimes play a role in that, but it's still noteworthy.
Brett Pesce, CAR at TAM ($16): Pesce started the playoffs with a three-game point streak, but while he's been held without a point in his last five outings he's been quite active. Over those games, he has 16 shots on goal and 12 blocked shots. The 26-year-old blocked six shots in Game 1 of this series alone. Pesce has some offensive upside with 25 points in 55 games this year, and his salary that makes him worth a shot Thursday.
DEFENSEMEN TO AVOID
Mikhail Sergachev, TAM vs. CAR ($14): Sergachev is relied upon for offense from the blue line behind Victor Hedman, but he hasn't been doing that recently. He has two points, both assists, in the playoffs, and they came against the Panthers. Also, while the Russian averaged 2:04 with the extra man during the regular season, he's only played 51 seconds per game on the power play in the playoffs.
Nick Leddy, NYI vs. BOS ($14): Leddy had 11 power-play points during the regular season in 56 games, but he has not notched a single point with the extra man in the playoffs. Plus, the Bruins had the second-ranked penalty kill. Even if Rask is banged up, a penalty kill that good is a deterrent, especially with Leddy having gone cold.
