This article is part of our Yahoo DFS Hockey series.
The NHL playoffs continue Thursday with a two-game slate beginning at 7:00 PM Eastern time. Below you'll find the players to target and those to avoid from a pool consisting of the Capitals, Blue Jackets, Bruins and Maple Leafs.
GOALIE
Sergei Bobrovsky, CLS vs. WAS ($31): Bobrovsky's allowed 10 goals through three games in this series, but that number really isn't too bad considering all three contests have gone to overtime and it's taken the Capitals 133 shots to reach that total. His 123 saves give the Russian netminder a .925 save percentage in these playoffs, and he's primed for another solid effort here at home.
GOALIE TO AVOID
Braden Holtby, WAS at CLS ($34): The road team has won all three games in this series so far, but it wouldn't be surprising to see that trend come to an end in Game 4 given Holtby's awful performance outside of Capital One Arena this season. In 23 regular-season road tilts, he posted an atrocious 3.90 GAA and .889 save percentage. The fact that he costs at least $3 more than any of the alternative goaltending options in this slate just makes Holtby even less appealing.
CENTER
Tomas Plekanec, TOR vs. BOS ($10): With Nazem Kadri serving the final game of his suspension, Plekanec will have one last opportunity to work as the second-line center. The Czech veteran's playmaking skills make him a good fit between speedy wingers Patrick Marleau and Mitchell Marner, and coach Mike Babcock's ability to put the trio in offensively favorable situations with last change at home further raises Plekanec's potential. Don't be surprised if Plekanec matches the 9.8 fantasy points he scored in 17:58 of ice time in Game 2, which is tremendous output for a player at the minimum price.
CENTER TO AVOID
Evgeny Kuznetsov, WAS at CLS ($22): Kuznetsov's been blanked in consecutive contests and has now scored 5.2 or fewer fantasy points in half of his last eight games. Given those recent results, there's little reason to choose Kuznetsov over $21 teammate Nicklas Backstrom, who has racked up 11 points in the past six games, including at least one in each.
WINGS
Artemi Panarin, CLS vs. WAS ($27): Panarin might be the hottest player in the league right now, having mustered eight consecutive multi-point performances (four goals, 16 assists). Given Holtby's aforementioned road stats, there's little reason to expect that streak to come to an end here.
Tom Wilson, WAS at CLS ($13): While his playing time has been inflated due to overtimes, Wilson's average of 21:16 in a first-line role is still quite impressive. The physical forward lit the lamp in Game 3 while firing six shots, and playing alongside Alex Ovechkin is always a good recipe for picking up points. At just $13, Wilson's a low-risk, high-reward option.
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WINGS TO AVOID
David Backes, BOS at TOR ($17): Backes is seeing less playing time than your typical $17 winger, as he's averaging fewer than 14 minutes in the last 12 contests. He hasn't exactly earned more ice time, posting 4.5 or fewer fantasy points in 12 of his last 19 appearances.
Thomas Vanek, CLS vs. WAS ($17): If you're going to use Blue Jackets wingers, you may as well reach for the red-hot top guys like Panarin and Cam Atkinson ($25). Taking a half-measure by choosing a middling option like Vanek is likely to backfire considering he's only exceeded 5.0 fantasy points once in his last seven games.
DEFENSEMEN
Charlie McAvoy, BOS at TOR ($15): McAvoy's average of 5.5 fantasy points per game is tops among all blueliners that cost $15 or less, and his well-rounded game was on full display in Monday's Game 3, as he racked up 8.8 fantasy points over 26:21 in that loss without marking the scoresheet. Zdeno Chara's defense partner should continue to log heavy minutes, and McAvoy actually outscored his more famous partner in the regular season, with 32 points to Chara's 24.
Seth Jones, CLS vs. WAS ($24): After averaging 18.8 fantasy points over his final three regular season games, Jones has kept up the strong play with an average of 13.7 through three playoff contests. In addition to his two goals and nine assists over that six-game span, he's also fired four shots on three different occasions and blocked at least three shots four times in that stretch. Jones costs a pretty penny, but everything about his recent results says he'll be worth it here.
DEFENSEMEN TO AVOID
Jake Gardiner, TOR vs. BOS ($17): Gardiner racked up a bunch of helpers down the stretch in the regular season, but he's been held off the scoresheet in this series. Considering he's only blocked five shots in his last eight games and hasn't taken more than three shots in a game since March 14, Gardiner's not doing much to prop up his fantasy value at the moment.
Torey Krug, BOS at TOR ($22): The size difference between Krug and Chara is about equal to the gulf in defensive ability between the two, which is why Krug finished the season with an even rating despite playing on a Bruins team that drastically outscored the opposition. Toronto was able to exploit his defensive deficiencies in Game 3, using last change to match skilled forwards against Krug. That game plan translated to a minus-3 rating and minus-1.4 fantasy points for Krug, and he'll likely have to deal with a similar strategy in Game 4.
