This article is part of our Yahoo DFS Hockey series.
Wednesday's NHL slate begins at 7:00 PM Eastern time and features Islanders-Hurricanes Game 3 and Blues-Stars Game 4. With two Vezina Trophy nominees, a goalie nominated for the Calder Trophy and a team that's allowed only one goal so far in Round 2 in action, offense will be hard to come by. Still, certain players stand out as options to target while others are best avoided at their respective valuations. Read on to see who falls into which category.
GOALIE
Curtis McElhinney, CAR vs. NYI ($24): McElhinney stopped all 17 Islanders shots after Petr Mrazek exited Game 2 with a lower-body injury to secure a 2-1 victory and 2-0 series lead. The drop-off from Mrazek to McElhinney was almost negligible during the regular season, so look for the veteran backup to step right up and continue stymieing New York's pedestrian offense while Mrazek recovers from his injury on the sidelines.
GOALIE TO AVOID
Ben Bishop, DAL vs. STL ($38): All things considered, there isn't much separating these four goalies. Bishop costs $38 while each of the others can be had for no more than $33, making him the weakest option in terms of bang for the buck.
CENTER
Tyler Bozak, STL at DAL ($16): Pickings are rather slim at center in this slate, but Bozak's a nice value pick as the eighth-most expensive player at the position. He proved he can deliver in Dallas with a goal and an assist in Game 3, and Bozak's five points this postseason are just one fewer than what $25 teammate Ryan O'Reilly has mustered. Bozak also has a plus-2 rating through nine playoff games compared to O'Reilly's minus-5.
CENTER TO AVOID
Mathew Barzal, NYI at CAR ($21): Barzal scored the Islanders' lone goal so far in this series, but it was just his second in the past 30 games. Owners are well within their rights to expect significantly more from a $21 forward.
WINGS
Jamie Benn, DAL vs. STL ($21): Benn leads Dallas' top line in scoring with eight points in nine games this postseason, yet he costs just $21 while Alexander Radulov and Tyler Seguin cost $27 and $30, respectively, and have posted seven points apiece. Though Benn underperformed by his lofty standards in the regular season, that has actually served as a blessing in disguise for fantasy owners this postseason, as his price hasn't caught up to his increased production in the playoffs.
Warren Foegele, CAR vs. NYI ($14): Foegele has made a name for himself this postseason by getting to the front of the net consistently and capitalizing on his chances. After closing out the regular season on a two-game goal streak, Foegele has already added another five goals and two assists in the playoffs. Despite this strong production, Foegele can still be had for just $14.
WINGS TO AVOID
Vladimir Tarasenko, STL at DAL ($27): Tarasenko posted a two-goal outburst in Game 1 against Dallas, but those are his only two points in the past five games. With St. Louis' top line struggling to find much room, it makes sense to look for a more consistent option at this price.
Justin Williams, CAR vs. NYI ($18): The man known as Mr. Game 7 seems to be saving his energy for some potential late-series heroics, as Williams hasn't been particularly noticeable while getting held off the scoresheet in the first two games of this series. The team around him is still thriving nonetheless, creating a bevy of affordable alternatives to Williams.
DEFENSEMEN
Alex Pietrangelo, STL at DAL ($19): Pietrangelo continues to be a rock on the Blues' blue line. His goal in Game 3 was Pietrangelo's 13th point in his last 12 games, and you have to go all the way back to March 21 to find the last time he didn't eclipse 23 minutes of ice time.
Miro Heiskanen, DAL vs. STL ($16): Heiskanen is a minute muncher himself, as the third overall pick from the 2017 draft has skated at least 23 minutes in nine of his last 10 games. His lofty draft stock suggests the Finnish defender has plenty of offensive ability as well, and it has been on display at times this postseason, as Heiskanen had a two-point game in his playoff debut and is riding a two-game point streak now.
DEFENSEMEN TO AVOID
Esa Lindell, DAL vs. STL ($17): Lindell's stay-at-home game is more valuable on the ice than in the fantasy arena. He's been held without a point in 10 of his last 11 games and 26 of 29, giving Lindell minimal upside relative to his $17 valuation.
Nick Leddy, NYI at CAR ($18): Leddy's another pricey blueliner with limited offensive ability. He has just one point in his last 12 games and will have trouble turning things around with the entire offense around him seemingly skating in quicksand.
