This article is part of our Yahoo DFS Hockey series.
Tuesday's NHL slate starts with Game 3 of the Bruins-Hurricanes series at 8:00 PM Eastern time, and it also features Wednesday's Game 3 between the Sharks and Blues. Read on to see which players are primed to provide the best value at their respective prices in this slate.
GOALIE
Martin Jones, SJ at STL ($25): Jones has looked like a completely different goaltender since the Sharks went down 3-1 to Vegas in the first round. Even with four goals allowed in two of his last four games, he remains a nice value pick at $25, as Jones is 8-4 over his past 12 contests and hasn't suffered consecutive defeats in that stretch. He'll have to win to maintain that trend after dropping Game 2.
GOALIE TO AVOID
Petr Mrazek, CAR vs. BOS ($29): Carolina is a perfect 5-0 at the raucous PNC Arena, but continuing that success seems unlikely if Mrazek remains in net. Backup Curtis McElhinney thrived in the second-round sweep of the Islanders while Mrazek was hurt, and Mrazek will be on a short leash if not outright benched in favor of McElhinney after giving up 10 goals on 52 shots in this series' first two games.
CENTER
Sebastian Aho, CAR vs. BOS ($26): Many are writing Carolina off after two awful games in Boston, but this has been a different team on home ice. If the success-starved crowd continues to will the Hurricanes' first playoff team in a decade to victory, Aho should be a beneficiary of such a boost. The team's leading regular-season scorer with 83 points, Aho comes into this game riding a four-game point streak that's featured three goals and three assists.
CENTER TO AVOID
Tomas Hertl, SJ at STL ($26): Hertl has been nearly invisible in this series' first two games, registering just one shot while failing to mark the scoresheet. With fellow $26 Sharks center Logan Couture leading the postseason scoring race, it makes more sense to grab him than Hertl at the moment.
WINGS
Jake DeBrusk, BOS at CAR ($17): DeBrusk also has a four-game point streak working, and his six shots in Game 2 represented his highest total since Jan. 3, when he also managed to put six pucks on net. Expect the top-six forward to keep riding his recent momentum and provide comparable production to Boston's first-liners at a fraction of the cost.
Timo Meier, SJ at STL ($19): Meier has provided two goals and two assists over this series' first two games, firing seven pucks on net as well. The 30-goal, 66-point regular season scorer is a nice pick at $19 given the advanced offensive ability he's demonstrated all year.
WINGS TO AVOID
David Pastrnak, BOS at CAR ($31): Pastrnak's recent lack of usage and production is starting to grow concerning. Boston has outscored opponents 14-4 over the past three games, but Pasta has just one assist and four shots in that stretch while averaging only 15 minutes of ice time.
Evander Kane, SJ at STL ($18): Kane continues to struggle, with just one goal in his last 15 games and two assists in the past seven. With no shortage of appealing alternatives among San Jose's deep forward corps, Kane should be left on the bench.
DEFENSEMEN
Vince Dunn, STL vs. SJ ($17): Dunn had struggled for most of the postseason, but a light seemed to go on for the young blueliner in Game 7 against Dallas. Since the start of that contest, Dunn has crafted a three-game point streak, lighting the lamp twice on nine shots to go with a plus-3 rating. The offensively gifted defenseman will continue to be relied upon for some scoring to keep up with San Jose's fast-paced attack.
Alex Pietrangelo, STL vs. SJ ($18): Don't be afraid to stack St. Louis blueliners, as both Dunn and Pietrangelo are capable of providing an offensive boost from the back end. While Dunn has only recently found his game, Pietrangelo never lost it, as he has 12 points through 15 games during this playoff run. Given his high floor in shots and blocks as well, it's hard to go wrong with the Blues' captain.
DEFENSEMEN TO AVOID
Colton Parayko, STL vs. SJ ($17): Parayko's a steady presence in his own zone, but he can't match the explosiveness of teammates Dunn and Pietrangelo. All three are priced at $17 or $18, but the other two are thriving offensively of late while Parayko has just one assist over his past six games.
Charlie McAvoy, BOS at CAR ($17): McAvoy isn't a major part of Boston's game plan outside of headhunting opposing skaters -- he has just one goal since the calendar turned to April. Over his last five games, not including his one-game suspension, McAvoy has just one assist and five shots. You'd like to see significantly more offense at $17.
