This article is part of our Yahoo DFS Hockey series.
We've got two games scheduled Thursday, with one of them being the second game of a back-to-back. That would be the Islanders and the Flyers, featuring arguably the two goalies that have played the best in the playoffs: Semyon Varlamov and Carter Hart. Given that, it's a little riskier to simply fade the defenses playing their second game in as many days. On the other hand, only four teams are playing. Every little edge counts, right? There's a lot to mull, but in the end here are my Thursday picks.
GOALIE
Carter Hart, PHI at NYI ($34): I'm still willing to go with Hart here. In addition to his own excellent play, this could be a light day of work for the Flyers' netminder. Philadelphia only allowed 28.7 shots on net per game this season, lowest in the NHL. Meanwhile, New York only managed 29.6 shots on goal per contest. If those trends hold true, he just has to stay prepared for the few shots he sees.
GOALIE TO AVOID
Robin Lehner, VGK at VAN ($28): I'm not overemphasizing the fact Lehner allowed four goals on 26 shots in a Game 2 loss. He has a 2.34 GAA in the playoffs, after all. On the other hand, that's with him posting a .909 save percentage. Vancouver scored 3.25 goals per game this year and has Tyler Toffoli back and looking good. That's giving me pause on Lehner
CENTER
Elias Pettersson, VAN vs. VGK ($26): I was not feeling too enthused by this collection of centers, so I'm just going to go with the stud Swede for the Canucks. Pettersson is crushing it in the playoffs, tallying 16 points in 12 games. This comes after he managed 66 points in only 68 games this year. That included 24 power-play points, and the Golden Knights had the 27th-ranked penalty kill during the regular season.
CENTER TO AVOID
Sean Couturier, PHI at NYI ($21): Yes, Varlamov got yanked in Game 2, but heading into Wednesday he led the playoffs with a 1.50 GAA and .941 save percentage. If anything, maybe the time off will mean he's fully rested for this game. After scoring over 30 goals in each of his last two seasons, Couturier only had 22 this season. Sure, it came in a shortened campaign, but the center only just scored his first goal of the playoffs.
WING
Mark Stone, VGK at VAN ($25): Stone is one of those guys who was injured when the regular season ended but got healthy during the pause in action. He's looked no worse for the wear, as he has 10 points in his 10 playoff games. Stone also managed 168 shots on goal in 65 regular-season contests. The Canucks gave up 33.3 shots on net per game this year, so Stone could have a lot of opportunity to stay on the score sheet.
Jakub Voracek, PHI at NYI ($18): Voracek was stellar against the Canadiens, tallying seven points in six games. During the regular season he averaged 2:57 per game with the extra man and tallied 17 power-play points. The Islanders had a middling penalty kill (15th) and they are on the second leg of a back-to-back. Like I said, every little potential edge counts at a time like this.
WINGS TO AVOID
Jordan Eberle, NYI vs. PHI ($18): It's one thing to tally points against the Panthers and Capitals, but the Flyers are a different story. That's especially true given that Hart has looked more like the home version of himself than the road version in the neutral site of the bubble. Hart had a 1.63 GAA and .943 save percentage at home this season, which shows what he's capable of when he's on his game. Clearly in the playoffs that has been the case.
Travis Konecny, PHI at NYI ($16): Konecny had a breakout regular season with 61 points in 66 games, but the playoffs have been a different story for him. He has only four points, all assists, and in four games he's been held without a shot on goal. Getting your offensive game going is quite difficult when you find yourself facing off with a Barry Trotz-led team and a previously hot goalie like Semyon Varlamov, especially on the second leg of a back-to-back.
DEFENSE
Quinn Hughes, VAN vs. VGK ($20): I mentioned earlier that the Golden Knights had the 27th-ranked penalty kill this season. Quinn is a machine on the power play. He averaged 3:49 per game with the extra man and tallied 25 power-play points in 68 games, and he's added seven more power-play points in the playoffs.
Nate Schmidt, VGK at VAN ($18): Schmidt only put one shot on goal in Game 2, but that was not up to his usual level of involvement in the playoffs. The defenseman has 35 shots on net in 10 postseason contests, and like I said the Canucks gave up 33.3 shots on goal per game. Schmidt also managed 31 points in only 59 games this season.
DEFENSEMEN TO AVOID
Ryan Pulock, NYI vs. PHI ($18): Pulock was hot to start the playoffs, but regression has come for him. He's been held without a point in his last four games. Also, like his teammate Eberle, scoring against the Panthers and the Capitals (with Braden Holtby in net) is different from trying to solve Hart and the team that allowed the fewest shots on net per game this season.
Alec Martinez, VGK vs. VAN ($17): You may remember Martinez from his heyday with the Kings, but he's not quite at that level anymore. He does have five points in his last seven games, but I don't think that is continuing. The 33-year-old had three goals and 13 assists in 51 games, and he only put 75 shots on goal. He's not the kind of defenseman to take advantage of the Canucks allowing 33.3 shots on net per game.
