This article is part of our Yahoo DFS Hockey series.
Every game feels like a must-win situation in the playoffs, but the circumstances are dire for the Lightning, Jets and Penguins, who all find themselves down 2-0 in this first-round series. The lower seeds will be playing in their home barn during this four-game Sunday slate, although three of those underdogs have flipped the home-ice advantage in their favor. It's destined to be an thrilling day with the first puck dropping at 12:00 P.M. ET, so read on to help set your daily fantasy lineup before the excitement begins.
GOALIE
Sergei Bobrovsky, CLM vs. TB ($34): Good riddance to the playoff demons! It felt like they were coming out again when Bobrovsky allowed three goals in the opening period of Game 1, but he has been dominant by stopping 40 of the last 41 shots. When a goalie is dialed in like this in the playoffs, there's no price that's too high. And it doesn't hurt that the Bolts will be without Nikita Kucherov (suspension).
GOALIE TO AVOID
Connor Hellebuyck, WPG at STL ($29): Hellebuyck seemed to unravel near the end of the season, and those woes showed up again in Game 2 when he failed to track Ryan O'Reilly's shot from the top of the circle. The St. Louis crowd will be raucous, so it'll be tough for Hellebuyck to get back on track.
CENTER
Matt Duchene, CLM vs. TB ($22): Duchene set a Blue Jackets' record for most playoff points in a game with a goal and three assists in Game 2. He's coming into his game at the right time, and now he gets to come home where he averaged 0.70 points per game in the regular season compared to 0.27 on the road. Lock him in at this low price as this team continues to defy the odds.
CENTER TO AVOID
Brayden Point, TB at CLM ($29): Point failed to record a point in the first two games this series, and he didn't even fire a shot on net in Game 2. Life isn't going to get easier on the road with Kucherov suspended, making Point too high of a risk for the cost.
WINGS
Patrik Laine, WPG at STL ($22): Laine struggled leading up to playoffs, but it appeared he just needed to face off against the Blues - as he scored six goals in four games against them during the regular season - to right the ship. The young sniper now has a goal in both games this series and has fired a combined eight shots on net. The Jets will now hit the road, but luckily for Laine, the Blues own the 26th-ranked penalty kill at home this year at 75.7 percent.
Max Pacioretty, VGK vs. SJ ($17): Getting Pacioretty at this price may feel like grand larceny, and that's because it is. Pacioretty posted a goal and three assists over the first two games, and he extinguished any remaining confidence I had in San Jose's goaltending. Returning to the Golden Knights' barn ups his value further.
WINGS TO AVOID
Timo Meier, SJ at VGK ($21): Meier registered one assist and a minus-4 rating through four games against the Golden Knights in the regular season, and he's now pointless through the first two games. It will be tough to break that trend from the bench with Meier averaging just 13:02 of ice time per game this postseason, which is nearly a four-minute reduction from his regular-season ice time.
Patric Hornqvist, PIT vs. NYI ($17): The Penguins got to sleep in their own beds last night, but the Islanders defensive dominance didn't stop on the road during the regular season by ranking second in the league with 2.39 goals against per away game. Hornqvist hasn't notched a point so far this postseason, and I see that streak extending through Game 3.
DEFENSEMEN
Zach Werenski, CLM vs. TB ($19): Werenski was solid on the blue line all season, and he's turned it up this postseason with three points - including two on the power play - through two contests. He keeps logging massive minutes, so fantasy owners can count on him for plenty of opportunities in Game 3.
Colton Parayko, STL vs. WPG ($17): The Blues lean on Parayko heavily for his two-way game and power-play prowess, and it has resulted in two assists, four blocked shots and a plus-2 rating through two postseason outings. His diversified stat line provides an intriguing floor, making Parayko a bargain in this slate
DEFENSEMEN TO AVOID
Ryan McDonagh, TB at CLM ($17): McDonagh enjoyed a career year, but he's netting negative fantasy points in the playoffs. In fact, he's fired just one shot on net over the last five games and he hasn't registered a power-play point since before the trade deadline. He could get more opportunities if Victor Hedman (undisclosed) can't go, but I wouldn't count on that happening. Regardless, Hedman ranks as a superior defenseman and even he went pointless and minus-2 through the first two games of the series.
Jacob Trouba, WPG at STL ($18): Trouba had an excellent regular season with 50 points, but the playoffs haven't been kind to him. The 25-year-old blueliner has just three points in 23 postseason games, and has gone pointless in the last 11 playoff contests dating back to last season.
