This article is part of our Yahoo DFS Hockey series.
We are starting to get a sense of how the teams left in the playoffs are looking after hiatus, and even how these series are shaping up. In fact, two of the five games taking place Sunday are Game 4s. The first one starts at 12 p.m. EDT, which will be tricky for you DFS players on the West Coast. But since there are only a handful of games, I'm looking at the full slate for my recommendations.
GOALIE
Cam Talbot, CGY vs. DAL ($31): Talbot bounced back from his first bad start of the bubble by shutting out the Stars in Game 3. Since the NHL returned to action, he's posted a 1.87 GAA and .937 save percentage. I imagine the Stars' Game 2 outburst will be the outlier, as they only scored 2.58 goals per game.
GOALIE TO AVOID
Semyon Varlamov, NYI vs. WAS ($30): Varlamov has only allowed two goals in each of the two games of this series, but I still don't want to buy in today. There have been quite a few impressive goaltending performances from the netminder playing Sunday - Varlamov included - but the Capitals represent a tough matchup having scored an NHL-second best 3.42 goals per game.
CENTER
Brock Nelson, NYI vs. WAS ($19): Nelson's numbers were consistent, going from 25 goals and 53 points last season to 26 goals and 54 points this year. The difference is the current total was achieved in only 68 games. On top of that, Nelson is riding a four-game point streak. Meanwhile, Braden Holtby has allowed four goals in each of his last two games after producing a 3.11 GAA this season.
CENTER TO AVOID
Jonathan Toews, CHI vs. VGK ($25): Toews struggled to score this season with only 18 goals, the lowest total of his career. I bet he still wishes Robin Lehner was on his side, as Lehner managed a .920 save percentage this season and is now with the Golden Knights. While Vegas did maintain the 27th-ranked penalty kill, Toews only notched eight power-play points this year, so he might not be able to take advantage of that.
WING
J.T. Miller, VAN vs. STL ($25): Miller has tallied six points over his last five games, including five with the extra man. Given that the Blues ranked 18th on the penalty kill, he might not find too much resistance on the power play - especially with Jordan Binnington and his 5.02 GAA over his last three starts.
Jaden Schwartz, STL at VAN ($17): Schwartz has scored a goal on six shots in both games during this series, so hopefully he can do that again. It's entirely possible he will given his 22 goals in 71 games this season, including nine with the extra man. As for Vancouver, they compiled a 3.10 GAA this year and also allowed 33.3 shots on net per contest.
WINGS TO AVOID
Johnny Gaudreau, CGY vs. DAL ($22): You probably know Gaudreau struggled this season. He only scored 18 goals and posted a woeful 8.6 shooting percentage. He's unlikely to break out at this point, especially against the Stars and their 2.52 GAA, second lowest in the NHL.
Tomas Tatar, MON vs. PHI ($19): Carter Hart finally had an off day in the bubble in his last start, but I don't expect him to revert to his away-game version. He's still impressing with a 1.93 GAA and .938 save percentage since returning to action. Tatar did score twice in their last encounter, but those were his first points of the playoffs. He's also only put eight shots on net through the last six outings.
DEFENSE
Nate Schmidt, VGK at CHI ($18): Schmidt tallied 31 points this season, even though he was limited to 59 games. He also directed 112 shots on goal. The Blackhawks allowed an NHL-high 35.1 shots on goal per contest, which should allow Schmidt to stay active offensively. And if the Blackhawks' defense tires on the second day of a back-to-back, that could lead to even more shot opportunities.
Devon Toews, NYI vs. WAS ($17): If you don't want to pay Ryan Pulock's salary, consider Toews. He finished second among New York's defensemen in points with 28, and he's picked up four assists in the playoffs. The 26-year-old also started 53.5 percent of his shifts in the offensive zone, second highest among Islanders defensemen and gets time on the second power-play unit. As I noted earlier, Holtby struggled with a 3.11 GAA and also an .897 save percentage.
DEFENSE TO AVOID
Shea Weber, MON vs. PHI ($21): The Flyers' goal prevention isn't all about Hart in net. Philadelphia also only allowed 28.7 shots on goal per game, which was lowest in the NHL. Weber often puts shots on target with 185 in 65 games this year, but he may not be able to do that against Philly. And while Weber once served as a power-play weapon, he only totalled eight points with the extra man this year.
John Klingberg, DAL at CGY ($18): Klingberg was extremely reliant on the power play this year, notching 17 of his 32 points with the extra man. Calgary maintained the eighth-ranked penalty kill, so this matchup isn't ideal for him. And let's not forget Talbot and his .937 save percentage in the bubble.
