Yahoo DFS Hockey: Wednesday-Thursday Picks

Yahoo DFS Hockey: Wednesday-Thursday Picks

This article is part of our Yahoo DFS Hockey series.

GOALIE

Semyon Varlamov, NYI vs. TB ($30): The Lightning were in control from the moment the puck dropped Monday, and the Islanders simply weren't ready with minimal rest. Varlamov went in the game early when the Islanders were already deflated, and he's expected to get the nod in a crucial Game 2. Don't expect the team to roll over so easily. They'll hit back tonight, and Varlamov can help lead that charge. 

GOALIE TO AVOID

Anton Khudobin, DAL vs. VGK ($32): Khudobin was provided minimal help on a couple of the goals Tuesday night, but he still faced just 27 shots and let three go by. Besides for the blunders, the Stars haven't allowed many shots lately, so Khudobin's ceiling is low and he carries plenty of risk if the Golden Knights keep it rolling.

CENTER

Mathew Barzal, NYI vs. TB ($24): Tampa Bay's depth made it tough for Columbus and Boston to get production out of their second lines, as Boone Jenner and David Krejci -- second-line centers -- combined for three points over 10 games. Meanwhile, the top lines had no issues piling up points. If the Islanders are to even up the series, Barzal will need to contribute like a first-line center. 

CENTER TO AVOID

Tyler Seguin, DAL vs. VGK ($21): Seguin has bounced around the lineup, but he's playing through a wrist injury that could be limiting his minutes, as he hasn't logged more than 18 minutes of ice time in nearly a month. His upside is capped as a result, and he hasn't produced more than 5.0 fantasy points in six contests. 

WINGS

Jordan Eberle, NYI vs. TB ($18): Eberle is an intriguing stack to go along with Barzal, as he had a hand in each goal during Monday's 8-2 loss and fired five shots on net as well. The winger leads all remaining players, save for Max Pacioretty, with 3.93 xGF/60 since the start of the second round, per Natural Stat Trick, so seek the upside of Eberle's game. 

Blake Coleman, TB vs. NYI ($18): Coleman is part of the Lightning's aforementioned strong depth, as he's posted a point in four of the last five games. He still gets plenty of ice time on the third line, and he's starting to get power-play time as well, which he'll look to leverage against the Islanders' suspect penalty kill (78.4 percent).

WINGS TO AVOID

Denis Gurianov, DAL vs. VGK ($18): Gurianov's salary rose due to a five-point game versus the Flames and a six-game point streak versus the Avalanche, but he's been blanked by the Golden Knights thus far. He's a talented young player, but he's working on the fourth line. Although he does get power-play minutes, that's devalued with Vegas stopping 88.7 percent of power plays. 

Alex Killorn, TB vs. NYI ($15): Killorn has been flaky of late with just four shots on net over the last three games, and he's gone pointless in seven of eight. The upside is monstrous, but the odds remain stacked against him after he logged just 16:07 of ice time on Monday. 

DEFENSE

Shea Theodore, VGK vs. DAL ($24): Theodore has been one of the best defensemen all playoffs with 17 points in as many games, and he carries an impressive floor with 68 shots on net and 24 blocked shots in that stretch. Feel comfortable spending up on Theodore hoping to strike gold with his ceiling.  

Mikhail Sergachev, TB vs. NYI ($17): We went over the Islanders' porous penalty kill earlier, and Sergachev logs minutes on the team's top power play alongside Nikita Kucherov and Brayden Point. He comes at a nice discount for the game-breaking ability he has. 

DEFENSE TO AVOID

Ryan Pulock, NYI vs. TB ($18): Pulock generates a modest amount of chances with 2.86 xGF/60 over the last month, but he's had trouble capitalizing with just two points over the last 10 contests. We've hoped he would pop off by now, but don't take the flier on him with what appears to be low upside.

Kevin Shattenkirk, TB vs. NYI ($17): Shattenkirk stacked up five assists over the last two games, but let someone else take the bait. He logged just 13:17 of ice time last contest, and he's recorded more than 18 minutes just once over the last five games, firing zero shots on net in three of those. He's far too risky to take with that volatility.

The author(s) of this article may play in daily fantasy contests including – but not limited to – games that they have provided recommendations or advice on in this article. In the course of playing in these games using their personal accounts, it's possible that they will use players in their lineups or other strategies that differ from the recommendations they have provided above. The recommendations in this article do not necessarily reflect the views of RotoWire. Jordan Mazzara plays in daily fantasy contests using the following accounts: FanDuel: Mazz30 Yahoo: Mazz30 DraftKings: Mazz30.
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ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Jordan Mazzara
Jordan has produced NFL and NHL content for RotoWire since 2017. He's the beat writer for the St. Louis Blues and Seattle Seahawks.
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