This article is part of our Yahoo DFS Hockey series.
Sunday's NHL slate begins at 3:00 PM Eastern time and consists of Game 5 between the Golden Knights and Jets, coupled with Monday's Game 6 of the Capitals-Lightning series. Read on to see which players to target in this two-game slate and which ones to avoid.
GOALIE
Andrei Vasilevskiy, TB at WAS ($36): Vasilevskiy was much better on the road than at home during the regular season, posting a 2.34 GAA and .931 save percentage outside of Tampa Bay compared to 2.84 and .909 marks at home. His road success has carried over into this series, as he's 2-0 in Washington with 72 saves on 76 shots and is primed for another strong performance in this potential closeout game.
GOALIE TO AVOID
Connor Hellebuyck, WPG vs. VGK ($31): Hellebuyck has had no answer for the relentless Vegas offense over the past three games, allowing three goals in each while scoring 6.6 or fewer fantasy points each time as well. Given recent trends, his prospects are much dimmer than those of all three other starting goalies.
CENTER
Steven Stamkos, TB at WAS ($25): Stamkos was held off the board in Game 5 after potting power-play goals in each of this series' first four games, but he's likely to get right back on track in Game 6. While the Lightning's captain was bothered by a lower-body injury early in the postseason, a healthy Stamkos has been a nearly unstoppable force with six goals and 10 points in the last eight games. His ability to get the job done both at even strength and on special teams makes Stamkos as dangerous as any forward still vying for the Stanley Cup.
CENTER TO AVOID
Mark Scheifele, WPG vs. VGK ($27): Scheifele's heroics on the road have been well documented, but he's been a disappointment on home ice relative to his lofty valuation. He's been held off the scoresheet completely in half of his eight home games this postseason, including three of the past four. With other top-dollar centers in this slate performing at a high level, Scheifele will have trouble matching their production against a locked-in Marc-Andre Fleury.
WINGS
Ondrej Palat, TB at WAS ($20): Using Palat along with Stamkos locks you into two-thirds of Tampa Bay's top line, and Palat's thrived since being promoted to a first-line role in Game 3. He's put together a three-game point streak over the ensuing contests, but still costs as much or less than eight other wingers in this slate.
Patrik Laine, WPG vs. VGK ($26): This could be your last chance to use Laine this season, so don't let some bad luck in the postseason keep you from grabbing one of the league's premier scorers here. His offensive skills were on full display in Game 4 with a power-play goal on seven shots, and Laine's numbers this postseason would look much more impressive if the career 18.0 percent shooter wasn't converting at a meager 9.1 percent in the playoffs. Laine's pedestrian surface stats (five goals, seven assists in 16 games) will scare some owners off, but savvy ones know there's plenty of value to be had with this pick.
WINGS TO AVOID
James Neal, VGK at WPG ($20): Neal has scored 2.8 or fewer fantasy points in three of his last four games, so he's outclassed by both the expensive stars and cheap depth options among Vegas' forward ranks. There's no need to reach for him at $20 on the road.
T.J. Oshie, WAS vs. TB ($22): Oshie hasn't sniffed $22 worth of value of late, scoring fewer than 9.0 fantasy points in 10 of his last 12 games. Considering he only scored 18 goals and 29 assists in the regular season, there's little reason to expect Oshie to suddenly pick things up now.
DEFENSEMEN
Dmitry Orlov, WAS vs. TB ($16): Orlov has established a high floor for himself by recording multiple shots in 13 of his last 17 games and multiple blocks in 12 of those 17. He's also chipped in eight points in the last 13 games, making Orlov the clear-cut top choice on the Washington blue line for owners that don't have $25 to drop on John Carlson.
Colin Miller, VGK at WPG ($12): Miller's an incredible value at $12, as using him frees up cap space to invest in more of this slate's top players while still getting a stud on the blue line. Not only has Miller maintained a decent floor with 4.6 or more fantasy points in 10 of 14 games this postseason, but he also brings plenty of upside after leading all Vegas defensemen with 41 points and 17 power-play points during the regular season.
DEFENSEMEN TO AVOID
Dustin Byfuglien, WPG vs. VGK ($24): Byfuglien hasn't lived up to his lofty valuation recently, averaging only 6.7 fantasy points over the past six overall while topping 1.8 only once in the last four at home. Even if the Jets are able to keep their season alive here, Byfuglien's likely to provide less value than some of the team's cheaper blueliners.
Ryan McDonagh, TB at WAS ($17): McDonagh hasn't been bad in these playoffs, but his usage almost exclusively in a defensive role continues to limit the former Rangers captain's fantasy upside with Tampa Bay. He has just one assist without a goal over the past 10 games and has reached double-digit fantasy points only twice in the past 24.
