This article is part of our Yahoo DFS Hockey series.
The NHL playoffs continue Monday with a three-game NHL slate. While it's tempting to maintain the status quo if it's been working, underachieving players from the teams trailing 0-2 will be working extra hard as desperation sets in. Balancing those two factors yields the guys below as the night's top value plays.
GOALIE
Jonathan Quick, LA at SJ ($35): The Sharks played well in Games 1 and 2 in Los Angeles, but going home may actually be a curse for them. San Jose had the worst home record of any playoff team in the regular season, and is no stranger to choking away big series leads. The road back starts now for Quick and the Kings.
Goalie to Avoid:
Devan Dubnyk, MIN vs. DAL ($29): Don't try to get cute here. Dubnyk and the Wild were thoroughly dominated in Games 1 and 2, and a change of venue is unlikely to help them much.
CENTER
Jason Spezza, DAL at MIN ($26): Spezza is heating up at the perfect time, with four goals and three assists in his last five appearances. He gets lost in the shuffle due to Dallas' myriad offensive weapons, but it'd be foolish to overlook the decorated center considering his current form.
Center to Avoid:
Evgeny Kuznetsov, WAS at PHI ($19): It has been easy to overlook due to Washington's accolades as a team, but Kuznetsov hasn't scored a goal since Mar. 1. Don't conflate team success with individual upside, as the young Russian is slumping at the worst time.
WING
Tanner Pearson, LA at SJ ($13): Pearson has been returning solid value recently, chipping in 6.3 fantasy points per game in his last four. Those looking to pick up a quality forward option on the cheap need look no further than Pearson at $13 against a Sharks team known for displaying some jitters with a series lead.
Jamie Benn, DAL at MIN ($31): With 37.0 fantasy points through two games, Benn has been lighting up Minnesota thus far. He's proven to be consistently worth his high price through multiple years of top-end production, and the decimated Wild are probably as easy a matchup as can be found this time of year.
Wings to Avoid:
Nino Niederreiter, MIN vs. DAL ($15): With a grand total of 8.0 fantasy points in his last seven games, Niederreiter hasn't helped out owners much lately. Between his poor form and the plus/minus risk of facing a superior Stars team, the Swiss winger isn't an appealing option.
Justin Williams, WAS at PHI ($18): Williams has been in a prolonged rut, with only one game over 6.0 fantasy points in his last 15. That level of production is unlikely to rise against a desperate opponent on the road.
DEFENSE
Jared Spurgeon, MIN vs. DAL ($18): Spurgeon has played decently despite his team's lack of success, totalling 11.0 fantasy points through two games in this series. That's decent production from a defenseman of his price, and now he gets to go home. The Wild should be able to close the gap on the Stars a bit back in Minnesota, making Spurgeon likely to score even more fantasy points.
John Carlson, WAS at PHI ($27): With an average of 18.0 fantasy points per game over his last four appearances, Carlson has been carrying both the Capitals and DFS owners. He's playing big minutes on a team that consistently outperforms the opposition, and chips in at both ends with shots and blocks in addition to getting on the scoresheet. Carlson is the whole package, bringing an unmatched combination of safety and upside.
Defenseman to Avoid:
Radko Gudas, PHI vs. WAS ($18): Gudas' price is a steep one to pay considering how ineffective he is at the offensive end. The Czech blueliner totalled just 14 points this season, so it shouldn't come as much of a surprise that he's been kept off the scoresheet in 11 straight appearances.
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