This article is part of our Yahoo DFS Hockey series.
There are four Game 4s to enjoy Wednesday. Washington will look to clinch its berth in the second round, whereas the other three bouts will determine whether a series is tied or whether the Islanders, Stars and/or Sharks have grabbed a 3-1 stranglehold.
Here are your picks, pans and values for the slate.
GOALIE
Braden Holtby, WSH at PHI ($42): Rarely is it wise the sink so much salary into a single player, but Holtby has turned away 91 of 93 shots during the series and isn't significantly more expensive than the other options in goal. Washington also boasts the largest chalk of the night in the biggest mismatch. There is no need to get cute because of the savings available in the skater pool, either.
Player to avoid:
Thomas Greiss, NYI vs. FLA ($33): Through his past 15 games, Greiss has a mediocre .915 save percentage, 2.75 goals-against average and seven wins. And while he is 5-1 at home during the span, Greiss has also allowed nine goals through three games during the series against Florida. This game also has the potential to turn into a track meet and be high scoring.
CENTER
Aleksander Barkov, FLA at NYI ($24): The budding superstar has a goal and a helper through the past two games, but it is his playoff-leading 19 shots on net that are perhaps most attractive, especially since Florida has only played three games. Barkov is poised to explode for a multi-point outburst, and playing with two wingers boasting opportunistic vision and plus playmaking ability helps his chances.
Player to avoid:
Jeff Carter, LA at SJ ($24): With a single goal through the first three games of the series and Yahoo returns of 3.0, 7.0 and 5.0 points, Carter has underwhelmed to start the playoffs. Given the tight-checking, hard-fought nature of the series, there doesn't project to be a sudden uptick in offense, either. There are wiser investments Wednesday.
WING
Patrick Sharp, DAL at MIN ($19): As the series has progressed, so has Sharp's production. He fired seven shots on net and scored twice in Game 3, and he aced the eye test with his speed and jump. At this cap hit, it is all upside given his usage in all the top offensive opportunities.
Andre Burakovsky, WSH at PHI ($12): Without a point or shot on net through the first three games of the series, Burakovsky is an excellent minimum-priced target Wednesday. Despite Philadelphia's playoff-best 56.5 CorsiFor percentage at five-on-five, Burakovsky has a 51.4 mark, and offensive players with strong possession numbers don't stay down long. This is a ripe buy-low spot.
Player to avoid:
Alex Ovechkin, WSH at PHI ($34): It will be close to impossible to roster both Ovechkin and Holtby, so going with the goaltender and the likely higher floor is advised. After being burnt by an Ovechkin hat trick in Game 3, expect Philadelphia to key on No. 8 and go with the "make-someone-else-beat-us" approach, especially when the Flyers are shorthanded.
DEFENSE
Drew Doughty, LA at SJ ($22): Look for Doughty to hit the scoresheet for the first time in the series Wednesday. His plus/minus has been an issue and capped his upside, but he played even hockey in Game 3 with two shots and five blocked shots. His cap hit is manageable, and he plays roughly half the game. Remember, entering the 2016 postseason, Doughty had 50 points through 76 playoff games.
Mike Matheson, FLA at NYI ($12): A sneaky source of cap relief, Matheson jumped to 17:22 of ice time in Game 3 after playing 13:28 in Game 2. He posted a plus-1 rating in each outing with a helper, a shot on net and three blocked shots. The ceiling might not be too high, but it won't take much to return value at minimum price.
Player to avoid:
Ryan Suter, MIN vs. DAL ($19): Be wary of Suter given his task of shutting down the top line from Dallas. He has failed to find the scoresheet through the first three games, and seeing this series head back to Dallas with Minnesota trailing 3-1 is extremely likely. There are also defensemen with more upside in Suter's price range.
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