This article is part of our Yahoo DFS Hockey series.
Game 7 showdowns between the Blues and Stars and Predators and Sharks are the two games included in Yahoo daily contests for Wednesday.
Note the home team has won every game in the Nashville-San Jose series, which obviously yields the advantage to San Jose on Thursday. There hasn't been a home ice advantage in the other series with St. Louis winning two of three games in Dallas, however.
Here are your picks, pans and values for Wednesday and Thursday.
GOALIE
Martin Jones, SJ vs. NSH ($36): Through five home games during the playoffs, Jones has four wins with a .939 save percentage and a 1.78 GAA, and dating back to the regular season, Jones has a .921 save percentage and a 2.00 GAA through his past 20 home games. A win bonus isn't a lock for any starting goalie in the player pool, but expect Jones to limit the damage as a high-floor option in net Thursday.
Player to avoid:
Kari Lehtonen, DAL vs. STL ($32): The Dallas backstop stole Game 5 with a 35 save performance while the Stars sat back after grabbing an early lead. However, St. Louis proved capable of dominating the play, which actually bodes well for the Blues taking another possession stranglehold again in Game 7. Plus, you cannot count on Lehtonen. He's posted a sub-.900 save percentage in five of his past eight outings.
CENTER
Joe Thornton, SJ vs. NSH ($22): This is a reasonable price for Thornton. The veteran pivot has six points through his past five games, but the supporting categories have kept his price in check (plus-1 rating, seven shots and a blocked shot). Still, Thornton has three helpers with the man advantage during the series, and Nashville has a 70.8 penalty kill percentage on the road during the playoffs.
Player to avoid:
Jason Spezza, DAL vs. STL ($31): Despite his four-game point streak, Spezza has topped 10.0 Yahoo fantasy points just once in his past six games, and at his salary, that doesn't cut it. When accommodating a hefty cap hit, it is nice to see more consistent production, and Spezza has just eight shots and a plus-1 rating through six games during the series.
WING
Alexander Steen, STL at DAL ($22): The veteran has raised his game during this series and has three goals, two assists and 14 shots on net through his past five games. Additionally, Steen jumped up to center a line with Vladimir Tarasenko and Jaden Schwartz during Game 6, which bodes well for his fantasy value. Plus, he is a key cog with the No. 1 power play and has three PP tallies during that five game stretch.
Player to avoid:
Patrick Marleau, SJ vs. NSH ($20): While he's still rolling out with the No. 1 power play unit, Marleau is skating on the third line at even strength. He has also missed the scoresheet in four of six games during the series and has a minus-3 rating. He's well within risky territory at this salary.
Craig Smith, NSH at SJ ($15): The cap hit is attractive, but Smith's health is in question and he hasn't found the scoresheet in eight games. In addition, in his last time out, Smith was skating down the depth chart and away from needle-movers Ryan Johansen, Filip Forsberg, James Neal, Mike Fisher and Colin Wilson.
DEFENSE
Marc-Edouard Vlasic, SJ vs. NSH ($21): The rearguard is back to his multi-category dominance, and through the first six games of the series Vlasic has five helpers, a plus-4 rating, 15 shots and 17 blocked shots while averaging 25:16 of ice time a night. His salary isn't out of reach, and Vlasic provides a high floor.
Colton Parayko, STL at DAL ($20): The rookie defenseman hasn't registered a point since Game 1 of the series, but he remains a key offensive weapon for St. Louis and passes the eye test nightly. His supporting stats help buoy his fantasy value, too, as Parayko has 30 shots and 21 blocked shots through 13 postseason games.
Player to avoid:
Alex Goligoski, DAL vs. STL ($22): While the offensive numbers are solid (four goals and two assists through 12 games), Goligoski also boasts a minus-7 rating during the playoffs which curbs some of his upside. His 20 shots and 15 blocked shots don't leap off the page, either, and especially at this hefty cap hit.
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