This article is part of our Yahoo DFS Hockey series.
The NHL season concludes Sunday with a five-game evening slate. Many playoff-bound teams will likely rest starters, which is important to keep in mind when making lineup selections. These players should still find success regardless of who dresses around them.
GOALIE
Laurent Brossoit, EDM vs. VAN ($34): Brossoit may not be a household name, but his play this season makes the 24-year-old netminder well worth $34 against a Canucks team that has scored the second fewest goals per game in the league. As low as Vancouver's 2.18 average is, Brossoit has been even better with a 1.99 GAA and .934 save percentage in seven appearances. Another strong outing is likely with Edmonton still jostling for playoff positioning down the stretch.
Goalie to Avoid
Richard Bachman, VAN at EDM ($31): Bachman's 2.04 GAA in four appearances is encouraging, but he doesn't benefit from a good matchup like Brossoit does. The risk of facing an Oilers team that has scored 2.94 goals per game outweighs the upside of his small-sample success.
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CENTER
Leon Draisaitl, EDM vs. VAN ($23): Draisaitl isn't Connor McDavid, but he offers comparable production at a fraction of the cost. He's still available for $23 despite registering five goals and 14 assists in the past 12 games to raise his season total to 75 points. Adding to those totals shouldn't be difficult against a Canucks team that has allowed 2.91 goals per game.
Center to Avoid
Sidney Crosby, PIT at NYR ($35): The uncertainty around whether Crosby suits up at all and how much he plays if he does should be enough to convince owners not to spend $35 on him. Even if he's given his full complement of minutes, Crosby's far from guaranteed to score against one of the league's top backups in Antti Raanta (16-8-2 with a 2.26 GAA and .922 save percentage).
WING
Jakob Silfverberg, ANH vs. LA ($15): Silfverberg's average of 7.0 fantasy points per game is tops among all players under $23, yet he can be had for just $15. The Swede is showing no signs of slowing down, either, with four goals and four assists in his past 10 games, skating over 19 minutes in five of them. Just make sure the playoff-bound Ducks are dressing a serviceable lineup around him before deploying Silfverberg.
Thomas Vanek, FLA at WAS ($12): Vanek's scoring rate has defied his minimum price valuation. His 17 goals and 47 points have the veteran winger in the midst of his 12th consecutive season above the 40-point mark, and Vanek's top-six role for the Panthers puts him in position to add to those totals in the season finale. This matchup seems like a deterrent, but Washington will likely dress far from its most potent lineup with plenty of regulars sitting.
Wings to Avoid
Alex Ovechkin, WAS at PIT ($35): The reasoning for this one is similar to that behind benching Crosby. Even if Ovechkin doesn't spend the season finale on the bench, his exorbitant price hasn't really been justified considering he doesn't rank in the top 10 in goals or points.
Wayne Simmonds, PHI vs. CAR ($23): Simmonds is largely a one-trick pony, with 16 of his 30 goals coming on the power play and a minus-19 rating weighing down his value. Carolina has killed off 84.3 percent of penalties, suggesting Simmonds will be denied the power-play production that has propped him up all season.
DEFENSE
Justin Faulk, CAR at PHI ($19): Faulk's 17 goals are tied for second among all NHL defensemen, but he's still available for just $19. This matchup with a Flyers team that has allowed 2.81 goals per game presents a terrific opportunity for him to break that tie in the season finale. With many other teams' top players potentially resting or playing restricted minutes, Faulk's tantalizing upside and affordability makes him hard to resist.
Dmitry Orlov, WAS vs. FLA ($14): Orlov has been getting more playing time of late, having skated over 20 minutes in five straight. The Russian blueliner has flashed plenty of two-way ability with 33 points and a plus-31 rating, while this recent increase in role makes him even more of a steal at just $2 above the minimum. Facing one of just eight NHL teams with fewer points than games played further solidifies Orlov's case.
Defensemen to Avoid
Shayne Gostisbehere, PHI vs. CAR ($17): Carolina's sixth-ranked penalty kill should also spell trouble for Gostisbehere, who has just 15 points away from the man advantage and a minus-21 rating. He has perked up a bit of late, but still carries too much downside to be trusted in this matchup.
Jake Muzzin, LA at ANH ($17): Muzzin's underwhelming season will come to a merciful conclusion here, but not before what is likely to be another unremarkable performance. He has played under his season ice time average of 22:17 in four consecutive contests, and has just 7.0 total fantasy points over that stretch. Don't expect any improvement against a Ducks team that's allowing just 2.40 goals per game.
