This article is part of our Yahoo DFS Hockey series.
Are the Capitals -- gulp -- done?
Matt Murray looks like an early candidate for the Conn Smythe Trophy should the Penguins advance to the Stanley Cup Finals, and they're just one game away from eliminating the Caps after a fortuitous overtime win in Game 4. The Penguins offense has found chemistry at just the right time, and with Sidney Crosby, Evgeni Malkin and Phil Kessel deployed on three separate lines, even a very good Capitals defense has found them difficult to contain.
You hate to bring up recent history for Caps and Barry Trotz, even stretching back to his days in Nashville, but it seems like deja vu all over again. It's not like the Caps are playing poorly -- in fact, that's rarely the case -- but the bounces just aren't going their way against the Pens. By the end of Game 4, the Caps looked utterly deflated, having no clue on earth why they can't get one measly piece of rubber past Murray. Past winners of the Presidents' Trophy haven't always fared well in the playoffs, and a second-round exit could ultimately paint the Caps' season as a failure.
GOALIE
Matt Murray, PIT at WAS ($38) - Why not ride the hot streak? Not only is Murray keeping the Pens in the series, they're getting all the bounces as well. It seems as though the hockey gods are smiling down on Mike Sullivan's Pens. It's hard to see the Caps lose four straight games, especially with Game 5 at home, but sometimes there's just no answer to a hot goalie. No goalie is a sure thing Friday.
Goalie to Avoid:
Ben Bishop, TB at NYI ($36) - He was brilliant in Round 1 but has looked more and more human with each passing game in Round 2. Bishop has allowed four goals in two of the first three games of the series, and it seems as though the Islanders offense is finding all the holes in Tampa's defensive scheme, many of their goals coming from short distance. Barclays may not be the ideal home rink, but the Isles haven't lost more than two games in a row this playoffs.
CENTER
Jason Spezza, DAL vs. STL ($29) - An assist early in Game 4 gave Spezza points in consecutive games after starting Games 1 and 2 without hitting the scoresheet. In Tyler Seguin's absence, Spezza continues to be the No. 1 center when Jamie Benn plays on the wing. With Game 5 moving back to Dallas, Jack Adams nominee Lindy Ruff will have a chance to exploit the matchup game. The increasingly chippy series may feature a lot more power plays than expected as well, which will provide excellent opportunities for Spezza.
Center to Avoid:
Nicklas Backstrom, WAS vs. PIT ($21) - He has just one assist in the series. Much of that can be attributed to Murray's strong play, but at some point the Caps' big guns will have to deliver. They'll have to beat the Pens three straight times if they want to advance. Who knows how serious Sidney Crosby's hand/wrist/arm injury is, but Backstrom hasn't produced much offensively lately.
WING
Nikita Kucherov, TB at NYI ($32) - It's been a Russian parade in the playoffs; if Vladimir Tarasenko isn't setting goals on fire, it's Kucherov. Thomas Greiss has allowed 12 goals through three games in this series, and while no one is mistaking him for Billy Smith, the Islanders don't stand much of a chance if they can't count on their goaltending. It's been a weird series with missed calls and odd bounces, but for Kucherov, who has two goals in three games, they're all bouncing the right way for him.
Alexander Steen, STL at DAL ($23) - After coach Ken Hitchcock pumped Steen's tires a little bit, the versatile forward responded with two goals in Game 3, then notched an assist in Game 4 to stretch his points streak to two games. With Dallas' goaltending struggling -- to no one's surprise -- Steen has capitalized, after being held to just one goal and two assists against Chicago. Perhaps Hitchcock has taken the reins off his offense a little, because the Blues aren't having any trouble scoring goals.
Wings to Avoid:
Alex Ovechkin, WAS vs. PIT ($32) - He'll set the record for shots on goal before he sees the Caps bow out, but it's not up to him this series with Matt Murray playing out of his mind. The overtime loss in Game 4 was particularly deflating, putting the Caps one game away from elimination, especially after all the Capitals have accomplished this season. The Ovechkin era Capitals have never advanced past the second round, and neither has Barry Trotz. Just pointing that out.
Filip Forsberg, NSH at SJ ($21) - The young sniper has been largely invisible in Round 2, and despite a 4-1 win in Game 3, look very much the weaker team. Forsberg was minus-4 through the first two games of the series, prompting Peter Laviolette to make lineup changes in an effort to get his team going. Forsberg responded with a goal on the power play, but still didn't look particularly dangerous at even strength.
DEFENSE
Victor Hedman, TB at NYI ($27) - Who knows what Hedman put in his Wheaties, but after registering just one assist against Detroit, he's managed to score six points in three games against the Islanders. He's also registered 15 shots in that span, well above his usual average, and has found it easy to jump up into the play against a team that doesn't have particularly strong goaltending. Hedman looks far better than Dan Boyle ever did carrying the puck up the ice for Tampa Bay.
Kris Letang, PIT at WAS ($30) - In what should be the easiest pick of the night, the fiery French-Canadian will be looking to close out the Caps after serving a one-game suspension for his leaping hit on Marcus Johansson. The Caps have been trying to make life difficult for him all series, and no doubt Letang is relishing for an opportunity to exact revenge. The Pens defense held their own without him in the lineup, but expect Sullivan to play Letang upwards of 27 minutes in a potential series-clinching game.
Defensemen to Avoid:
Mattias Ekholm, NSH at SJ ($20) - Ekholm has the hot hand with points in four straight games, but even if they're a little more expensive, Shea Weber ($25) and Roman Josi ($26) are worth the splurge. Weber is a good candidate to lead all Predators defensemen with shots on goal, while Josi also managed to extend his point streak in Game 4.
Colton Parayko, STL at DAL ($19) - With Alex Pietrangelo ($25) and Kevin Shattenkirk ($26) taking up all the prime power-play opportunities and getting all the ice time, Parayko doesn't provide a lot of value on a night a lot of good defensemen are playing. While he's a solid two-way defenseman, he's expected to prevent goals rather than score them under Ken Hitchcock's system.
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