This article is part of our Yahoo DFS Hockey series.
Thursday's Western Conference finals Game 3 and Friday's Eastern Conference finals Game 4 make up Yahoo's next two-game NHL slate. You should be well-acquainted with all the remaining options by now, but picking which combination to use is still challenging. Choosing the players below should make life much easier, as they are the top available choices from a value perspective.
GOALIE
Brian Elliott, STL at SJ ($37) - Despite stopping 55 of 59 Sharks shots to earn a split in St. Louis, Elliott can still be had for a reasonable $37. San Jose had the worst regular-season home record of any playoff team, so the veteran netminder will have a prime opportunity to steal one back on the road in Game 3. He has been resilient all postseason; expect a strong effort out of Elliott after a less-than-ideal Game 2.
Goalie to Avoid:
Matt Murray, PIT at TB ($36) - Murray has been called upon to make just 62 saves through three games this series. His low volume means the young goaltender will provide almost no value should the Lightning figure out a way to defend their home ice in Game 4.
CENTER
Logan Couture, SJ vs. STL ($29) - While St. Louis sports superior depth, San Jose has gotten to this point thanks to superb production from its top-end players. That includes seven goals and 12 assists from Couture, who leads all playoff scorers with 19 points in 14 games after a pair of helpers in Game 2. Getting the most productive player on the board for $2 less than the top center price is about as good a deal as you could hope for at this point.
Center to Avoid:
Tyler Johnson, TB vs. PIT ($27) - Even though he was hot coming into this series, Johnson has just one point through three games against the Penguins. That production is far from worthy of a $27 investment.
WING
Ondrej Palat, TB vs. PIT ($19) - Half of Palat's postseason production has come against the Penguins, as he has been the most effective Lightning forward with two goals and two assists through three games. He's still just the fourth-priciest winger on his own team despite this recent increase in effectiveness, making him a strong value play at home in Game 4.
Carl Hagelin, PIT at TB ($20) - Hagelin has benefitted tremendously from skating on a line with Nick Bonino and the streaking Phil Kessel, picking up five points and a plus-5 rating over the last four games due in large part to Kessel's productivity alongside him. Drafting the speedy Swede grants you access to this extremely dangerous line without having to pay top dollar, and it's tough to justify leaving him out based on his productivity since the clincher against Washington.
Wings to Avoid:
Jaden Schwartz, STL at SJ ($21) - Schwartz's ill-timed goalless drought now sits at 11 games. It's tough to provide value at the wing position without lighting the lamp, and hoping he finally bucks the trend is looking like a more and more futile strategy with every passing game.
Patric Hornqvist, PIT at TB ($23) - Hornqvist has disappointed more often than not lately, totaling just five points in his last 13 games. Additionally, the Swede could be at less than 100 percent for Game 4 after blocking a shot off his wrist late in Wednesday's contest.
DEFENSE
Anton Stralman, TB vs. PIT ($21) - Stralman didn't missed a beat in his first action since March 25, scoring on a backhander in Game 2 before finishing as one of three Lightning blueliners with at least 19 minutes of ice time in Game 3. The veteran defenseman should only keep improving as he acclimates to his pre-injury role, so get him now before continued increases in opportunities lead to a price hike.
Brent Burns, SJ vs. STL ($34) - Burns has stepped up in the postseason, leading all blueliners with 18 points in 14 games. While he doesn't come cheap, the bearded defenseman has consistently lived up to his price regardless of the competition. He has played more than 24 minutes in both games this series, and should continue to get on the board in his extended time on the ice.
Defenseman to Avoid:
Alex Pietrangelo, STL at SJ ($22) - Pietrangelo has been a ghost in this series, totaling 0.0 fantasy points in Games 1 and 2. If he couldn't make an impact in St. Louis, it's ambitious to expect a sudden rise in effectiveness in Game 3 on the road.
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