This article is part of our Yahoo DFS Hockey series.
The weekend NHL slate consists of Game 4 of the Western Conference finals and Game 5 of the Eastern Conference finals. All four teams involved have proven capable of winning, but certain players are still in a better position to provide value than others.
GOALIE
Martin Jones, SJ vs. STL ($37): It would be foolish to overlook Jones based on his success over the last two games. He has shut the Blues out in back-to-back contests, yet can still be had for a price within $2 of every other team's top-priced netminder. Until the Blues prove capable of breaking this trend, there's no excuse for leaving Jones out of your lineup.
Goalie to Avoid:
Matt Murray, PIT vs. TB ($36): Murray has allowed 11 goals in four games while failing to make more than 26 saves in an individual contest during this series. His upside is too low to justify swallowing the downside of another outburst by Tampa Bay's dangerous offense.
CENTER
Evgeni Malkin, PIT vs. TB ($24): Malkin's price has dropped due to some early-series struggles, but that just makes him a better value play now that he's found his offense again. The Russian sniper has recorded points in back-to-back contests, and his nine shots on goal in that span indicate that his offensive mojo has returned. He's as dangerous as anyone when he's hot, and Malkin seems to be returning to that state. Get him before he experiences a corresponding increase in price.
Center to Avoid:
Robby Fabbri, STL at SJ ($20): Fabbri has come crashing back down to earth after a hot stretch earlier this postseason, totalling -4.0 fantasy points and a minus-3 rating over the last three games. With the Blues' offense as a whole struggling, trusting the rookie at this pivotal time might not be the most prudent decision.
WING
Nikita Kucherov, TB at PIT ($28): Kucherov proved over the last two games that his offensive capabilities aren't limited to just scoring goals, as he picked up four assists to bring his total to seven to go along with nine goals through 14 playoff contests. Nobody has been able to contain the talented Russian, and a Pittsburgh defense not known for its shutdown capabilities is unlikely to keep him without a goal all series.
Ondrej Palat, TB at PIT ($19): Palat has taken his game to a new level in this series, with two goals and three assists in four games. His price has remained in the teens despite the increased production, making the winger a consistently good value play. That doesn't look to be changing any time soon.
Wings to Avoid:
Carl Hagelin, PIT vs. TB ($23): Hagelin's offensive history suggests he's overpriced at $23. The speedy winger is having a pretty strong postseason with 11 points in 15 games, but the fact that he has never topped 17 goals or 38 points in an NHL season suggests his production is likely to taper off soon.
Jaden Schwartz, STL at SJ ($21): Schwartz's goalless drought has hit 12 games now, and it doesn't seem like an end is in sight. The Blues have been shut out in back-to-back games, and they have a lot of likelier candidates to score if they do finally break through.
DEFENSE
Alex Pietrangelo, STL at SJ ($20): Pietrangelo had been underwhelming offensively, but his defensive ability makes him valuable even when the Blues struggle to score as they have recently. The blueliner has topped five blocked shots twice in the last four games, and he's bound to start contributing on the other end eventually based on his 37-point regular season. With the major ice time he gets, Pietrangelo has been unlucky not to have a greater offensive presence up to this point.
Victor Hedman, TB at PIT ($26): Hedman's price is actually very reasonable considering how productive the Lightning blueliner has been all postseason. His 13 points and plus-6 rating through 14 games have allowed him to consistently provide strong value, and that's unlikely to change at this stage. Keep rolling with Hedman, as he has been more than worth it up to this point.
Defenseman to Avoid:
Kevin Shattenkirk, STL at SJ ($23): Shattenkirk has hit a cold spell, failing to reach double-digit fantasy points in any of his last eight games. His value is tied greatly to the Blues' offensive production, and that has evaporated against the red-hot Martin Jones.
