This article is part of our Yahoo DFS Hockey series.
Tuesday's NHL slate begins at 7:00 PM Eastern time and features Game 7s from the Maple Leafs-Bruins and Golden Knights-Sharks series. Read on to see which players stand out as options to target and which ones are best avoided at their respective valuations in this two-game slate.
GOALIE
Tuukka Rask, BOS vs. TOR ($28): Toronto just hasn't been able to get over the hump in recent years, finding new ways to exit the first round in painful fashion. Such an outcome will once again be the case if Rask has his way, with the Bruins on the verge of eliminating their Atlantic division rivals from the postseason in seven games for the second straight season. Rask has been sharp on home ice in this series despite dropping two of three games at TD Garden, stopping 84 of 90 shots for a .933 save percentage.
GOALIE TO AVOID
Marc-Andre Fleury, VGK at SJ ($34): The Fleury that got chased out of Pittsburgh for wilting in the playoffs is poking his head out in Vegas, having allowed four goals on 28 shots in Game 5 before surrendering a pair of soft goals to waste a strong effort in front of him in Game 6. With each of the other three starting goalies coming at least $6 cheaper, it's hard to feel good about paying $34 for Fleury given his recent play.
CENTER
Tomas Hertl, SJ vs. VGK ($25): Hertl has been the driving force behind San Jose's comeback from a 3-1 series deficit, potting two goals in Game 5 and the double-overtime winner in Game 6. If the Sharks are going to complete the comeback with a Game 7 victory, expect the 35-goal, 74-point regular season performer to lead the charge once again.
CENTER TO AVOID
John Tavares, TOR at BOS ($29): Tavares was supposed to take Toronto to the next level when he signed with the team in the offseason, but he's failed to be a difference-maker in this series. Since racking up a goal and an assist in Game 1, Tavares has accumulated just two helpers and a minus-6 rating. He remains priced at $29 despite those recent struggles, meaning it takes only $4 more to grab Auston Matthews, who has five goals and an assist during an active four-game goal streak.
WINGS
Jonathan Marchessault, VGK at SJ ($19): Marchessault is a bargain as Vegas' fourth-most expensive winger. He brings a three-game goal streak and four-game point streak into this one, having flung 19 pucks on net over the last four games. Marchessault was Vegas' best forward in Game 6, and that could well be the case again in Game 7.
Patrick Marleau, TOR at BOS ($11): Marleau could be a sneaky-good value at just $1 above the minimum. He's averaging 16:14 of ice time over the past three games and has no shortage of big-game experience. The 39-year-old forward is coming off his best game of the series, with an assist over 17:06 of ice time in Game 6.
WINGS TO AVOID
Mark Stone, VGK at SJ ($26): The Sharks had no answer for Stone in this series' first four games, but they seem to have figured out a formula against him. Stone has gone invisible in the last two games, totaling one shot and a minus-4 rating without a point in nearly eight periods of play.
Brad Marchand, BOS vs. TOR ($32): If you're a believer in patterns, Marchand is due for a dud. He's averaged just 2.8 fantasy points in the odd games of this series and 24.1 in the even games.
DEFENSEMEN
Torey Krug, BOS vs. TOR ($20): Krug found a new gear with his season on the line in Game 6, lighting the lamp on one of nine shots. Boston's best offensive blueliner has four points in this series after tallying 53 in the regular season, and Krug has stepped up in his own zone as well with nine blocks in the past three games. It's better to pay the extra $3 for Krug than to settle for Zdeno Chara or Charlie McAvoy at $17.
Erik Karlsson, SJ vs. VGK ($25): Karlsson's a gifted offensive blueliner who often struggles in his own zone, so controlling his matchups with last change has been pivotal for the Sharks. He's dished out two helpers in each of San Jose's three home games for a total of six, while being held to one helper over the three games in Vegas. Luckily for Karlsson, Game 7 will be in San Jose, setting him up to maximize his strengths and limit his weaknesses.
DEFENSEMEN TO AVOID
Brent Burns, SJ vs. VGK ($28): Burns is mired in a five-game point drought since racking up a goal and assist in Game 1, and he's barely generating any chances with just four shots in the last four games. It makes more sense to save $3 and grab Karlsson over Burns, especially given the Swede's success on home ice.
Zdeno Chara, BOS vs. TOR ($17): Chara offers much less upside than Krug and even McAvoy. The hulking blueliner recorded just 14 points all regular season, and his two points in this series are Chara's only two in his last 10 games.
