This article is part of our Yahoo DFS Hockey series.
Saturday's NHL slate begins with Blues-Sharks Game 1 at 8 p.m. EDT and also features Sunday's Game 2 between the Hurricanes and Bruins. Read on to see which players stand out as options to target and which ones are best avoided in this pair of conference finals matchups.
GOALIE
Tuukka Rask, BOS vs. CAR ($30): Rask is the most reliable of the four remaining starting goaltenders and is in the midst of a fantastic postseason that's featured a 2.02 GAA and .938 save percentage. There's little reason to look elsewhere ahead of this Game 2 at home.
GOALIE TO AVOID
Jordan Binnington, STL at SJ ($32): Binnington is the most expensive goaltender left and also has the toughest matchup, facing a Sharks team that averaged 3.61 goals per game on home ice this season. That's not a good combination for a rookie who has naturally thrown in the odd clunker during this playoff run, allowing three-plus goals five times and as many as six in a game.
CENTER
Charlie Coyle, BOS vs. CAR ($16): Coyle continues to be Boston's best source of secondary scoring. He potted his sixth goal of the playoffs in Game 1, raising his point total to nine in 14 contests this postseason. Despite all this success, he can still be had for just $16.
CENTER TO AVOID
Ryan O'Reilly, STL at SJ ($23): O'Reilly has been just OK this postseason, totaling two goals, seven assists and a minus-5 rating in 13 games. With only 19 shots in his last 10 games, O'Reilly isn't generating enough chances to expect an increase in scoring.
WINGS
Robert Thomas, STL at SJ ($13): Thomas was outstanding with two assists in Game 7 against Dallas, and the rookie now has four points and a plus-5 rating in his last five games. He's a nice under-the-radar play on a Blues team that's gotten to this point thanks to depth more so than the play of its top forwards.
Joe Pavelski, SJ vs. STL ($20): Pavelski provided more than just an emotional boost in his return to the lineup for Game 7 of the conference semifinals, recording a pivotal goal and an assist in the 3-2 win over the Avalanche. San Jose's captain should cause trouble for the Blues with his net-front presence, and his 38-goal regular season suggests Pavelski is always a threat to light the lamp.
WINGS TO AVOID
David Pastrnak, BOS vs. CAR ($31): Pastrnak has been nearly invisible in his last two games, skating 16:25 or less in each while totaling three shots without a point. Until he shows signs of turning things around, Pasta is best avoided at his $31 valuation.
Evander Kane, SJ vs. STL ($20): Kane's assist in Game 7 ended a four-game point drought, but he still has just seven points and a minus-4 rating in 14 games this postseason. There's little reason to pick him over similarly priced Sharks wingers like Pavelski and Timo Meier ($19).
DEFENSEMEN
Alex Pietrangelo, STL at SJ ($19): Pietrangelo has been a set-and-forget option all postseason, cementing his spot amongst the game's top blueliners with outstanding two-way play. In addition to his 11 points in 13 games, Pietrangelo's averaging over three shots and just shy of two blocks per game.
Brett Pesce, CAR at BOS ($17): Pesce has six assists in his last seven games, and he's added a plus-8 rating in that stretch as well. While a lack of power-play time dulls Pesce's upside a bit, his plus-35 rating from the regular season suggests he'll continue to be a two-way stud at even strength.
DEFENSEMEN TO AVOID
Erik Karlsson, SJ vs. STL ($25): Karlsson took a clear back seat to Brent Burns in the conference semifinals, mustering three helpers and a minus-2 rating without a goal compared to Burns' four goals, six assists and plus-3 rating over those seven games. Considering Burns is also a superior source of shots and blocks, he's well worth paying an extra $4 for.
Justin Faulk, CAR at BOS ($18): Faulk beat up on the Islanders in the second round sweep, but he's struggled against superior competition. In eight games against the Capitals and Bruins, Faulk has managed only three assists and a minus-1 rating. He's also not a significant source of blocks compared to most blueliners, so Faulk's value is limited at the moment.
