This article is part of our Yahoo DFS Hockey series.
The second round of the NHL playoffs are here, which should make things easier for DFS players. Afternoon games are going to be rarer sights. In fact, the first of the two games on Sunday starts at 8:00 p.m. EDT. The second round of the playoffs also tends to mean really good teams will be playing really good defenses, which means there aren't many obvious matchups to exploit. Nevertheless, I still have recommendations for you.
GOALIE
Andrei Vasilevskiy, TAM vs. BOS ($33): Three of the four teams in action rank in the top-nine in goals per game this season. And the one who doesn't, Vegas, led the league in shots on net per contest. Vasilevskiy got over a slow start during the regular season and has posted a .927 save percentage so far in these playoffs. Of these four teams, Boston offers the worst offense in the postseason at 2.38 goals per game and there are questions surrounding David Pastrnak's health.
GOALIE TO AVOID
Jacob Markstrom, VAN at VGK ($31): Markstrom has looked good in the bubble, but only managed a 2.75 GAA and .918 save percentage during the regular season. Those aren't terrible numbers, but it's all relative at this point and that's also Markstrom's best save percentage in his career. Vegas averaged 34.5 shots on net per contest this year, while Vancouver gave up 33.3. It could be a busy day for the Swedish netminder.
CENTER
David Krejci, BOS at TAM ($19): It helps if you can find a second-line center who's worth rostering at this point in the playoffs. Krejci has been red hot with a six-game point streak, including five points with the extra man. Those all came against a Hurricanes' penalty kill ranked fourth this season, while the Lightning's PK only came in at 14th.
CENTER TO AVOID
Bo Horvat, VAN at VGK ($24): Horvat started his series well against St. Louis, but hasn't registered a point in four straight games. The Golden Knights only allowed 29.3 shots on net per contest this year, and now have Robin Lehner in goal. While he's only posted a .908 save percentage in the playoffs, he managed a .920 save percentage during the regular season mainly while getting bombarded by shots in Chicago.
WING
J.T. Miller, VAN at VGK ($24): Call this hedging my bets on Lehner and his bubble .908 save percentage, but it's mostly about Miller's performance. And there's the fact he's on Vancouver's top line with Elias Pettersson and Brock Boeser. Miller also averaged 3:52 per game with the extra man this year while tallying 25 power-play points. Vegas established the 27th-ranked penalty kill this season. A lot of that was pre-Lehner, but it's still a concern.
Alex Tuch, VGK vs. VAN ($17): Tuch wasn't playing at the end of the regular season due to injury, but he's notched four goals and an assist over his last eight games. He also started 60.1 percent of his shifts in the offensive zone this year, highest on the Golden Knights. The Canucks produced a 3.10 team GAA this year, which is notable even with Markstrom's mark of 2.75.
WINGS TO AVOID
David Pastrnak, BOS at TAM ($32): Pastrnak looked just fine in his return to action in Game 5 against the Hurricanes and picked up two assists. However, he did miss three games before that. Given Pastrnak's lofty salary, that's enough to give me pause especially at this point in the playoffs when every little thing matters. I mentioned Vasilevskiy getting off to a slow start, but he still ended up with a .917 save percentage. And in 2020, he's posted a .929 save percentage over 32 games.
Alex Killorn, TAM vs. BOS ($13): Killorn scored 26 goals this year, but with a 20.0 shooting percentage. That's not a sustainable level for him, although his playoff shooting percentage currently sits at 18.2. The problem? Killorn has only put 11 shots on goal in eight games, and zero in his last two. You can't score if you don't shoot. That's just math.
DEFENSE
Shea Theodore, VGK vs. VAN ($24): I mentioned the Canucks gave up 33.3 shots on net per contest. Theodore was frequently shooting the puck with 219 on net in 71 regular-season games and 31 more this postseason. That much offensive impact is huge from any defenseman, especially when those shots go in.
Victor Hedman, TAM vs. BOS ($21): Hedman was his usually self this season, racking up 11 goals and 55 points in 66 games. The round robin didn't go great for him especially when he got hurt against the Flyers, but did manage two points and 22 shots against the Blue Jackets. The Bruins may have posted the league's best GAA this year, but Tuukka Rask has left the bubble. Jaroslav Halak is still pretty good, but a .919 save percentage isn't as daunting as Rask's .929.
DEFENSE TO AVOID
Torey Krug, BOS at TAM ($19): Krug did well before the league paused, but hasn't recovered with only three points in the playoffs - all assists. On top of that, the power-play maven only notched one of those points with the extra man. If he's not clicking on the power play, the value just isn't there for Krug.
Mikhail Sergachev, TAM vs. BOS ($16): Sergachev scored 10 goals this year and is often a decent value play, but I don't see it right now. He's basically offered one productive day in the bubble, and that was when the Lightning and Blue Jackets went five overtimes. It's easier to rack up shots and blocks when you're getting to play almost 50 minutes. Over half of the Sergachev's points came on the power play, and the Bruins roll out the third-ranked penalty kill. Even with Halak in net instead of Rask, that's concerning.
