This article is part of our Yahoo DFS Hockey series.
Friday's two-game NHL slate beginning at 8:00 PM Eastern time features both conference finals matchups, including Friday's Game 1 between the Capitals and Lightning, as well as Saturday's Game 1 between the Golden Knights and Jets. While these opponents will be feeling each other out, certain players still stand out as value plays to target or options to avoid.
GOALIE
Connor Hellebuyck, WPG vs. VGK ($32): Hellebuyck was tremendous in Thursday's Game 7 win at Nashville, stopping all but one of the 37 shots he faced. Expect him to carry the momentum from that performance over into this contest in front of the raucous Winnipeg crowd. Hellebuyck's 2.36 GAA and .924 save percentage this season were second only to Marc-Andre Fleury's marks among the remaining goalies, yet he costs $5 less than both Fleury and Andrei Vasilevskiy.
GOALIE TO AVOID
Braden Holtby, WAS at TB ($30): Holtby's stepped up big time in the playoffs after an underwhelming regular season, but if any team's capable of turning him right back into a pumpkin, it's the Lightning. Tampa Bay led the league at 3.54 goals per game this season and hasn't been pushed beyond five games in the playoffs.
CENTER
Evgeny Kuznetsov, WAS at TB ($24): Kuznetsov eliminated the Penguins with his overtime goal in Game 6, but the Russian center's contributions this postseason have ranged far beyond just that play. He's got seven goals and 14 points through 12 games, including five points in his last three appearances. With fellow top-six center Nicklas Backstrom (hand) either out or likely to be limited, Kuznetsov will be given every opportunity to stay hot.
CENTER TO AVOID
William Karlsson, VGK at WPG ($25): Karlsson got hot for a three-game stretch to start the series against the Sharks, but he's been awfully quiet otherwise with just a goal and two assists over seven other appearances this postseason. With other centers in this price range performing at such a high level, it's tough to justify picking Karlsson over those guys.
WINGS
J.T. Miller, TB vs. WAS ($17): Miller's game-winning goal to eliminate the Bruins in Game 5 was his 12th goal and 25th point in 29 appearances with the Lightning between the regular season and playoffs. He's skating on a line with two of the league's best players in Nikita Kucherov and Steven Stamkos while also operating on the top power-play unit with those guys, so don't expect the former Ranger's production to slow down.
Kyle Connor, WPG vs. VGK ($18): Connor's playoff career got off to a slow start, featuring just three assists without a goal through nine games. The league's rookie leader in goals scored this season has gotten back on track over the last three contests, however, matching the assist total from his first nine games while also lighting the lamp twice. The second-cheapest member of Winnipeg's top-six forward group represents a great value at $18 given his mix of skill and opportunity.
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WINGS TO AVOID
Nikolaj Ehlers, WPG vs. VGK ($15): Ehlers is Winnipeg's cheapest top-six forward, but his lack of production this postseason makes it tough to trust him even at $15. While Ehlers did muster an assist in the Game 7 win at Nashville, he's still without a goal this postseason and has just six points, including none at home since Game 2 of the first round.
T.J. Oshie, WAS at TB ($22): Oshie's season average of 6.1 fantasy points per contest is easily lowest among all wingers that cost at least $18, with no alternatives coming in below 6.4. The veteran's been held below 4.0 fantasy points in half of his 12 games this postseason and has come up short of 3.0 five times, so there's plenty of risk associated with picking him and not much upside without a healthy Backstrom by his side on the second line.
DEFENSEMEN
Colin Miller, VGK at WPG ($13): Miller represents a terrific bargain at $13 given his offensive upside. His 41 points led all Vegas blueliners this season, and Miller was third on the entire team with 17 power-play points. Miller already has a pair of power-play goals this postseason, which bodes well for his chances of connecting against a Jets team that struggled to contain Predators point man P.K. Subban on the penalty kill in the conference semifinals.
Victor Hedman, TB vs. WAS ($25): Hedman brings a five-game point streak into this series, and he's racked up at least 8.0 fantasy points in each of the last four. Always a threat to post multiple shots and multiple blocks in addition to his contributions on the scoresheet, the 2018 Norris Trophy finalist brings a higher floor than most forwards while still matching their ceiling. Washington managed to keep offensive-minded blueliner Kris Letang off the scoresheet only once in the final five games of the conference semifinals, and Hedman's even more dangerous than Letang.
DEFENSEMEN TO AVOID
Shea Theodore, VGK at WPG ($16): Theodore's averaging 10.7 fantasy points per home game in these playoffs, but he's been a non-factor on the road with an average of just 2.2 fantasy points. Until he proves capable of contributing outside of Vegas, Theodore should be left out of lineups on the road.
Dan Girardi, TB vs. WAS ($16): Girardi plays with plenty of heart, but his three points in the Boston series will be hard to repeat for the offensively-limited defenseman. The veteran's been held off the scoresheet in eight of his last 11 games, and Girardi failed to reach even 4.0 fantasy points in any of those eight games.
