This article is part of our Yahoo DFS Hockey series.
Game 7 between the Wild and Golden Knights in Vegas is the only matchup in the NHL on Friday and Yahoo has a single-game contest where you're not position-restricted and can select five players while staying under a $115 salary cap. It's worth noting that the cap is easy to slide under, so it's probably going to be more about sneaking in the right low- t0 mid-salary skater because you can fit almost any combination of players into lineups.
Vegas is a sizable favorite on home ice and went 21-5-2 at home during the regular season, but the Golden Knights have also lost two of three at T-Mobile Arena during this series. It's also worth noting that there has been an average of just 3.67 goals per contest through the first six games of the series.
Here are a handful of picks and pans from Friday's player pool.
All statistics from Natural Stat Trick and Hockey Reference.
Picks
Marc-Andre Fleury, VGK vs. MIN ($34) and Cam Talbot, MIN at VGK ($30): You can easily fit both goaltenders under the salary cap and still almost load up any combination of skaters to fill out your lineup, so considering the low-scoring nature of the series and how well both netminders have played, it's foolish to leave the easiest fantasy points in the contest on the sidelines. After all, points for saves add up the fastest. Fleury boasts a .935 save percentage and 1.66 GAA, and Talbot sports .937 and 2.01 marks.
Shea Theodore, VGK vs. MIN ($23): It's difficult to be as productive as Theodore has been over the past two years (1.9 points per 60 minutes), and then go 11 consecutive contests without finding the scoresheet. Even worse, he's posted a minus-4 rating over the past two games. Still, the power-play quarterback on the No. 1 unit has attempted a team-high 50 shots during the series, and there's no better time for statistical correction to kick in than Game 7.
Jonathan Marchessault, VGK vs. MIN ($21): With a single goal on 23 shots and 43 attempts for a 4.3 shooting percentage, Marchessault is another candidate for positive scoring regression. After all, he's posted 9.6 mark over the past four regular seasons. Additionally, he's locked into a go-to role and skates with the No. 1 power-play unit.
Kevin Fiala, MIN at VGK ($18): A big reason the Wild are alive to play a Game 7 is Fiala's two-point showing in Game 6. He had been held off the scoresheet through the first six meetings of the series, but the streaky scorer is affordable, a high-volume shooter and recorded 12 tallies and 10 helpers through his nine multi-point showings in the regular season. He has contest winning upside.
Pans
Max Pacioretty, VGK vs. MIN ($34): A game-time decision Friday, Pacioretty hasn't played since May 1 because of an undisclosed injury. If he returns to the lineup Saturday, it's probably best to take a wait-and-see approach considering his high salary.
Kirill Kaprizov, MIN at VGK ($25): The rookie's playoff production probably doesn't warrant this salary. Kaprizov has been held to just a single goal and assist with only nine shots through the first six contests. He's also only generated two high-danger scoring chances all series.
Alex Pietrangelo, VGK vs. MIN ($21): The first-year Golden Knight has been solid but unspectacular through six games against Minnesota with two assists, 23 shots and 12 blocks. It's a nice fantasy floor to target, but in a single-game contest, chasing ceilings shouldn't be overlooked, either.
