This article is part of our Yahoo DFS Hockey series.
The NHL playoffs begin this weekend. In fact, some teams are already done with their regular seasons. Right now, it's about the NHL playing catch-up, especially with the Canadian teams, en route to the postseason. Tuesday there are only two games taking place. Your DFS options will be quite limited. However, I have some recommendations for you nevertheless.
GOALIE
Connor Hellebuyck, WPG vs. VAN ($32): Hellebuyck has been given a couple days off to rest, and Laurent Brossoit got the start against these same Canucks on Monday. That means the American netminder with a 2.66 GAA and .914 save percentage will likely be in net Tuesday. Getting to host the Canucks, who are in the bottom 10 in goals and shots on net per game, makes this a nice matchup to tune Hellebuyck up for the playoffs.
GOALIE TO AVOID
Jeremy Swayman, BOS at WAS ($33): Swayman has effectively taken over as the backup goalie for the Bruins, and given that he has a .946 save percentage, that makes sense. However, the Bruins will be on the road for the second leg of a back-to-back, while the Capitals did not play Tuesday. Washington is banged up, but it has scored 3.38 goals per game, so depending on who is on hand this could be a tough situation for Swayman.
CENTER
David Krejci, BOS at WAS ($20): Taylor Hall really benefited from being traded to the Bruins from the Sabres, but Krejci has benefited just as much. Over his last 16 games he's tallied 21 points. Ilya Samsonov is currently in COVID-19 protocols, which likely means Vitek Vanecek getting the start in this one. Though the Bruins are on the second leg of a back-to-back, I am not concerned about Vanecek's .907 save percentage.
CENTER TO AVOID
Bo Horvat, VAN at WPG ($17): Horvat scored two goals in Vancouver's first game back from its pause, but that was a while ago now. He just scored his first goal in 12 games Monday night. Hellebuyck's numbers are a little down this year, but he has a career .916 save percentage and had a .922 save percentage last season. Horvat's struggles could continue Tuesday.
WING
Blake Wheeler, WPG vs. VAN ($18): Wheeler has started 61.2 percent of his shifts in the offensive zone, most on the Jets. After returning from an injury absence, he's tallied eight points in eight games, giving him 40 points in 48 outings. The Canucks have a 3.26 GAA and have given up 33.4 shots on goal per game. Both Thatcher Demko and Braden Holtby have GAAs over 3.00 since the Canucks returned to action as well.
Paul Stastny, WPG vs. VAN ($13): I like the Jets' matchup the best of any team Tuesday – remember there are only four – so why not double down? Wheeler has a higher salary, but there's good value in Stastny. He's now a veteran third liner type, but he's averaged 2:57 per game with the extra man and has eight power-play points. Vancouver's penalty kill is just above the bottom five, but on the road for the second leg of a back-to-back I definitely don't fear the unit.
WINGS TO AVOID
Brock Boeser, VAN at WPG ($19): Boeser's shooting percentage rebounded this season, which is why he has hit the 20-goal threshold again after falling short last season. Still, he's on the road for the second game of a back-to-back. Hellebuyck's 2.66 GAA is good, if not great, but we know how good he can be at his peak. The Jets' goalie should be well rested, but Boeser won't be.
Nick Ritchie, BOS at WAS ($14): Ritchie isn't one of the big names on the Bruins, so you might not know that he's averaged 2:50 per game with the extra man. In fact, he has nine power-play points. However, all that success came early. Ritchie hasn't notched a power-play point in 39 games, and the Capitals do have a top-five penalty kill.
DEFENSE
Josh Morrissey, WPG vs. VAN ($16): Morrissey is a solid secondary scoring option off the blue line, as he's tallied 21 points in 54 games, including nine with the extra man. He's also put 113 shots on goal, and as I noted the Canucks have given up 33.4 shots on net per contest. Morrissey is on the ice for over 23 minutes a night on average, so he will have a lot of opportunities against the Canucks' struggling defense.
Justin Schultz, WAS vs. BOS ($16): Schultz has started 58.8 percent of his shifts in the offensive zone, most among Washington defensemen. Additionally, with John Carlson banged up, Schultz could have an even bigger role than usual in this matchup. The 30-year-old has 26 points in 45 games, and though the Bruins have strong goaltending they are on the road for the second leg of a back-to-back. Combine that with Schultz likely getting some of Carlson's opportunities and I feel like he's worth a shot.
DEFENSEMEN TO AVOID
Charlie McAvoy, BOS at WAS ($17): McAvoy is an effective defenseman, but he's not a prolific shooter. He has 92 shots on net in 51 games. Even if Vanecek is in net for the Capitals, the team has only allowed 28.9 shots on net per contest, and they do have a top-five penalty kill. Plus, again, the Bruins are playing an away game on the second night of a back-to-back, and the Caps are rested.
Quinn Hughes, VAN at WPG ($15): Hughes does a lot of his damage on the power play. However, over his last 20 games he only has four points with the extra man, which is low for him. Again, the Canucks are on the road for the second game of a back-to-back and will likely face Hellebuyck in net. With only four teams in action, that's significant.
