This article is part of our Yahoo DFS Hockey series.
The first round of the NHL playoffs were progressing pretty steadily. Some teams would play one day, then the rest would play the next day, and back and forth we'd go. Then, on Monday the Jets and Oilers skated in the first back-to-back of this postseason as the North division plays catch-up on the rest of the league. Now, we are getting the second one Tuesday, with the Maple Leafs and Canadiens playing their Game 4. Also, the Hurricanes and Predators are in action as well. Those are the only two games taking place. Here are my DFS recommendations.
GOALIE
Alex Nedeljkovic, CAR vs. NAS ($27): I don't want to go with either goalie in the Toronto-Montreal game, as they will be on the second night of a back-to-back. Yes, Nedeljkovic has allowed nine goals over his last two games, but both went into double overtime. In this series "Ned" has a 2.13 GAA and .928 save percentage, and during the regular season he had a 1.90 GAA and .932 save percentage. Perhaps returning home will help the Hurricanes, and their goalie as well.
GOALIE TO AVOID
Jack Campbell, TOR at MON ($31): During the regular season, we could expect different goalies in net Tuesday than on Monday. In the playoffs, though, that tends not to be the case. That doesn't make being on the road for the second game of a back-to-back any easier. I don't know if I want either goalie from this game given the circumstances, and since Campbell had a 2.15 GAA and .921 save percentage this year you might be more inclined to take a risk on him. I'm not feeling that.
CENTER
Vincent Trocheck, CAR vs. NAS ($23): Trocheck's first full year with the Hurricanes went quite well, as he had 43 points in 47 games. This included 18 power-play points. The Predators had the 29th-ranked penalty kill, so I wouldn't be surprised to see Trocheck extend his goal streak to three games.
CENTER TO AVOID
Nick Suzuki, MON vs. TOR ($19): Nashville's weakest position is center, so you probably weren't looking there to begin with. As for Toronto, there's no reason to shy away from Auston Matthews. That leaves the Canadiens, and Suzuki was their best center this season. The Maple Leafs only allowed 27.8 shots on net per contest, top five in the NHL, so Suzuki could be kept in check on the second leg of a back-to-back.
WING
Andrei Svechnikov, CAR vs. NAS ($23): Svechnikov has been extremely active offensively in this series. In addition to notching three points, he's put 23 shots on goal through four games. The Russian also had 17 power-play points this year after having 20 last season. As I mentioned earlier, the Predators had the 29th-ranked penalty kill this year.
Zach Hyman, TOR at MON ($23): Hyman returned to the Toronto lineup for the playoffs and was immediately placed back on the top line with Auston Matthews and Mitch Marner. That's a great place to be. It helped Hyman notch 33 points in 43 games, and here in the playoffs he's gotten more power-play time as well. Meanwhile, Carey Price had a .901 save percentage this season.
WINGS TO AVOID
Filip Forsberg, NAS at CAR ($21): The Swede's shooting fell to 9.3 percent this season, the lowest of his career. It probably didn't help that his long-time linemates Ryan Johansen and Viktor Arvidsson both struggled as well, and Arvidsson is banged up right now. However, Forsberg did notch 13 of his 32 points on the power play. That may not matter in this matchup though, as the Hurricanes had the third-ranked penalty kill.
Teuvo Teravainen, CAR vs. NAS ($21): Teravainen dealt with injuries that limited him to 21 games this season. While he did tally 15 points in that time, only two of them came on the power play. The Finn lost the role he had on the power play in past seasons, and he has not notched a point with the extra man in the 12 games he's played since returning from injury. While the Predators had a poor penalty kill, Juuse Saros still had a 2.28 GAA and .927 save percentage. If Teravainen isn't on the power play, his upside is limited.
DEFENSE
Dougie Hamilton, CAR vs. NAS ($27): Unlike Teravainen, Hamilton is likely to take advantage of Nashville's penalty-kill problems. Hamilton had 18 power-play points in 55 games. He's also one of the most prolific shooters from the blue line. Hamilton notched 180 shots on net this season, which was the most of any defensemen. In this series, he's added 23 more shots on goal.
Jeff Petry, MON vs. TOR ($19): For the fourth season in a row, Petry had at least 40 points. This year, he did it in only 55 games. He was also hot coming into the playoffs, as he notched 10 points in his final nine regular-season contests. Petry is usually reliable, and the Canadiens are at home for this second night of a back-to-back. With only four teams in action, I'm willing to bet on his talent.
DEFENSEMEN TO AVOID
Mattias Ekholm, NAS at CAR ($17): Ekholm has three points over his last two games, but I don't expect that to continue. He only had 23 points this season, and only two with the extra man. Also, the Swede only has one goal over his last 30 games. While Nedeljkovic has not looked great in his last two games, posting a .907 save percentage in each, he had a 1.90 GAA and .932 save percentage in the regular season.
Brett Pesce, CAR vs. NAS ($17): Pesce had 25 points this season, but the most he's ever had in a season is 29. He's much more of a complementary piece on defense, and he doesn't play on the power play at all. Pesce averaged 51 seconds per game on the extra man during the regular season, but over his last 11 games that's down to a mere two seconds. As I mentioned earlier, Saros had a .927 save percentage this season.
