This article is part of our Yahoo DFS Hockey series.
Tuesday's NHL slate begins at 8:00 PM Eastern time with Game 7 of the Stars-Blues series, and it also includes Wednesday's Game 7 between the Avalanche and Sharks. Read on to see which players stand out as options to target and which ones are best avoided as the conference semifinals wrap up.
GOALIE
Martin Jones, SJ vs. COL ($23): Jones has had a strong series, allowing just 10 goals in the first five games before Monday's 4-3 Game 6 loss. Despite his recent form, Jones can still be had for just $23 in this pivotal home matchup while the other three starting goalies each cost at least $32.
GOALIE TO AVOID
Ben Bishop, DAL at STL ($38): While Jones is the cheapest of the starting goalies, Bishop is the most expensive at $38. That high valuation comes despite a minus-2.4 fantasy point Game 6 clunker and the fact that Dallas will be on the road for this deciding contest.
CENTER
Logan Couture, SJ vs. COL ($23): Couture leads all scorers in the playoffs with nine goals and 14 points in 13 games. Still priced below four other centers in this slate despite all that success, Couture is a strong value play at $23.
CENTER TO AVOID
Ryan O'Reilly, STL vs. DAL ($24): O'Reilly hasn't played up to his lofty standards in this series, even getting removed from the top line for stretches. His last goal came in Game 5 of the first round triumph over the Jets, and you have to go back to Game 3 of that six-game series to find the last time O'Reilly put more than three pucks on net.
WINGS
J.T. Compher, COL at SJ ($10): Compher showed some scoring touch with 16 goals and 16 assists during the regular season, and he brought his A-game with his season on the line in Game 6, delivering two goals and an assist. San Jose's focus will rightfully be on slowing down Colorado's tremendous top line, which could leave Compher enough room to deliver against the Sharks' lesser defensemen. He's a low-risk, high-reward option at the minimum $10 price.
Jamie Benn, DAL at STL ($21): Benn has demonstrated a terrific floor over the last eight games, dipping below 5.6 fantasy points only once while recording at least 8.7 five times. He has seven points and 29 shots over this productive stretch, and Benn's likely to see all the ice time he can handle in this winner-take-all matchup.
WINGS TO AVOID
Evander Kane, SJ vs. COL ($20): Kane has been held off the scoresheet in nine of his last 11 games while posting a minus-6 rating over that stretch. There's little reason to choose him over the comparably priced alternatives among San Jose's forward ranks.
Alexander Radulov, DAL at STL ($26): Radulov has seen his ice time cut significantly over the past three games, skating between 13:38 and 16:35 in each. While he's still managed three assists over that span, Radulov's decreased his usage makes it tough to pick him at $26 over Benn at $21 or Mats Zuccarello at $20.
DEFENSEMEN
Alex Pietrangelo, STL vs. DAL ($19): Pietrangelo's well-rounded game has made him a set-and-forget option all postseason, and that's once again the case here. In addition to his two goals and eight assists through 12 games during this playoff run, Pietrangelo has posted multiple shots in 10 of his last 11 games and multiple shots in nine of those 11.
John Klingberg, DAL at STL ($20): Klingberg's coming off a Game 6 clunker, but he's been reliable outside of that game. His minus-1 rating in that one represented Klingberg's first performance worse than even over this entire playoff run, and he's chipped in offensively with nine points in 12 games. Like Pietrangelo, Klingberg is the total package on the blue line and should see massive ice time given his ability to play in all situations.
DEFENSEMEN TO AVOID
Brent Burns, SJ vs. COL ($29): Burns' goal in Game 6 was his first point since Game 2, as his focus has shifted more to preventing Nathan MacKinnon and Co. from scoring rather than looking for his own offense. While Burns has the talent to do both, $29 is a steep price to pay for a guy who likely won't generate as many chances as he usually does.
Esa Lindell, DAL at STL ($16): Lindell should provide some value through blocking shots, but his offensive upside is limited. The stay-at-home blueliner has marked the scoresheet in only five of his last 32 games, so owners in search of offense from the blue line are better off looking elsewhere.
