This article is part of our Yahoo DFS Hockey series.
Thursday's two-game slate begins at 7:00 PM Eastern time and features Game 4s between the Capitals and Penguins, as well as the Predators and Jets. There are plenty of high-priced stars worth paying up for, so finding bargains elsewhere is key to building the best lineups. Read on to see which players provide the best value here and which should be avoided.
GOALIE
Connor Hellebuyck, WPG vs. NSH ($34): Hellebuyck seems to be the most trustworthy of the four starting goaltenders at the moment given his team's excellent play at home this postseason. After their 7-4 win in Game 3, the Jets are a perfect 4-0 at Bell MTS Place this postseason and own a 19-7 goal differential there.
GOALIE TO AVOID
Matt Murray, PIT vs. WAS ($33): Murray's at home here, but owners can't feel comfortable using him the way this series has been trending. The Capitals scored on Murray twice in Game 1, three times in Game 2 and four times in Game 3. All told, Murray's cracked double-digit fantasy points only once in his past five appearances.
CENTER
Bryan Little, WPG vs. NSH ($16): Little's quietly amassed a four-game point streak, and he's playing some excellent two-way hockey with a plus-4 rating over that stretch as well. His combination of effectiveness and affordability is perfect for owners looking to spend big at other positions, which should be a common strategy given all the star power in these two games.
CENTER TO AVOID
Ryan Johansen, NSH at WPG ($18): Johansen's masked some weaknesses with consecutive multi-point efforts, but there are some underlying troubling signs in his game. He failed to generate a shot on goal in Game 3 -- his third time being blanked in that category in nine games this postseason. Additionally, the talented center failed to contain Winnipeg's own high-end forwards, finishing minus-3 in that game. Johansen has also blocked only one shot all playoffs, so all those little multi-category contributions that add up for others largely don't apply for him.
WINGS
Alex Ovechkin, WAS at PIT ($34): Pittsburgh's had no answer for Ovechkin this series, as he's lit the lamp in each of the first three games. The superstar winger has five goals in his past four appearances dating back to Game 6 of the Columbus series, and his ability to pour shots on net in addition to marking the scoresheet has allowed Ovechkin to average 14.9 fantasy points in his past eight games. That level of production is worth paying $34 for.
Jake Guentzel, PIT vs. WAS ($23): Guentzel has five multi-point performances through nine games this postseason, including three of the past four. The 23-year-old forward is on pace to be one of the greatest playoff scorers of all time, having racked up a whopping 21 goals and 40 points in 34 career playoff appearances.
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WINGS TO AVOID
Phil Kessel, PIT vs. WAS ($26): Kessel has the skills to get going at any moment, but until he does, it's tough to justify paying $26 for the slumping forward. He continues to skate on the third line away from Sidney Crosby or Evgeni Malkin, and Kessel's scored 7.0 or more fantasy points only twice in nine games this postseason.
Craig Smith, NSH at WPG ($20): Smith's had an underwhelming postseason to say the least, averaging just 4.1 fantasy points while failing to crack double digits in any game. He still costs $20 despite those struggles, so the bang for the buck isn't there on Smith.
DEFENSEMEN
Dustin Byfuglien, WPG vs. NSH ($23): Byfuglien's been awesome at home, posting two goals and seven points in four games at Bell MTS Place this postseason while averaging 17.1 fantasy points in those four contests. There's little reason to expect him to slow down here coming off a 29.6 fantasy point performance in Game 3.
Brooks Orpik, WAS at PIT ($15): For owners looking to maximize scoring at other positions, Orpik's affordability and high floor make him an appealing candidate. He costs just $15, has blocked at least four shots in four of the past six games and hasn't finished with a negative rating since Game 2 of the Columbus series. Orpik won't carry your team, but don't discount him as a filler option.
DEFENSEMEN TO AVOID
Roman Josi, NSH at WPG ($25): There's no shortage of appealing alternatives on Nashville's blue line, and all of them are cheaper than Josi. He hasn't come anywhere near living up to his $25 price over his past eight games, averaging just 3.9 fantasy points in that span.
Matt Niskanen, WAS at PIT ($18): Niskanen lit the lamp last game, but that was his first goal after a 14-game dry spell. He also has just three helpers over that span, so the steady veteran just doesn't bring the upside owners should be looking for at $18.
