This article is part of our Yahoo DFS Hockey series.
It's a bit of a unique two-game slate in the NHL on Friday. The Blues visit the Coyotes, which will be the fifth consecutive meeting between the two teams, and Arizona has won each of the past three contests. The Boston-New York tilt is also a rematch, and the Bruins won 3-2 in Game 1. Boston is the largest favorite on the docket and both games have a 5.5 over/under total.
GOALIE
Tuukka Rask, BOS at NYR ($36): After a slow start, Rask has turned in three consecutive victories with a .929 save percentage, including a 33-save win over the Rangers on Wednesday. In a four-goalie pool, overthinking the starter for the team with the best odds on the docket is more reckless than contrarian -- especially considering Rask's high-end track record and rock-solid recent form. Plus, Ranger star Artemi Panarin ($30) might not be 100 percent due to a lower-body injury he sustained Wednesday.
GOALIE TO AVOID
Jordan Binnington, STL at ARI ($33): It's been difficult to keep tabs on St. Louis' schedule with so many postponed games, and the Coyotes have topped the Blues in three straight contests. More concerning, though, is Arizona ranks fourth in the league in high-danger scoring chances per 60 minutes this season, and Binnington owns a discouraging .905 save percentage and 3.07 GAA on the road dating back to last season.
CENTER
Nick Schmaltz, ARI vs. STL ($17): While more of a playmaker than goal scorer, Schmaltz is clicking to start the 2021 campaign and has collected two tallies and four helpers through his past five contests. He's being positioned to succeed by beginning 71.8 percent of his five-on-five shifts in the offensive zone while also logging 3:14 of power-play time per contest.
CENTER TO AVOID
Mika Zibanejad, NYR vs. NYI ($28): With just a single goal and two assists through 12 games this season, Zibanejad's salary is completely out of whack. He's locked into a go-to offensive role and is coming off an incredible 41-goal, 75-point campaign, so there's definite positive regression ahead, but Boston's also a nightmare matchup. The Bruins have surrendered the fourth fewest high-danger scoring chances per hour at five-on-five this season, and Zibanejad only attempted three shots without an individual high-danger opportunity in Wednesday's loss.
WING
Conor Garland, ARI vs. STL ($18): This is a manageable salary to target Garland at. He's sporting a five-game point streak consisting of three tallies, four helpers and 20 shots, and the 24-year-old winger has attempted a team-high 78 shots through 12 contests this season. Additionally, he's beginning 74.0 percent of his five-on-five shifts in the offensive zone and averaging 3:15 of ice time per game with the man advantage.
Jake DeBrusk, BOS at NYR ($13): The 24-year-old winger missed five games with a lower-body injury prior to Wednesday's tilt against the Rangers, and DeBrusk returned with arguably his best showing of the season. He recorded an assist, seven shots, 14 attempts and five individual high-danger scoring chances. It's worth noting that he skated down the lineup and could remain in a third-line role Friday, but it worked Wednesday, and the salary definitely shouldn't discourage rolling the dice again.
WINGS TO AVOID
Artemi Panarin, NYR vs. BOS ($30): A lower-body injury limited Panarin to a season-low 15:34 of ice time during Wednesday's loss, and if he suits up Friday, he could be at less than 100 percent. His status could keep his popularity in check, but he's also at risk of aggravating the injury, so it's probably best to look elsewhere in the shallow player pool.
Nick Ritchie, BOS at NYR ($16): The 25-year-old forward exploded out of the gate for the Bruins with nine points -- four goals -- through 10 games but hasn't found the scoresheet over the past two contests. All four of his tallies have come with the man advantage, and considering his current 2.89 points per 60 minutes this season is considerably above the 1.0 mark he posted over the past three years, his current scoring pace is unlikely to hold up moving forward. He does provide affordable exposure to Boston's No. 1 power-play unit, though.
DEFENSE
Charlie McAvoy, BOS at NYR ($19): Even with Boston turning to a five-forward look on the No. 1 power-play unit lately, McAvoy's continued to produce high-end fantasy numbers. His point streak is up to eight games, and his supporting statistics have even improved during the stretch with 16 shots and 15 blocks. The salary probably isn't prohibitive enough, either.
Oliver Ekman-Larsson, ARI vs. STL ($16): A high-risk, modest-reward target who's expected to return from a 10-game absence Friday, Ekman-Larsson could provide sneaky value at this salary and out of a shallow defense pool. He's a proven cross-category contributor, and if he steps right back into big minutes in all situations, there's oodles of potential for him to move the fantasy needle.
DEFENSEMEN TO AVOID
Adam Fox, NYR vs. BOS ($20): There's a lot to like about Fox in the short and long term, but this isn't a good matchup to dish out for the highest salary in the defense pool. After all, the 22-year-old defenseman has only found the scoresheet in two of the past seven games, and he's also a plus-minus risk given Boston's plus-13 goal differential and noted stingy defense. Additionally, Fox played the majority of his minutes against the No. 1 line for the Bruins Wednesday.
Jacob Trouba, NYR vs. BOS ($15): Another Ranger to beware of, Trouba has recorded just two assists all season and has been collecting most of his fantasy points through shots and blocks. It's a hard way to pile up fantasy points, and he also posted a minus-2 rating against Boston on Wednesday. Trouba's power-play role with the second unit isn't as promising, either.
