This article is part of our Yahoo DFS Hockey series.
We came close to getting unlucky, but instead this Friday falls on the 12th, so we can breathe a sigh of relief. On top of that, we can enjoy the five NHL games taking place, with the earliest game starting at 8:00 p.m. ET. That's an hour later than usual when it comes to setting your DFS lineup. Perhaps it's the NHL's attempt to do you a solid before Daylight Saving Time begins on Sunday.
Here are some players to target, and to avoid, for your lineup...
GOALIE
Kaapo Kahkonen, MIN vs. ARI ($36): It seems like Kahkonen has become the top goalie for the Wild. He has outperformed Cam Talbot, as the Finn has a 2.19 GAA and .922 save percentage. It Talbot ($27) is in net, I'd be happy to have him for this matchup, but even at this salary I like Kahkonen, as the Coyotes have averaged a league-low 25.5 shots on net per contest.
GOALIE TO AVOID
Jonathan Quick, LOS at COL ($33): Even if Quick is able to play Friday – he missed LA's last game with an upper-body injury – I don't think he can justify his salary. The veteran has an .898 save percentage! Sure, the Avalanche have "only" scored 3.00 goals per game, lower than expected, but they've also averaged 33.3 shots on net per contest. I expect Colorado to pick it up offensively, and I am wary of that happening against Quick.
CENTER
Logan Couture, SAN at ANA ($21): Couture's 21.3 shooting percentage might drop, as it is a personal best. Then again, his 19:53 of ice time is also a personal best, and he has three 30-goal seasons to his name. Meanwhile, John Gibson has been on a disastrous run, as in his last 10 games he's posted a 3.81 GAA and .869 save percentage.
CENTER TO AVOID
Anze Kopitar, LOS at COL ($24): Kopitar is having a fine season, and he's putting up the kind of offensive numbers that inexplicably will probably have him back in the Selke race even though in theory offense shouldn't matter for that award. However, on Friday he runs into an Avalanche team that has allowed a league-low 25.2 shots on net per game. That's a big reason why Philipp Grubauer has a 2.05 GAA.
WING
David Perron, STL vs. VGK ($22): Perron has been on fire, as he has a point in seven straight games. That include a four-game streak of power-play points as well. He had 27 points with the extra man in 71 games last season, so that's not a surprise. Marc-Andre Fleury and Robin Lehner are unfortunately both out right now, which leaves the Golden Knights to turn to third-string goalie Logan Thompson, who has all of eight minutes to his name as an NHL goalie.
Maxime Comtois, ANA vs. SAN ($17): Comtois has been a surprise breakout player for the Ducks, especially with how bad their offense is. He has 19 points in 27 games, and the 22-year-old has also started 64.2 percent of his shifts in the offensive zone, second highest on the Ducks. San Jose has a 3.78 GAA, second highest in the NHL, giving Comtois a good chance to add to his breakout campaign.
WINGS TO AVOID
Conor Garland, ARI at MIN ($19): Speaking of breakouts, Garland had a season like that last year, and he's been building on that this season. He has eight goals in 25 games, though only one goal in his last nine outings. As I mentioned earlier, Kaapo Kahkonen has a 2.19 GAA and .922 save percentage, and the Wild also have a top-10 penalty kill to boot.
Alex Iafallo, LOS at COL ($18): Three Kings wings – Iafallo, Dustin Brown, and Adrian Kempe – all have the same salary. Of those three, Iafallo has had the least-impressive season, so he's the one I'd least like to employ in my lineup Friday. Philipp Grubauer's 2.05 GAA has already come up, but I will also mention the Avalanche having a top-five penalty kill. Iafallo has averaged 3:10 on the power play, and he may e out of luck there.
DEFENSE
Samuel Girard, COL vs. LOS ($19): With Cale Makar out, Girard has taken on a larger role with the Avalanche. Case in point, over his last seven games he's averaged 4:32 per game with the extra man. If Jonathan Quick plays, he has an .898 save percentage. Should he still be too injured to play, that could mean 31-year-old journeyman Troy Grosenick getting another start for the Kings.
Cam Fowler, ANA vs. SAN ($12): I feel like Fowler is quite a value at this salary, especially in this matchup. Like I said, the Sharks have a 3.78 GAA as a team. Fowler has 13 points this season, but eight of those points have come in his last nine games. Should he stay hot and get on the score sheet again, he will be well worth this salary.
DEFENSE TO AVOID
Drew Doughty, LOS at COL ($19): Yes, I've been down on the Kings quite a bit, but it's with good reason. The Avalanche have the allowed the fewest shots on net of any team in action Friday, and only the Golden Knights have a better GAA and penalty-kill percentage. Bear in mind, Vegas will be without their top-two goalies. That makes the Kings' road game against the Avalanche clearly the toughest matchup Friday from my perspective, and that includes for Doughty.
Matt Dumba, MIN vs. ARI ($18): Dumba has five goals in 22 games after having six goals all of last season thanks to an improvement in his shooting percentage. However, there are still quibbles, such as the fact he only has one power-play point. Darcy Kuemper is currently out with injury, but in Kuemper's stead Antti Raanta has a .918 save percentage in his last five starts.
