This article is part of our Yahoo DFS Hockey series.
It's a quiet four-game night in the NHL, and a shallow DFS player pool. St. Louis and Washington are the two largest favorites on the docket, whereas the Flames and Coyotes are both receiving short chalk on home ice. Here are some picks and pans to consider while assembling your Yahoo lineups.
All statistics from Natural Stat Trick and Hockey Reference.
GOALIE
Connor Hellebuyck, WPG at CGY ($30): In a shallow goalie pool, betting on the reigning Vezina Trophy winner at a reasonable salary is a realistic starting point. Hellebuyck has stopped 60 of 61 shots through his past two games, and Calgary has only scored two goals during its current three-game losing streak.
GOALIE TO AVOID
Scott Wedgewood, NJ at WAS ($31): This salary stands out considering Washington has scored the fourth most goals per game in the league and boasts an eighth-ranked 25.6 power-play percentage. Additionally, the Capitals generated 12 high-danger scoring chances at five-on-five during Thursday's 4-3 win over the Devils. Wedgewood's .908 career save percentage doesn't inspire confidence with New Jersey allowing the seventh most high-danger scoring chances per 60 minutes in the league, either.
CENTER
Brayden Schenn, STL vs. ANH ($16): While this could be a tough schedule spot with St. Louis travelling home to play its second game in consecutive nights, Schenn's salary stands out as a bargain. He's mired in a dreadful slump with just a single assist through his past seven games, but combined with linemates Vladimir Tarasenko ($21) and Jaden Schwartz ($17) for 15 shot attempts at five-on-five during Thursday's loss. Additionally, after recording 2.54 points per 60 minutes through his first three seasons in St. Louis, his current 2.22 mark should have positive regression ahead.
CENTER TO AVOID
Evgeny Kuznetsov, WAS vs. NJ ($18): While the 28-year-old center scored twice during Thursday's 4-3 win over the Devils, he's still only picked up three goals through his past 17 games. Additionally, the low-volume shooter's current shooting percentage (12.2) is in line with his 12.4 mark over the past two seasons. Just note, Kuznetsov's found the scoresheet in seven of the past eight games and does offer a respectable floor, though.
WING
Tomas Hertl, SJ at ARI ($18): The Coyotes are without their two best netminders and have lost six of their past eight games while surrendering 26 goals, so this should prove to be a favorable matchup for San Jose. Hertl also enters in solid form with three goals, five assists, 25 shot attempts and 10 individual high-danger scoring chances through the past eight games.
Trevor Zegras, ANH at STL ($10): At minimum salary, Zegras checks out as an upside source of cap relief. He's locked into a top-six role and receiving power-play time with the No. 1 unit, so while his five points through 14 games definitely don't jump off the page, the offensively gifted rookie is being handed prime minutes. Additionally, the Blues are playing their second game in consecutive nights and traveled after losing 2-0 in Minnesota on Thursday.
WINGS TO AVOID
David Perron, STL vs. ANH ($22): The veteran has cooled off of late and missed the scoresheet in five of the past six games. Additionally, even with his recent cool stretch, Perron's current 3.23 points per 60 minutes skyrockets above the 2.8 mark he posted over the previous three years.
Matthew Tkachuk, CGY vs. WPG ($21): As noted, the Flames are struggling to score, and Tkachuk has missed the scoresheet in three consecutive games. While there's clear bounce-back potential with Winnipeg allowing the most high-danger scoring chances per 60 minutes in the league, there's also no discount in Tkachuk's salary.
DEFENSE
John Carlson, WAS vs. NJ ($24): The veteran defenseman extended his point streak to four games with an assist during Thursday's win over the Devils, and his salary remains manageable. Plus, Carlson paces all regular defensemen in points per 60 minutes over the past three years, and New Jersey has the worst penalty-kill percentage in the league this season.
Oliver Ekman-Larsson, ARI vs. SJ ($12): Another inexpensive target, Ekman-Larsson is playing fewer minutes (20:12) this season and sports a minus-12 rating for the campaign, so his range of outcomes is larger than in years past. Still, as noted, this could prove to be a tough schedule spot for the Blues, and Ekman-Larsson is probably still too talented to hang in this salary range.
DEFENSEMEN TO AVOID
Mark Giordano, CGY vs. WPG ($19): The Calgary captain's upside is somewhat limited since his deployment on the No. 1 power-play unit is rare. Giordano still moves the needle in the shots and blocked shots column, but he's been goal dependent for high-end fantasy production of late with three goals and no assists through the past 10 games. It's an unsustainable stretch, and he projects to spend most of his minutes against Winnipeg's top two lines Friday,
Torey Krug, STL vs. ANH ($17): The first-year Blue has just a single assist through his past nine games, and while a second-half breakout shouldn't surprise anyone, there isn't much evidence of it happening currently. Krug's registered just a single shot through the past three games, after all. It's likely best to take a wait-and-see approach.
