This article is part of our Yahoo DFS Hockey series.
There are five games in the NHL on Friday with Boston the largest favorite on the docket by a significant margin. The Predators-Blackhawks and Canadiens-Flames matchups are projected to be close, whereas Minnesota and New York are also both receiving notable chalk. Additionally, the Flyers-Rangers game has the highest over/under total. Here are picks and pans for Friday's contests.
All statistics from Natural Stat Trick and Hockey Reference.
GOALIE
Tuukka Rask, BOS at BUF ($34): The Bruins steamrolled Buffalo 5-1 on Thursday, and now Rask receives the second start in the back-to-back set. He's 3-0 with a .955 save percentage and 1.33 GAA through three starts since returning from injury, and this price doesn't match the odds for the matchup or Rask's current form. Buffalo has also scored the third fewest goals per game in the league this season.
GOALIE TO AVOID
Alex Lyon, PHI at NYR ($20): The Flyers topped New York 3-2 Thursday, so banking on a rebound showing from the Rangers on Friday is definitely in play. There are obvious cap benefits to loading up Lyon as your second goalie, but there's also significant risk. He's only made 11 career starts, and the Rangers are tied for the most goals per game in the league since March 1, and the Flyers have surrendered the most. Ultimately, there are probably enough values in the player pool to avoid the risk.
CENTER
Ryan Johansen, NSH at CHI ($13): This is a reasonable salary to look at Johansen. The veteran's offensive numbers have declined significantly over the past few seasons, but he's still locked into top-line duty and skates with the No. 1 power-play unit. Additionally, Johansen has registered an assist in consecutive games, and the Blackhawks have allowed three goals or more in six of their past seven outings.
CENTER TO AVOID
Anze Kopitar, LA vs. MIN ($21): The Wild have surrendered the fewest high-danger scoring chances per 60 minutes at five-on-five and eighth fewest goals per game overall, so this isn't an ideal matchup to tee up Kopitar. He's also been quiet offensively relative to his salary with just two tallies and eight helpers through the past 15 games.
WING
David Pastrnak, BOS at BUF ($31): This cap hit might be a little low considering the high-scoring winger has recorded nine points with a plus-10 rating through his past five games. Pastrnak also boasts a fourth-ranked 3.99 points per 60 minutes over the past two seasons, and Buffalo has surrendered the fourth most goals per game in the league.
Taylor Hall, BOS at BUF ($15): Another Bruin to consider, Hall has collected a pair of goals and assists while registering 15 shots and a team-high 26 shot attempts through the past five games. This salary is easy to slide under the cap, too.
WINGS TO AVOID
Patrick Kane, CHI vs. NSH ($34): This is the highest salary in the skater pool, so it'll probably take a multi-point showing to meet value. Kane has only accomplished that seven times through 24 games dating back to March 1, and the Predators have allowed just 41 goals during their current 14-5-1 stretch.
Sam Reinhart, BUF vs. BOS ($18): With a minus-25 rating for the campaign, it's difficult to turn to Reinhart confidently in this scoring format. Additionally, the Bruins have surrendered the fifth fewest goals per game and sport a league-high 86.7 penalty-kill percentage. Reinhart's current 17.3 shooting percentage is notably higher than the 13.5 mark he's posted over the past three years, too.
DEFENSE
Roman Josi, NSH at CHI ($21): Since returning from an injury March 23, Josi has collected 13 points, 40 shots and 28 blocks through 16 contests to reestablish his high-floor, high-ceiling profile. As noted, Chicago shouldn't be viewed as a tough matchup, and Josi also racked up 10.6 fantasy points against them Wednesday.
Matt Grzelcyk, BOS at BUF ($16): Back quarterbacking the No. 1 power-play unit, Grzelcyk checks out as a nice value Friday. He's also been sneaky productive this season with a 17th-ranked 1.7 points per 60 minutes among regular blueliners this season.
DEFENSEMEN TO AVOID
Mike Reilly, BOS at BUF ($18): Even in the noted soft matchup, this salary is probably a bit rich. Reilly is in the midst of the best season of his career, but he's also no longer receiving power-play time, and expecting him to continue producing consistent offense at five-on-five might be asking too much.
Ivan Provorov, PHI at NYR ($17): As noted, the Rangers have scored the most goals per game in the league since March 1, so there's a plus-minus risk attached to the workhorse defenseman. Provorov also recorded two power-play assists in Wednesday's game against New York to pad his stat line, but with the Rangers sporting a fifth-ranked 83.9 penalty-kill percentage, counting on production with the man advantage is probably ill-advised.
