This article is part of our Yahoo DFS Hockey series.
The Jets are a short home favorite, and the Avalanche are a short road favorite in Friday's two NHL games. It will be important to double-check Winnipeg's lineup before puck drop, as there are a number of question marks surrounding the Jets. Here are picks and pans for each position for the featured contests at Yahoo.
All statistics from Natural Stat Trick and Hockey Reference.
GOALIE
Philipp Grubauer, COL at VGK ($30): The German has won six consecutive starts in the playoffs with a .943 save percentage and 1.66 GAA. This salary isn't prohibitive enough, and even if Vegas turns the series around with a home-ice win, Grubauer's numbers problem won't be a detriment.
GOALIE TO AVOID
Carey Price, MON at WPG ($27): Winnipeg only registered 30 shots in Game 1, and the Jets have the third fewest shot attempts per 60 minutes at five-on-five in the postseason. So, even with the win on Wednesday, Price only recorded 12.2 fantasy points because of the low shot volume. Let's not write Winnipeg off just yet, either.
CENTER
Nathan MacKinnon, COL at VGK ($35): The current Conn Smyth favorite recorded another assist and registered 11 shot attempts during Wednesday's win. He's now up to eight tallies, five helpers and four multi-point showings through six postseason games.It's also a shallow center pool, which strengthens the case for MacKinnon.
CENTER TO AVOID
Nick Suzuki, MON at WPG ($19): It's been a solid run for Suzuki. He's found the scoresheet in five of the past six games but has a minus-1 rating and just 15 shots during the stretch. As noted, the center pool lacks high-end talent after Nathan MacKinnon ($35), so it might be worth looking down the salary list a little further instead of spending in the middle tier.
WING
Mikko Rantanen, COL at VGK ($34): A stack candidate with center Nathan MacKinnon ($35), Rantanen has been equally impressive during the postseason with three goals, seven assists and 24 shots while finding the scoresheet in all six games. Rantanen and MacKinnon were also on the ice for nine high-danger scoring chances in Game 2.
Brendan Gallagher, MON at WPG ($18): This is a manageable salary to target Gallagher at. He's scored in consecutive outings and attempted five shots -- including two individual high-danger scoring chances in Game 1. He's also receiving consistent power-play time.
WINGS TO AVOID
Mark Stone, VGK vs. COL ($29): Held to just six shots and eight attempts through the first two contests of the series, Stone hasn't been impressive against Colorado, and his pointless streak is now at four games. It's also worth noting that he spent most of his five-on-five ice time in Game 2 matched up against Nathan MacKinnon's ($35) line, which is always a plus-minus risk.
Brandon Saad, COL at VGK ($18): With a five-game point streak and soaring salary, Saad's an easy fade Friday. After all, the Golden Knights were the best defensive team in the league during the regular season, and Saad's 45.5 shooting percentage during the noted five-game stretch is unsustainably high.
DEFENSE
Alex Pietrangelo, VGK vs. COL ($20): This is a bit of a discount for Pietrangelo, as he's registered a team-high eight shots and 16 attempts through the first two games of the series. Add eight blocks, and there's an excellent fantasy floor to target. Just note, Pietrangelo has also gone minus-3 through the first two games to cut into his ceiling.
Shea Weber, MON at WPG ($14): The veteran collected a power-play assist in Game 1 to register his first point of the postseason. There had been plenty of opportunities, though. Weber's collected 23 shots, 43 attempts and there individual high-danger scoring chances through eight playoff contests, and he's also a willing shot-blocker with 11.
DEFENSE TO AVOID
Josh Morrissey, WPG vs. MON ($17): Rolling along an impressive three-game offensive surge with five points, Morrissey's salary has climbed significantly through five postseason games. There's obvious potential with his role quarterbacking the No. 1 power-play unit, but he also played a huge chunk of his five-on-five minutes against Montreal's top defensive line in Game 1.
Samuel Girard, COL at VGK ($17): With his salary climbing, Girard's a tougher start because he's probably eyeing some negative offensive regression after finding the scoresheet in each of the past three games and piling up four assists. He's also registered just three shots during the stretch.
