This article is part of our Yahoo DFS Hockey series.
The Super Bowl is soon. So is Valentine's Day. Let's focus on what really matters, though: The four NHL games taking place Friday. I've got lineup recommendations for your DFS lineups. Let's start the weekend off right!
GOALIE
John Gibson, ANA vs. SEA ($38): Gibson has been at the top of his game recently. Over his last 10 starts he has a 1.98 GAA and .943 save percentage. That's even though he missed some time in there, which clearly didn't slow him down. The Kraken have only managed 2.60 goals and a mere 28.5 shots on net per game.
GOALIE TO AVOID
Ilya Sorokin, NYI at EDM ($35): Will the Oilers get a boost from firing Dave Tippett? Possibly, and the offense has been good this year. Edmonton has averaged 3.18 goals and 33.4 shots on net per contest. Sorokin has a 2.34 GAA this season, but a 2.63 GAA on the road.
CENTER
Mathew Barzal, NYI at EDM ($17): The issues that have led to the Oilers struggling and firing their head coach are more on the defensive end. They have a 3.32 GAA and have allowed 32.2 shots on net per contest. Barzal got off to a slow start offensively, perhaps owing to the Islanders not having a home barn for a while, but over his last 14 games he has six goals and six assists.
CENTER TO AVOID
Jared McCann, SEA at ANA ($19): McCann has gotten his biggest role ever as the first-line center for the expansion Kraken, and he's earned that spot. Then again, his 17.9 shooting percentage is much higher than his career 10.7 shooting percentage. Plus, Gibson has been hot, and on the season he has a 2.49 GAA and .922 save percentage.
WING
Alex Killorn, TAM at ARI ($18): Killorn has steadily been a guy who notches between 40 and 49 points in a season. This year he's probably going to break the 50-point threshold for the first time. He already has 41 points in 47 games while playing the most minutes (and power-play minutes) of his career. The Coyotes, meanwhile, have a 3.66 GAA, battling Columbus to try and avoid being the worst team in GAA aside from the Canadiens.
Adam Henrique, ANA vs. SEA ($14): Henrique recently returned from a long injury absence, picking up his first point since returning in his last outing. He was playing well before he went down, as he has 17 points in 27 games this year. The Kraken have a 3.47 GAA, and while Philipp Grubauer has played slightly better recently, he still has a 3.09 GAA and .887 save percentage on the season.
WINGS TO AVOID
Jordan Eberle, SEA at ANA ($12): It was kind of tricky to find wings I wanted to avoid, given the goaltending expected to take the ice and the Lightning on a back-to-back and likely starting Brian Elliott. Eberle, though, will likely be facing Gibson and his 2.49 GAA and .922 save percentage. He may have been an all-star, but I'm skeptical of Eberle here.
Jesse Puljujarvi, EDM vs. NYI ($12): Puljujarvi has been ice cold. Over his last 14 games he has two points, both assists, and they came in the same game. I may not want Sorokin in net, but that's because of guys like Connor McDavid and Leon Draisaitl. It's not because of Puljujarvi right now.
DEFENSE
Mikhail Sergachev, TAM at ARI ($18): Sergachev is racking up assists as well, with 21 in 43 games to go with two goals. He doesn't have the power-play output of Klingberg, but in this matchup he may not need it. After all, Arizona has a 3.66 GAA.'
John Klingberg, DAL vs. WPG ($16): Klingberg only has one goal this season, but with 24 assists in 37 games he's been just fine. Plus, he has 14 points with the extra man (including that goal). That's encouraging in this matchup, as the Jets have a bottom-five penalty kill.
DEFENSE TO AVOID
Evan Bouchard, EDM vs. NYI ($17): Bouchard has had a breakout campaign, though he still isn't a power-play piece. He's only averaged 1:11 on the power play and notched four power-play points. Even Sorokin's 2.63 GAA on the road isn't that bad, even if it isn't as good as his overall number.
Mark Giordano, SEA at ANA ($16): Being the top defenseman for an expansion team has not led to more minutes for Giordano. After all, he's 38 now, so he's averaged 21:37 in ice time, his lowest average since the 2009-10 season. While Gio's chipped in 18 points in 41 games, Gibson has an 1.98 GAA and .943 save percentage in his last 10 outings.
