This article is part of our Yahoo DFS Hockey series.
We're heading into the weekend with 10 NHL games Friday. That's a lot of options for your DFS squads. Of course, more options doesn't mean more choices, so you have more name to pare down until you've put your roster together. With that in mind, here are the players to target, and to avoid, for your DFS lineups.
GOALIE
Logan Thompson, VGK vs. PHI ($36): Thompson has had a few tough starts recently, but he still has a 2.68 GAA and .918 save percentage. The Golden Knights should give the rookie the chance to get on track in an ideal matchup. Vegas is at home against a Philadelphia team that ranks last in goals per game.
GOALIE TO AVOID
Ilya Sorokin, NYI at NJD ($36): Sorokin has a 2.33 GAA and .927 save percentage, but he is fallible. In fact, he just allowed five goals in his last start. Now he has to visit the Devils. I feel like we're deep enough in the season that we must accept the legitimacy of New Jersey having averaged 3.69 goals and 35.1 shots on net per game. Even if the Devils regress a bit, they should be a top-10 offense when all is said and done.
CENTER
Elias Lindholm, CGY at CLM ($22): Lindholm is getting in the groove. After three-straight games with a goal he just put up three assists against the Wild. The Blue Jackets have a woeful 4.16 GAA, worst in the NHL, making this a great opportunity for Lindholm to keep his point streak alive.
CENTER TO AVOID
Mathew Barzal, NYI at NJD ($20): Barzal has 28 points in 27 games, even though he only has a 4.4 shooting percentage. However, even getting a puck on net is tricky against the Devils. New Jersey has allowed a mere 26.4 shots on net per game, lowest in the NHL. It also has a 2.19 GAA.
WING
Jake DeBrusk, BOS at ARI ($21): DeBrusk has potted eight goals off of 76 shots on net through 24 games. The Coyotes have allowed 34.5 shots on goal per contest, a big reason why they have a 3.63 GAA. This is also the first time DeBrusk has gotten significant power-play time in a couple years. He's averaged 3:13 per game with the extra man and has eight power-play points.
Alexander Barabanov, SAN at ANA ($15): Barabanov has picked up seven points in his last nine games, including two of his three goals. On the year, he also has eight points with the extra man. For their part, the Ducks are 31st in GAA and penalty-kill percentage.
WINGS TO AVOID
Jeff Skinner, BUF vs. PIT ($24): Skinner was part of Buffalo's joyous rout of the Blue Jackets, but this matchup may rain on the parade. Tristan Jarry has been on fire in net, posting a 1.55 GAA and .954 save percentage over his last seven starts. The Penguins also have the seventh-ranked penalty kill, and 10 of Skinner's 31 points have come with the extra man.
Clayton Keller, ARI vs. BOS ($18): Facing Boston is tough for anybody this year, and though Keller is good, he's not matchup proof. The Bruins have the league's lowest GAA and best penalty kill. Also, even if the Bruins decide to give Jeremy Swayman the start in net in this easy matchup, since returning from injury he has a 2.08 GAA and .915 save percentage in five appearances.
DEFENSE
Rasmus Andersson, CGY at CLM ($19): Andersson had 46 assists last year, and he has 16 assists through 26 games this season. On top of that, he has already equaled his four goals from last season as well. As previously noted, the Jackets have a league-high 4.16 GAA.
Darnell Nurse, EDM vs. MIN ($19): Nurse has picked up four points in his last six games. He's also put 56 shots on net after he had 203 in 71 games last year. The Wild don't allow a ton of shots, but Marc-Andre Fleury still has a 3.10 GAA and .892 save percentage.
DEFENSE TO AVOID
Noah Dobson, NYI at NJD ($20): Dobson has 18 points through 27 games, though his 9.4 shooting percentage will be hard to sustain. Also, half of those points have come on the power play. On top of everything else, the Devils have a top-five penalty kill as well.
Devon Toews, COL vs. NYR ($17): The Avalanche are banged up, and that hinders the overall offensive upside of this team. Toews has 15 points in 22 games, though only one goal, but this matchup is tricky. The Rangers have only allowed 29.0 shots on net per contest, and Shesterkin has picked it up a bit, as he has a .916 save percentage over his last nine starts.
