This article is part of our Yahoo DFS Hockey series.
Welcome back! Monday sees the NHL return to action after the All-Star break. There are only two games on the slate, but daily fantasy hockey has also returned. Here are some players to target, and to avoid, for your DFS lineups.
GOALIE
Anton Forsberg, OTT vs. NJD ($28): The Devils rank 21st in goals per game, while the Senators rank 22nd. They are pretty even offensively, but the Senators are at home. Additionally, Forsberg has been better than either Mackenzie Blackwood or Jon Gillies, especially recently. Over his last 10 games he has a 2.26 GAA and .923 save percentage.
GOALIE TO AVOID
Jack Campbell, TOR vs. CAR ($26): This matchup also features two teams that are neck-and-neck in goals per game but they rank fourth and fifth. It's a different level of offense here. Campbell was a deserving All-Star given his 2.30 GAA and .925 save percentage, but he hasn't played anywhere near that caliber recently. Over his last 12 games he has a 3.20 GAA and .895 save percentage.
CENTER
Vincent Trocheck, CAR at TOR ($17): The new year has been a good one for Trocheck. He's tallied 11 points in 12 games. Trocheck has also averaged 3:07 on the power play. As I just noted, Campbell hasn't been the same goalie recently With only four teams in action, that means a lot.
CENTER TO AVOID
Auston Matthews, TOR vs. CAR ($34): Sure, Matthews was playing great before the All-Star break, and I don't think he'll necessarily be thrown off by the festivities in Las Vegas. That being said, the Hurricanes have a 2.33 GAA as a team, which is lowest in the NHL. This is partially due to great goaltending, but also due to the fact the Canes have allowed a league-low 28.2 shots on net per contest.
WING
Jesper Bratt, NJD at OTT ($18): Sure, Forsberg has played better recently, but he still has a .909 save percentage on the season. Additionally, the Senators have allowed 33.3 shots on net per contest. That prevents me from being deterred in selecting Bratt, who has 41 points in 42 games. Plus, he's put 113 shots on net, so he's likely to be active against a porous defense.
Alex Formenton, OTT vs. NJD ($18): Formenton has really picked up his play recently. The 22-year-old has tallied 11 points in his last 13 contests. He's also getting power-play time due to injury, as he's averaged 2:00 per game with the extra man over his last six contests. Meanwhile, the Devils have a 3.53 GAA, fourth-highest in the NHL.
WINGS TO AVOID
William Nylander, TOR vs. CAR ($23): Perhaps because he's on the second line now, Nylander has slowed down slightly. He has five points in his last 10 games, which is good, but is also a step down. On top of that, 17 of Nylander's 40 points have come with the extra man, and the Hurricanes have the league's best penalty kill.
Martin Necas, CAR at TOR ($15): Campbell has gone cold, that is true, but so has Necas. He only has one goal in his last 13 games. Given that Campbell does have a .925 save percentage, on the outside chance he finds his footing I'm skeptical against Necas, as opposed to Trocheck who I trust in.
DEFENSE
Thomas Chabot, OTT vs. NJD ($18): Chabot had trouble scoring goals early this season, but all three of his goals have come in his last 14 games. He still only has a 2.8 shooting percentage – a career low – so more goals should be coming if he stays active offensively. Chabot has averaged 27:08 in ice time and 3:33 on the power play, so I expect that to be the case. In New Jersey, both Mackenzie Blackwood and Jon Gillies have .894 save percentages.
Damon Severson, NJD at OTT ($15): Severson has stepped up in the absence of Dougie Hamilton. He's tallied 21 points in 43 games, including eight on the power play. Four of those points with the extra man have come in his last seven contests as well. Severson's 96 shots on goal are third most on the Devils, and as I mentioned the Senators have allowed 33.3 shots on net per contest.
DEFENSE TO AVOID
Morgan Rielly, TOR vs. CAR ($21): There are four teams in action. One of them is playing the team with the league's lowest GAA. That kind of says it all in a way. Rielly has been good, but Frederik Andersen has a 2.01 GAA and .929 save percentage. Additionally, Rielly does a lot of his damage on the power play and, again, the Hurricanes have the league's best penalty kill.
Jaccob Slavin, CAR at TOR ($18): Slavin is known for his defensive prowess, but he has added 22 points in 40 games this year. That being said, he only has one point in his last six games. Defensive stability is great in real hockey, but not as important in fantasy. Slavin's offensive output could slow down, and he is on the road against a team with a 2.64 GAA.
