This article is part of our Yahoo DFS Hockey series.
If you like options, days like Thursday are right up your alley. There are 10 games on the NHL slate, which means 20 teams worth of players to pick your DFS lineup from. It was supposed to be 11 games, but then San Jose and Vegas got postponed after I had written the first version of this article. Yes, I am annoyed. Of course, sometimes it helps to have those options pared down a bit, or a suggestion or two in your ear. Or in front of your eyes, as it were. That is to say, here are my recommendations for players to target, and to avoid, for your daily fantasy lineup.
GOALIE
MacKenzie Blackwood, NJD at BUF ($37): Blackwood hasn't had many opportunities to play this year, but when he's actually been able to take the ice he's excelled. The 24-year-old has a 2.25 GAA and .935 save percentage. Like the Devils, the Sabres have played a limited number of games this year, but when they've played they've managed only 2.44 goals per game.
GOALIE TO AVOID
Semyon Varlamov, NYI vs. BOS ($38): Varlamov has been playing some stellar hockey, and with several teams on the second leg of a back-to-back the goaltending options may be a little lackluster. However, I still don't know if I want to pay this salary. Boston's 3.06 goals per game is middle of the pack, but it's managed 31.6 shots on net per contest, which is a strong number this year. Plus, we have to remember that David Pastrnak missed the first seven games of the season. Since he's returned he has nine goals in nine outings.
CENTER
Joe Pavelski, DAL at FLA ($26): Due to injuries the Stars have been at less than full strength all year, but that hasn't deterred Pavelski. He's tallied 19 points in only 14 games, including 11 on the power play. The Stars and Panthers are playing their second game in as many nights Thursday, but the Panthers started Chris Driedger on Wednesday. You know what that means: Sergei Bobrovsky in net Thursday. The Russian has a 3.18 GAA and .889 save percentage.
CENTER TO AVOID
Mathew Barzal, NYI vs. BOS ($23): This was originally Logan Couture, so forgive me if this is short. The Bruins have a 2.25 GAA, third best in the NHL, even though Tuukka Rask is off to a slow start to the season. He's never had a save percentage lower than .912. His numbers will get better, and this team can keep Barzal in check.
WING
Kyle Connor, WPG vs. MON ($23): Maybe the Jets figured they could let Patrik Laine go because of how skilled a goal scorer Connor is. He's potted at least 31 goals in each of his three full NHL seasons and has eight goals on 53 shots through 18 games this season. On top of that, he's started 60.4 percent of his shifts in the offensive zone, second highest on the Jets. The Canadiens might be in disarray Thursday as they've just fired Claude Julien, and if Carey Price is in net he has an .893 save percentage.
Connor Brown, OTT vs. CGY ($15): The Sens have actually done pretty well offensive recently. That includes Brown, who has six points in his last eight contests. I like this matchup for Ottawa because the Flames are on the road for the second leg of a back-to-back, the only team in such a situation facing a team that didn't play Wednesday. Jacob Markstrom wasn't able to return Wednesday from his upper-body injury, and if he isn't ready Thursday the goaltending situation could be quite dire for the Flames.
WINGS TO AVOID
Tyler Toffoli, MON at WPG ($23): Toffoli started the season hot, had a dry spell, and then has been playing well again. Of course, that comes on 20.0 percent shooting that will likely regress, and he only has five assists to go with his 12 goals. Maybe it's because the Canadian teams are only facing one another this year, but Connor Hellebuyck seems like a complete afterthought. This is in spite of the fact he has a 2.64 GAA and .916 save percentage.
Anders Lee, NYI vs. BOS ($18): Lee seems like he's bouncing back on the goal-scoring front this season, with eight goals through 18 games. Then again, he only has three assists. My concern is that the Bruins do not make it easy to get pucks on goal. Boston has allowed a mere 25.1 shots on net per contest, which is lowest in the NHL.
DEFENSE
Roman Josi, NAS at DET ($21): I've swapped Josi in for Alex Pietrangelo, and Josi is coming off an excellent game. He put up two assists, both on the power play, against this same Detroit team. The Red Wings have a 3.14 GAA and the 28th-ranked penalty kill, so more power-play success could be on the way.
Evan Bouchard, EDM at VAN ($16): I'm thinking outside the box here a bit to try and save you some salary but give you some upside. Bouchard has started 66.3 percent of his shifts in the offensive zone, highest on the Oilers. He's had an impact on offense as well, tallying four points and 31 shots on goal through 10 games. The 21-year-old had a game with two assists and eight shots on goal. That's upside! I like said upside in this matchup against a Canucks team with a 3.57 GAA that has also allowed 32.8 shots on net per contest.
DEFENSEMEN TO AVOID
Charlie McAvoy, BOS at NYI ($20): This is one of those cases where I am both recommending avoiding a goalie but also recommending avoiding a player facing said goalie. Hey, maybe somebody like Pastrnak or Brad Marchand is going to make things tough on Varlamov and keep him from living up to his salary. Overall though, I'm not expecting a barnburner between two teams that by and large suppress shots and goals. McAvoy is not offensively proficient enough for me to want to trust him in this matchup.
Nick Leddy, NYI vs. BOS ($14): I'm flipping this matchup around with the same logic. Leddy, though, is in a particularly rough spot. Six of his 10 points have come with the extra man. The Bruins, meanwhile, have a top-five penalty kill. I don't expect Leddy to add to that total.
