This article is part of our Yahoo DFS Hockey series.
GOALIE
Thatcher Demko, VAN at COL ($31): The Canucks are going on the road to face the Avalanche, who are typically a daunting opponent on paper. However, Nathan MacKinnon (lower body) will be out of the lineup, and Cale Makar (upper body) is still questionable for that game. Demko has been impressive on the road this year with a .924 save percentage and a 3-1-1 record, so he has a decent chance to steal one tonight.
GOALIE TO AVOID
Vitek Vanecek, WAS vs. DET ($29): Vanecek may be more popular than he should be simply because he's facing the Red Wings. However, the Red Wings aren't slouches anymore. They rank ninth in the league with 2.47 xGF/60 at even strength, and they've won three straight games. Vanecek's numbers don't jump off the page either, as he's rung up a 3-2-3 record with a .906 save percentage so far.
CENTER
Joel Eriksson Ek, MIN at VGK ($18): Robin Lehner has been solid this year with a .919 save percentage through 11 games, and he's playing well above expectations as the Golden Knights have allowed 3.02 xG/60 at even strength (the highest rate in the league). Every goalie has a breaking point though, and Minnesota's healthy forward corps could do the trick. After all, Eriksson Ek has fired 28 shots on goal over 11 games while posting four goals and two helpers.
CENTER TO AVOID
Andrew Copp, WPG vs. SJ ($19): Copp has failed to score in five straight games, and he's gone pointless in four of those contests. Shooting just eight pucks on net in that stretch is equally as concerning. Mark Scheifele returned to the lineup Tuesday, meaning Copp could be in danger of losing ice time.
WING
Alex Iafallo, LA at OTT ($18): Iafallo signed a four-year extension back in April but is playing like he's in a contract year, recording six goals and seven apples through 13 games this season. He skates on the top power-play unit, too, and he'll take on Ottawa's 28th-ranked penalty kill (71.9 percent) tonight.
J.T. Compher, COL vs. VAN ($17): I still like Demko tonight, but Compher's value is too good to pass up. Despite being listed as a wing, he'll center the first line in place of MacKinnon, playing alongside Mikko Rantanen and Gabriel Landeskog. and he should slot onto PP1 as well. Compher has five goals and four assists through 10 games this year and his production could go up with the extra opportunities.
WINGS TO AVOID
Mikael Granlund, NSH at STL ($18): Granlund has fired just 16 shots on net through 12 games, and four of his 10 points have come on the power play. His floor is low because he's struggling to get pucks on net, and we don't have much of a ceiling to chase with the Blues' penalty kill (88.9 percent) ranking third in the league.
Taylor Hall, BOS vs. EDM ($17): Hall is only averaging 15:30 of ice time per game despite playing on the second line, and his PP1 placement holds less value against Edmonton's PK (87.1 percent). He's been a fine player this season, but his opportunities have been less frequent than we're used to, as he's averaging two shots per game.
DEFENSE
John Carlson, WAS at DET ($21): Carlson typically carries one of the highest blue line salaries, so we should jump on this bargain. The 31-year-old has posted two goals, four helpers and 17 shots on net over the last five games. Both of those goals came on the power play, so Carlson's upside is intriguing against the league's 26th-ranked PK (72.3 percent).
Brent Burns, SJ at WPG ($19): Burns is on a roll right now with a goal, seven assists and 22 shots on net over the past five games. Three of those points came with the man advantage. Even at 36 years old, Burns is averaging more than 27 minutes of ice time per game, and he'll get to target the league's second-worst penalty kill (63.9 percent) on Thursday night.
DEFENSEMEN TO AVOID
Aaron Ekblad, FLA at PIT ($24): Ekblad is an excellent two-way player, but he's worth fading in tournament settings. Four of his 10 points have come on the power play, and the Panthers will face the league's best PK (92.3 percent) tonight. There's a case to be made that Ekblad shoots enough to be viable in cash games. However, his ceiling is low enough to make this salary tough to swallow.
Evan Bouchard, EDM at BOS ($17): Bouchard doesn't rely on his power-play opportunities too much, but this is a tough matchup nonetheless. The Bruins sport a league-low 1.78 xGA/60 at even strength, and Bruins goaltender Jeremy Swayman sports a staggering .943 save percentage and 1.34 GAA at home.
