This article is part of our Yahoo DFS Hockey series.
Tuesday is Groundhog Day, but this season definitely doesn't feel like a repeat of anything we've seen before. It's been bumpy at times, but we're getting into the swing of things in the second month of the season. There are nine games scheduled for Tuesday now (New Jersey and Pittsburgh has been postponed), and I have some players to target, and to avoid, for your DFS lineup. By the way, the puck drops on the first game at 6:00 p.m. EST, so be ready an hour earlier than usual.
GOALIE
Anton Khudobin, DAL at CLM ($38): Khudobin has picked up where he left off last season when he was a star for the Stars in the playoffs. With Ben Bishop out, Khudobin has posted a 2.17 GAA and .922 save percentage. Maybe the integration of Patrik Laine into the Blue Jackets lineup will give them a boost, but so far they've scored 2.30 goals per game after scoring 2.57 last season.
GOALIE TO AVOID
Cam Talbot, MIN at COL ($30): Talbot has only played in five games due to injuries, but his .916 save percentage is solid. He looked good in action as a backup in Calgary last season (.919 save percentage), but he struggled his final two seasons in Edmonton. Being on the road against Colorado is tricky, as it scored 3.37 goals per game last season, fourth most in the NHL.
CENTER
Ryan Getzlaf, ANA at LOS ($11): My initial thought here was Jack Hughes, but then the Devils game got postponed. As such, I'm moving to the exact opposite end of the career spectrum. The 35-year-old Getzlaf is playing for the league's worst offense, but he does have five points in 10 games. That includes assists in back-to-back games. Maybe a matchup with local rival Los Angeles will help. Jonathan Quick does have a 3.54 GAA and .885 save percentage.
CENTER TO AVOID
Jack Eichel, BUF at NYI ($30): The goals haven't arrived for Eichel yet, but that's in part because he's shooting at a 5.1 percent clip. That will improve, but possibly not against the Islanders. New York has allowed a mere 27.1 shots on net per game, for starters. Secondly, Semyon Varlamov has a 2.00 GAA and .924 save percentage, so even the shots that get on net aren't going in that often.
WING
Brendan Gallagher, MON vs. VAN ($18): The Canadiens and Canucks are facing off in Montreal for the second time in as many nights. Considering that Vancouver already allows the most shots per game in the NHL, any slack in their defense caused by being on the road for the second night in a row could allow for a lot of opportunity for Gallagher. And he's already a prolific shooter. He's put 35 shots on goal in nine games.
Kailer Yamamoto, EDM vs. OTT ($17): Even though he doesn't get time on Edmonton's vaunted power play, Yamamoto has still been able to produce this season. He's tallied four goals and three assists through 11 games. The Senators have a woeful 4.89 GAA this season, but if nine games isn't enough of a sample size, they had a 3.35 GAA last year, second highest in the NHL.
WINGS TO AVOID
Jaden Schwartz, STL vs. ARI ($18): Schwartz enjoyed a bounce-back season last year, scoring 22 goals in 71 games, including nine with the extra man. Last season, the Coyotes had a 2.61 GAA and the fifth-ranked penalty kill. This year, Darcy Kuemper has a .910 and 2.43 GAA, but over his last four starts he has a 1.52 GAA and .939 save percentage.
Kirill Kaprizov, MIN at COL ($17): The rookie came out of the gate looking good, and Kaprizov does have eight points in 10 games. On the other hand, he only has 15 shots on goal in those 10 contests, and three of his points came in the season opener. The Avalanche have allowed a mere 26.2 shots on goal per contest, and Philipp Grubauer has a 1.75 GAA and .930 save percentage.
DEFENSE
Dougie Hamilton, CAR at CHI ($23): Hamilton managed 14 goals in only 47 games last season, and while he hasn't lit the lamp yet this year he has four assists through six contests. Eventually the goals will come. Yes, Kevin Lankinen has a 1.97 GAA and .937 save percentage, but he's a 25-year-old rookie who has played in six NHL games. I don't expect this performance to continue, especially since the Blackhawks have allowed 33.2 shots on per game this season and allowed 35.1 shots on net per contest last season.
Tyson Barrie, EDM vs. OTT ($18): Exactly what we expected for Barrie in Edmonton is happening. He's averaged 4:30 per game with the extra man and notched four of his seven points on the power play. Ottawa had the 28th-ranked penalty kill last season, and this year it has been even worse defensively. The Sens have a 4.89 GAA, highest in the league.
DEFENSEMEN TO AVOID
Seth Jones, CLM vs. DAL ($15): Jones is off to one of the slowest starts in the NHL, as he has a single point in 10 games. His talent is clear, but the production simply has not been there. Now he has to face a team led by Khudobin with his 2.17 GAA and .922 save percentage? I don't imagine this being the game where Jones gets back on the score sheet.
Duncan Keith, CHI vs. CAR ($15): Keith may be 37, but he can still contribute offensively, with five assists through 10 games. That being said, the Hurricanes have a 1.67 GAA, lowest in the NHL. Now, you may be saying, "But Petr Mrazek is hurt." Sure, but Carolina has only given up 23.3 shots on goal per game this year. James Reimer has a .918 save percentage after having a .914 save percentage last year, so he can probably handle that light of a load.
