This article is part of our Yahoo DFS Hockey series.
Opportunities for rested teams to face an opponent on the second leg of a back-to-back have been infrequent this season, but Tuesday the Devils are hosting the Sabres, who are visiting New Jersey after playing the Islanders on Monday. If there is one way to describe the Devils this season, it would be "rested." There are plenty of rested teams in Tuesday's six games. Here are my recommendations for your DFS lineup!
GOALIE
Pekka Rinne, NAS at DET ($29): Both the Predators and the Red Wings are in the bottom five in goals per game, so I am not expecting an abundance of scoring here. I'm leaning Rinne, though, because the Wings have also only managed 27.5 shots on net per contest. The veteran netminder is likely to not be busy, so if he can handle the handful of shots I expect him to face it should be an easy night, and also quite possibly a win.
GOALIE TO AVOID
Carey Price, MON at OTT ($29): Price has a strong reputation that he is still riding, but the production isn't there. He's posted a 2.88 GAA and .893 save percentage this season. Now, you might be thinking this is an easy matchup, even on the road. However, while they are in the bottom five in goals per game, the Senators are in the top five in shots on net per contest (32.3). A little more puck luck would go a long way in Ottawa, and I'm not willing to rely on Price while he's playing like this, even in this matchup.
CENTER
Nico Hischier, NJD vs. BUF ($13): Hischier has the captaincy in New Jersey now, even if he doesn't have a point in the two games he's played in this season. It's totally understandable he'd need some time to get his skates under him, but he's getting plenty of power-play time and I expect him to find his form soon. Having the opportunity to host a Sabres team on the road for the second leg of a back-to-back should benefit the Swiss skater as well.
CENTER TO AVOID
Jack Eichel, BUF at NJD ($29): This is not a great day for defenses based on goals allowed per game, but Jersey's MacKenzie Blackwood has been plenty good at goal prevention when he's been between the pipes. Blackwood has managed a 2.11 GAA and .938 save percentage through six starts. Throw in Eichel being on the back-to-back, and the relative strength of most of these matchups, and I'm steering clear.
WING
Brendan Gallagher, MON at OTT ($19): Just because I'm fading Price, don't get the idea I'm suddenly throwing a Senators jersey on and becoming their No. 1 supporter. This is still a team with a 4.00 GAA, highest in the NHL. Gallagher is usually one of the most prolific shooters in the NHL, and he's potted six goals on 57 shots in 17 games. Shots on net have a tendency to go in when Ottawa is involved.
Jesse Puljujarvi, EDM at VAN ($17): It can be hard to look past the big names in Edmonton, especially with what Connor McDavid is doing. However, do you know who has been playing on McDavid's wing on Edmonton's top line? That would be Puljujarvi, who has five goals and 44 shots on net through 19 contests. The Canucks have a 3.55 GAA and have given up 33.0 shots on goal per game, so Puljujarvi's proximity to McDavid could certainly pay off.
WINGS TO AVOID
Patrik Laine, CLM vs. CHI ($22): Laine is usually a prolific shooter, but that has not been the case with the Blue Jackets. Though nine games in Columbus he's put 12 shots on net. His 40.0 percent shooting is not only not going to be sustained, it will probably be more than cut in half as the year moves on. In addition, Kevin Lankinen has not dropped off yet, as he has a 2.42 GAA and .927 save percentage.
Taylor Hall, BUF at NJD ($20): The clock is ticking on Hall's time in Buffalo. He's on a one-year deal, the team is bad, and he's scored all of one goal. Is he just waiting to move on to a contending team? Possibly, but right now Hall does not look anything like the player he can be at his peak. Having what I would argue is the toughest matchup Tuesday is just another point against him.
DEFENSE
Kris Letang, PIT at WAS ($19): Letang finally doesn't have a zero in the goal column. He lit the lamp twice in his last game, which felt like a long time coming. The 33-year-old has had at least 15 goals in each of his last two seasons, after all. Perhaps owing in part to Ilya Samsonov's COVID-19 issues, the Capitals have a 3.41 GAA, and I don't expect the goaltending to be solidified just yet, as Samsonov has yet to play a game since returning to health.
Adam Boqvist, CHI at CLM ($10): Boqvist recently returned to the Chicago lineup, and he's already been slid into a role on the team's top power-play unit. The 20-year-old has averaged 3:27 per game with the extra man, and three of his four points have come on the power play. Columbus has a bottom-five penalty kill, and Elvis Merzlikins is week-to-week, which should mean Joonas Korpisalo (3.46 GAA, .889 save percentage) in net.
DEFENSEMEN TO AVOID
Tyson Barrie, EDM at VAN ($21): Why avoid a player going up against the Canucks, given their 3.55 GAA? Well, in spite of that they have a top-10 penalty kill, the best of any team in action Tuesday. Barrie is particularly power-play reliant, having played 4:21 per game with the extra man. If that Vancouver penalty kill proves legit, this is maybe not as good of a matchup for Barrie as you might imagine.
Seth Jones, CLM vs. CHI ($19): Unlike the banged-up Zach Werenski, Jones has performed as expected recently, though he only has one goal on the year. However, as I have noted, this is a day with a lot of beneficial and enticing matchups. The fact Jones is likely going to face Lankinen and his .927 save percentage is certainly concerning by comparison. I think you can dole out your salary more wisely.
