This article is part of our Yahoo DFS Hockey series.
We are nearing the end of both the month of April and the NHL regular season. The playoffs are nearing, though at a time when we are usually in the midst of them. The important thing is we have hockey to watch, specifically eight NHL games Tuesday. We also have DFS NHL contests to consider, and on that front here are my recommendations.
GOALIE
Thomas Greiss, DET at CLM ($30): I never imagined recommending a Red Wings goalie this season – and I say that as a Red Wings fan – but this is a bleak matchup. We have two of the bottom-three teams in goals per game, and while the Jackets are one spot above the Wings, they are also seemingly going through the motions. Columbus has lost nine games in a row. Detroit has been swapping goalie starts, and Greiss is up next if that continues. By the way, in his last 10 games Greiss also happens to have an 1.98 GAA and .937 save percentage.
GOALIE TO AVOID
Tuukka Rask, BOS at PIT ($32): The Bruins had Jeremy Swayman in net in their last game even though Rask and Jaroslav Halak are both back, which is intriguing, but in the end Rask is probably the guy for the home stretch and the playoffs. Pittsburgh is sort of the flip side of Columbus, though. The Penguins are 8-1-1 in their last 10 games and are now third in the league in goals per contest at 3.38. I don't want to risk employing a goalie facing the Pens right now.
CENTER
Jack Hughes, NJD vs. PHI ($15): Hey, remember when Hughes was the first overall pick and considered an elite prospect? Have we forgotten about him just because he plays for a bad Devils team and he had a rough rookie season? Well he's gone from averaging 15:52 in ice time last season to 19:08 this season and has 25 points in 48 games. I also like how active he's been recently, as he has 55 shots on net in his last 15 games. This is a battle of bad defenses, and the Flyers are doing their part on that front with a 3.48 GAA.
CENTER TO AVOID
Evgeny Kuznetsov, WAS vs. NYI ($19): Kuznetsov may not have Alex Ovechkin on his wing, which is a concern to begin with. Yes, it didn't stop the Russian pivot from having three points in his last game, but that's much less likely to happen when you are skating with Daniel Sprong. Plus, the Islanders have the second-lowest GAA in the NHL (2.31), so even if Ovechkin plays this is a tough matchup.
WING
James van Riemsdyk, PHI at NJD ($17): Van Riemsdyk came back to earth after a red-hot start to the season, but I don't quibble much with 16 goals and 23 assists in 48 games. Additionally, nine of those goals have come with the extra man. That's important to know heading into this matchup, as the Devils have the league's worst penalty kill by a wide margin. Seriously, New Jersey has a 69.8 percent penalty kill, but Philadelphia is second worst at 74.5 percent.
Kaapo Kakko, NYR vs. BUF ($15): Kakko had an even rougher rookie season than Hughes, and he hasn't taken as much of a step forward in his sophomore campaign. That being said, the Finn has started 57.7 percent of his shifts in the offensive zone, highest on the Rangers. He also just scored two goals against the Sabres. Hey, Buffalo has a 3.43 GAA and has allowed 33.1 shots on net per game. I wouldn't be surprised to see Kakko return to the score sheet.
WINGS TO AVOID
Patrick Kane, CHI vs. TAM ($34): You can't quibble with Kane's season… but if I was going to quibble, his goal scoring has been down this year. He has 15 goals in 48 games, and his 9.1 percent shooting is low for him. At this salary, any nitpick can make a difference. Also making a difference? A likely matchup with Andrei Vasilevskiy, who has a 2.10 GAA and .928 save percentage.
David Pastrnak, BOS at PIT ($31): Like Kane, this is not about Pastrnak's performance, but about salary and matchup. You may remember Tristan Jarry giving up six goals to New Jersey a few games ago and be skeptical, but over his last two starts he's allowed only a single goal. Taking a bigger-picture look, over his last 16 games Jarry has a 2.24 GAA and .927 save percentage. Dish out the big bucks for Pasta in another matchup.
DEFENSE
Ivan Provorov, PHI at NJD ($18): Here's another guy who can take advantage of New Jersey's woeful penalty kill. He's actually being used on a power play a bit less this year, though his minutes are up overall because he's the clear workhorse for the Flyers on defense. Nevertheless, he's played 2:32 per game with the extra man and tallied 10 power-play points. It's not just the penalty kill for the Devils, of course. You don't end up with a 3.44 GAA solely by allowing power-play goals.
Keith Yandle, FLA at NAS ($12): You know what team also has a poor penalty kill? That would be the Predators, who are in the bottom 10. Yandle is, as you may know, a power-play specialist at this point in his career. He's averaged more than four minutes per game on the power play and tallied 16 points with the extra man. The Panthers and Predators are playing on the second leg of a back-to-back Tuesday, and that could lead to some tired penalty killers.
DEFENSEMEN TO AVOID
John Klingberg, DAL vs. CAR ($19): The Stars and Hurricanes are also playing the second night of a back-to-back, but that doesn't mean as much against the 'Canes. Carolina is in the top five in GAA and penalty-kill percentage, for starters, and it also has a dynamic duo in goal in Alex Nedeljkovic and Petr Mrazek. Now, Mrazek is a little banged up, but since James Reimer got the start Monday, at worst Nedeljkovic will be in net, and that's not going to be good for the Swedish defenseman.
Seth Jones, CLM vs. DET ($17): Jones finally ended a 17-game goal drought, but that still leaves him with five goals in 50 games. Zach Werenski is out, leaving Jones to shoulder even more of the load for a team that is struggling heavily. With Greiss having posted a .937 save percentage over his last 10 games, this should be another tough day for Jones.
