This article is part of our Yahoo DFS Hockey series.
The NHL returned from the All-Star break Monday with two games, but Tuesday things kick up another notch. There are seven games on the docket. Somehow, three of the four teams that played Monday are on the second leg of a back-to-back. Here are some players to target, and to avoid, for your DFS lineups.
GOALIE
Thatcher Demko, VAN vs. ARI ($28): Pretty easy call to make here. The Coyotes are last in goals (2.18) and shots on net (25.8) per game. It's an easy way for Demko to ease his way back into action, though he was at the All-Star Game. He was playing a little worse before the break, but he has a 2.62 GAA and .917 save percentage on the season.
GOALIE TO AVOID
Robin Lehner, VGK at EDM ($32): Lehner was playing arguably his best hockey before the break. Over his last nine starts he has a 2.08 GAA and .923 save percentage. However, being on the road against the Oilers is tough. Edmonton has averaged 3.31 goals and 33.3 shots on net per contest.
CENTER
Nick Suzuki, MON vs. NJD ($17): It's been a bleak season for the Canadiens, but Suzuki has been a bright spot. Over his last seven games he has eight points, including four with the extra man. The Devils are in the bottom five in GAA, and they are also going to be on the road for the second leg of a back-to-back.
CENTER TO AVOID
Patrice Bergeron, BOS vs. PIT ($28): Bergeron has been snake-bit this season. His 7.6 percent shooting has limited him to 12 goals, including only one in his last 15 games. Scoring goals against Tristan Jarry hasn't been easy this season, as he has a 2.21 GAA and .923 save percentage.
WING
Tanner Pearson, VAN vs. ARI ($18): Pearson has had a tough season, but his 6.4 percent shooting is well below his career number of 11.0. Some regression to the mean could be coming. Plus, Pearson does have four points in his last five contests. The Coyotes, meanwhile, have a 3.67 GAA.
Conor Sheary, WAS vs. CLM ($15): Sheary is benefitting from playing on Washington's second line with Nicklas Backstrom as his center, at least now that Backstrom is healthy. Sheary has a point in each of his last two games, and 21 points in 37 games overall. The Blue Jackets have been on a brutal run defensively, and now have a 3.67 GAA while giving up 35.4 shots on net per game. The latter number is a league high.
WINGS TO AVOID
Brady Tkachuk, OTT vs. CAR ($20): The Hurricanes will be on the road for the second leg of a back-to-back, but the Senators are playing their second game in as many nights too. Plus, Carolina has the league's lowest GAA and has allowed the fewest shots on net per game. Frederik Andersen started Monday, but Antti Raanta has been no slouch. He has a 2.21 GAA and .914 save percentage.
Blake Wheeler, WPG vs. MIN ($17): I've already mentioned unusually low shooting percentages a couple times, but Wheeler takes the cake. His 2.9 percent mark will improve, though he's always been more of a playmaker than goal scorer. That being said, Cam Talbot has played better since returning from a lower-body injury. In his last three starts he's posted a 1.13 GAA and .958 save percentage.
DEFENSE
Dmitry Orlov, WAS vs. CLM ($16): Orlov has tallied seven goals and 15 assists in 43 games, which are solid numbers. He's a player who has had a couple 30-point season, so this isn't entirely unheard of. As I mentioned earlier, the Jackets have a 3.67 GAA and have allowed a whopping 35.4 shots on goal per contest.
Oliver Ekman-Larsson, VAN vs. ARI ($15): It's probably not surprising that the Coyotes have the league's second-worst penalty kill, given that they have a 3.67 GAA. Normally this is where Quinn Hughes would step in, but he's out right now. Over his last three games Ekman-Larsson has averaged 3:08 on the power play, That kind of time against the Coyotes' penalty kill could pay off for a guy who is a former 'Yote himself.
DEFENSEMEN TO AVOID
Charlie McAvoy, BOS vs. PIT ($19): McAvoy is having a big season, but like I said Jarry has a 2.21 GA and .923 save percentage. Plus, the Penguins have the second-ranked penalty kill. That's notable, because 15 of McAvoy's 28 points have come with the extra man.
Zach Werenski, CLM at WAS ($19): Werenski has six goals this season, but only one in his last 24 games. I'd feel better about this if I knew Vitek Vanecek was healthy, but the Capitals have only allowed 28.7 shots on net per game. It's hard to score goals when you can't put shots on net.
