This article is part of our Yahoo DFS Hockey series.
Finish off that heart-shaped box of chocolate and get ready for a Tuesday with nine NHL games. I've got some players to consider for your DFS lineups, and also some guys I would leave on the proverbial bench this week. Let's get to it!
GOALIE
Ilya Sorokin, NYI at BUF ($35): Sorokin last's start didn't go well, but to be fair he unexpectedly had to start on the road for the second day of a back-to-back after Semyon Varlamov hit the COVID-19 protocols. This situation will be easier on him. The Russian has a 2.46 GAA and .920 save percentage, while the Sabres have averaged 2.62 goals per game.
GOALIE TO AVOID
Jake Oettinger, DAL at COL ($24): Oettinger has a 2.58 GAA, which is quite good. However, that comes with a .910 save percentage. He's been relying on his defense to help him out a fair amount. That'll be hard against the Avalanche, as they have a 4.07 GAA and have averaged 35.2 shots on net per contest.
CENTER
Anze Kopitar, LOS vs. EDM ($19): Kopitar has a five-game point streak, and all in all he has 42 points in 47 contests. The Oilers have been struggling defensively, and they are the sole team on the second leg of a back-to-back Tuesday. With Mikko Koskinen in the COVID-19 protocols, Mike Smith will likely be in net Tuesday. He's allowed four goals in two of his three starts since returning from injury.
CENTER TO AVOID
Evgeny Kuznetsov, WAS at NAS ($24): Kuznetsov has been having an excellent year, though recently he's swapped with Nicklas Backstrom in terms of who is centering Alex Ovechkin. That can't help but be a step down in terms of upside. On top of that, the Capitals are on the road and will likely be facing Juuse Saros, who has a 2.43 GAA and .925 save percentage.
WING
Ondrej Palat, TAM at NJD ($20): When Brayden Point and Nikita Kucherov are both healthy, Palat gets to play on their wing. That's a great place to be, and Palat has 15 goals and 17 assists in 43 games. The Devils have a 3.51 GAA, which is bottom five in the NHL.
Blake Coleman, CGY vs. CLM ($18): The new year has been favorable to Coleman. He's tallied six goals and seven assists on Calgary's second line. Columbus has been a defensive disaster, as it has a 3.61 GAA and has allowed 35.1 shots on net per contest. The latter is the highest mark in the NHL.
WINGS TO AVOID
Jason Robertson, DAL at COL ($22): Robertson has been playing well, though he and the Stars got blanked in their last game. That was a home matchup with these same Avalanche. Darcy Kuemper shut Robertson down, and he could do it again. Over his last nine games he has a 1.40 GAA and .952 save percentage.
Oliver Bjorkstrand, CLM at CGY ($13): Bjorkstrand has a three-game point streak, but I can see that ending Tuesday. Jacob Markstrom has a 2.12 GAA and .926 save percentage. In fact, over his last 11 starts he has an 1.88 GAA and .932 save percentage.
DEFENSE
Rasmus Andersson, CGY vs. CLM ($19): Andersson has tallied 24 points in 45 games, including nine on the power play. As I mentioned earlier, the Blue Jackets have a 3.61 GAA. That's third highest in the NHL. On the road, that number rises to 3.74.
Sean Durzi, LOS vs. EDM ($15): Durzi has 13 points this season, but that's in only 29 games. That includes seven power-play points, as the rookie has averaged 2:06 with the extra man. The Oilers have a bottom-10 penalty kill, and will also be on the road for the second night of a back-to-back.
DEFENSEMEN TO AVOID
Darnell Nurse, EDM at LOS ($17): Nurse will, as mentioned, be on the second leg of a back-to-back. He'll also be facing a Kings team that has only allowed 28.8 shots on net per game. Los Angeles does have a bottom-five penalty kill, but Nurse isn't in position to take advantage of that. He's only averaging 1:14 with the extra man.
Zach Werenski, CLM at CGY ($16): Werenski will be facing Markstrom and his .926 save percentage, I assume. He'll also be facing a top-five penalty kill. The American defenseman has tallied nine of his 27 points with the extra man, so that doesn't bode well for him.
