This article is part of our Yahoo DFS Hockey series.
Welcome to December. The month starts Wednesday with six games on the NHL slate. To start a new month off right (and help you stash some cash for holiday shopping), here are some players to target and to avoid for your DFS lineups.
GOALIE
Igor Shesterkin, NYR vs. PHI ($38): This would have been the Rangers hosting the Flyers on the second leg of a back-to-back, but the Flyers' trip to the Islanders' new arena was postponed. Nevertheless, Philly has only averaged 2.45 goals per game. Shesterkin has been stellar thus far, with a 2.22 GAA and .933 save percentage to his name.
GOALIE TO AVOID
Tristan Jarry, PIT at EDM ($34): Jarry has been a workhorse, starting 18 games already and managing an 1.88 GAA and .938 save percentage. That being said, a road trip to Edmonton should test him. The Oilers have scored 3.75 goals per game and have the best power play in the league.
CENTER
Elias Pettersson, VAN at OTT ($17): Pettersson has had some rough luck, as he has a 6.6 shooting percentage. He has a career 16.0 shooting percentage, so a lot of regression should be coming, even if he doesn't get to his career number by season's end. The Swede has also been impressive on the power play, having notched seven points with the extra man. Ottawa has a 3.84 GAA, highest in the NHL, and they are also floating around the bottom five on the penalty kill.
CENTER TO AVOID
Sean Couturier, PHI at NYR ($21): I already mentioned Shesterkin's 2.22 GAA and .933 save percentage, so that's a starting point here. On top of that, Couturier only has two points in his last 10 games, and they have both been assists.
WING
Jaden Schwartz, SEA at DET ($17): Schwartz has provided the veteran presence that the Kraken were hoping for in their inaugural season, as he has 17 points in 22 games. He's also put 56 shots on goal. The Red Wings may be at home, but they are on the second leg of a back-to-back. That likely means Thomas Greiss in net, and he has a 3.41 GAA and .901 save percentage.
Tim Stutzle, OTT vs. VAN ($13): Stutzle has gone from averaging 15:44 in ice time as a rookie to 18:02 this year. However, an unsustainable 2.5 shooting percentage is slowing him down. In spite of that, he's tallied five points in 19 games on the power play. This is notable, given that the Canucks have the league's worst penalty kill. Some time with the extra man could easily pay off.
WINGS TO AVOID
Mikko Rantanen, COL at TOR ($34): Rantanen is off to a great start to the season and has Nathan MacKinnon back, but I am still hesitant. The salary is high, as it should be, but the matchup is quite difficult. Being on the road and facing Jack Campbell, who has a 1.64 GAA and .946 save percentage, is not exactly a favorable situation.
Troy Terry, ANA vs. VGK ($21): In spite of his hot start, Terry has a couple things going against him. One, his shooting percentage cannot be sustained. Two, the Ducks are playing their second game in as many nights. Over his last nine starts, Robin Lehner has a .918 save percentage for the Golden Knights. I think the money needed to pay Terry's salary Wednesday won't be worth it.
DEFENSE
Shea Theodore, VGK at ANA ($18): Theodore was hot before he missed a couple games, and he doesn't have a point in three games since returning. However, he put six shots on goal in those contests and has got plenty of power-play time, so he's staying active. Now he faces his old team when they are on a back-to-back.
Quinn Hughes, VAN at OTT ($17): Hughes has taken on an even bigger role for the Canucks, as he's averaged 24:29 per game, including 3:51 on the power play. Since he first stepped on the ice in the NHL, Hughes has been a power-play weapon, and he has seven points with the extra man in 22 games. The Senators have a bad penalty kill, not to mention a 3.84 GAA.
DEFENSE TO AVOID
Tyson Barrie, EDM vs. PIT ($19): There is going to be quite the battle in Edmonton on Wednesday. It's the league's best power play against the league's top penalty kill. As good as Jarry has been I don't want to risk using him in this matchup, but I am also concerned about the Oilers' power play to a degree. That particularly impacts Barrie. Six of his 12 points have come with the extra man.
Ivan Provorov, PHI at NYR ($17): Provorov is starting to look better after a slow start, and he has a three-game point streak. I expect that streak to end in New York on Wednesday. I'll mention again that Shesterkin has a 2.22 GAA and .933 save percentage.
