This article is part of our Yahoo DFS Hockey series.
Thursday's busy NHL slate offers no shortage of lineup choices, as 24 of the league's 30 teams are in action. Everyone except for Edmonton will be fresh after a day off, and only the Islanders, Flames and Capitals have to worry about playing again Friday, so there should be plenty of fast-paced action on the docket. The abundance of inter-conference matchups may lead to a quiet night on the fighting front, but that just leaves more time for fantasy production.
There's no shortage of strategies to go around on a bustling night like this one, but it's safe to assume that the Flames (at TB), Oilers (at ARZ) and Senators (vs. VAN) should see plenty of their opponents' skaters prominently featured in many DFS lineups, as each of the three surrender more than three goals per game. Regardless of whether you play a cash game or a GPP, examining the rosters from the rest of the NHL in addition to the obvious candidates is the key to building an original yet effective winning lineup.
GOALIE
Pekka Rinne, NSH vs. TOR ($34) - Rinne's recent struggles have dropped his price to a reasonable $34, but it's only a matter of time until the Finnish stud gets back on track. Despite surrendering 15 goals in his last four starts, Rinne still has a solid 2.39 GAA, ranking second in the NHL with eight wins. Considering that his season resume could actually be considered underwhelming for the three-time Vezina Trophy finalist, he makes for an excellent play against the cellar-dwelling Maple Leafs.
Goalie to Avoid:
Craig Anderson, OTT vs. VAN ($37) - Anderson has been incredibly inconsistent this season, which makes him difficult to trust at $37. He'll be eager to redeem himself after surrendering seven goals to the Predators on Tuesday, but the price is way too high considering the 34-year-old has allowed at least four goals in three of his last five outings.
CENTER
Leon Draisaitl, EDM at ARZ ($18) - Draisaitl has cooled off a bit after registering 56.0 fantasy points in three games from Oct. 29 to Nov. 3, but the third overall pick in the 2014 draft is still in an excellent position to produce. The 20-year-old centers Edmonton's top line with Taylor Hall and Jordan Eberle and has the offensive talent to take the advantage of the opportunities his linemates provide. Any Oiler is a bit of a plus/minus risk due to the team's inability to win, but the upside of Draisaitl is too good to pass up.
Center to Avoid:
Mark Scheifele, WPG at DAL ($22) - Scheifele's 5-4-9 line through 16 games is bolstered by his season-opening three-game goal streak; if you look at his results since, the second-line center has put up an unspectacular two goals and four assists in 13 games. Those numbers aren't bad, but they hardly warrant a $22 investment on the road against a 12-4-0 team.
WING
Jarome Iginla, CGY at BOS ($19) - Iginla lit up the Flames to the tune of two goals and an assists on Nov. 3, so the veteran winger is naturally an intriguing pick when he faces another of his former teams Thursday. Boston allows an ugly 3.21 goals per game, and Iginla's recent play indicates that he's ready to take advantage of the Bruins' shoddy defense. The 38-year-old has five goals and four assists in his last nine games and should sustain or improve on that point-per-game pace in this one.
Jonathan Huberdeau, FLA vs. BUF ($16) - The 22-year-old is still goalless in 2015-16, but it's not for lack of trying. After posting just 21 shots on goal in the season's first 13 games, Huberdeau has demonstrated his hunger to get on the scoresheet with nine in the last two games. The third pick in the 2011 draft is too talented not to find the back of the net soon, and a date with a Sabres team that gives up 2.80 goals per game could be just what he needs.
Wings to Avoid:
Radim Vrbata, VAN at OTT ($19) - The Senators have struggled defensively this season, but Vrbata is not the guy you want to use to take advantage of the friendly matchup. The 34-year-old winger seems to have lost a step in his second season with the Canucks, as his minus-9 rating is by far worst on the team. The Czech scored 31 goals last year, but fantasy is all about what-have-you-done-for-me-lately, and Vrbata's 6.0 fantasy points over his last four games are underwhelming.
Vladimir Tarasenko, STL at NYR ($29) - Tarasenko is more than capable of overcoming the odds and producing against any opponent, but it's unwise to spend top dollar on him in such a difficult matchup on a night with so many alternatives. The Rangers allow a paltry 1.60 goals per game, and goaltender Henrik Lundqvist has been responsible for many a fantasy clunker from superstar forwards in the past. It wouldn't surprise if Tarasenko is held without a point.
DEFENSEMEN
Brent Seabrook, CHI vs. NJD ($23) - The Devils held Seabrook off the scoresheet Friday in New Jersey, but that night was the only instance in the last nine games that the defenseman failed to come away with at least one point. Seabrook and the Blackhawks are at home this time around, and $23 is a reasonable price to pay for a player who has averaged 11.9 fantasy points per game since Duncan Keith's injury forced him into a bigger role.
Tyson Barrie, COL at BOS ($19) - After a less-than-ideal start, Barrie has produced seven assists and a plus-3 rating over his last five games. The offensive-minded blueliner registered 53 points in 80 games last season, so it's likely that his recent hot streak is the jumping-off point for consistent offensive production. Barrie's plus-22 rating over the previous two seasons proves that he can be defensively responsible, which just further raises his appeal in what figures to be a high-scoring game against the Bruins.
Defenseman to Avoid:
Colton Parayko, STL at NYR ($25) - The rookie has taken the NHL by storm with 10 points and a plus-9 rating through 15 games, and his price has seen a corresponding meteoric rise all the way to $25. Parayko's 19:59 per game load is nothing special for a defenseman, and his production figures to drop a bit as the rest of the NHL begins to notice his results. Even if Parayko continues his strong play in the short term, it's hard to justify his price as the league's third-most expensive defenseman considering he faces a Rangers team on a six-game winning streak.
