This article is part of our Yahoo DFS Hockey series.
Thursday's NHL slate is huge, with 11 games on tap and several looking like fun matchups to exploit. We have another Flames-Stars game on our hands, this time in Dallas, and the Stars will be looking for revenge after taking a 4-3 shootout loss Dec. 1. The Columbus-Arizona game, a battle of backup netminders, should be a fantasy-friendly one too as we look for advantageous matchups in Thursday's Yahoo Daily Fantasy Hockey contests.
GOALIE
Martin Jones, SJ at TOR ($31) - When we pick these cheaper goalies, we know we're not getting guaranteed production, but Jones offers a lot of upside for his price against a Toronto team that has struggled to score in the post-Phil Kessel era. Jones has been trending up recently after going through a slump, as he's allowed just one goal in each of his last two outings. There's no other goalie at his price or lower with better numbers, though the $1-more-expensive Cory Schneider offers a similar package in a home outing. This game takes two goalies, and that's going to be my duo.
Goalie to Avoid:
Chad Johnson, BUF vs. ANA ($33) - There's just no reason Johnson should ever be more expensive than the likes of Schneider, Jones, Ryan Miller, etc., and yet he is in Thursday's pricing because he's at home against the Ducks' league-worst offense. Now, I understand wanting to take advantage of that matchup, considering the Ducks have scored exactly five goals in their last four games, including a 5-1 loss to Carolina in their last outing. But after a five-day break to get their heads straight, the Ducks likely will come out and charge hard against Johnson, who's ultimately a backup-caliber goalie.
CENTER
Jason Spezza, DAL vs. CGY ($20) - Let's waste no time taking advantage of this matchup against the league's most generous defense. Spezza has been cold lately -- just a lonely assist in his last five games -- but he's a good bet to snap the slump against the Flames; he put up a goal and a plus-2 rating in these two teams' last meeting and has generally been a reliable value option if you want to stay away from spending big bucks on Tyler Seguin and Jamie Benn.
Center to Avoid:
Leon Draisaitl, EDM at CHI ($23) - Listen, Draisaitl's been terrific overall, but that's not a great reason to roll him out Thursday in a rough matchup against the Blackhawks. If you take out his four assists last Friday against the Rangers, you'd uncover a bit of a slump, as in his other 10 most recent games, Draisaitl has a modest goal and three assists, not to mention a minus-2 rating. He's been a boom-or-bust option, and facing Chicago seems a likely scenario for a bust.
WING
Valeri Nichushkin, DAL vs. CGY ($14) - The price on Nichushkin still doesn't reflect his linemates and ice time, so there's no reason for fantasy owners not to take advantage until the adjustment is made accordingly. He presents a most excellent way to get a piece of that Benn/Seguin action at a bargain-basement cost in a great matchup.
Rick Nash, NYR at MIN ($23) - Although it's been a slow year overall for Nash, he's starting to get his stats on track, thanks to the five points he's ripped off in the last three games. The floor is generally high for Nash, as he likes to shoot, and the Yahoo game rewards that. While a matchup in Minnesota isn't the best situation, Devan Dubnyk has been well short of elite this season and is making his first start back from a groin injury Thursday, so there's some sneaky potential here.
Wing to Avoid:
Marian Hossa, CHI vs. EDM ($22) - While the matchup is on the friendly side, fantasy owners would do well to take note of the decline that's been experienced by the veteran Hossa, whose price is far more reflective of his name than his production this year. With just 13 points in 29 games, he's far from justifying his price tag, and he's tallied no goals and one assist in the last five contests. The bright side for Hossa is that he's still shooting a ton and should experience a rebound when his luck starts evening out, but there's no reason to pay an expectant price for that.
DEFENSE
Rasmus Ristolainen, BUF vs. ANA ($22) - Even when Ristolainen's getting held off the scoresheet, he's readily contributing shots and blocks, giving him a high floor. But with seven goals and 23 points already in 32 games this year, his ceiling's pretty darn high as well. Buffalo's top blueliner is playing enormous minutes and has nine points in his last eight games. Roll him out against the Ducks.
Defenseman to Avoid:
Drew Doughty, LA at MON ($22) - Sitting at the same price as Ristolainen is Doughty, who's been struggling on the Kings' current road trip -- in the first four games, he has just a helper and eight shots, good for a grand total of 12 fantasy points in Yahoo Daily Fantasy. A trip into Montreal isn't likely to cure what's ailing him; though the Habs haven't been awesome lately in the second absence of Carey Price, they still don't give up a lot of goals. There are higher-upside options Thursday.
