This article is part of our Yahoo DFS Hockey series.
There are five games on the National Hockey League schedule Friday, with the Wild, Devils, Hurricanes and Oilers playing their second game in consecutive nights.
Tampa Bay and Anaheim each sport lengthy winning streaks, whereas the Oilers and Sabres continue to take their lumps in the basement of the standings.
Here are your value and bust leans for Friday's slate.
GOALIE
John Gibson, ANA vs. EDM ($33) - Edmonton plays its second road game in consecutive nights and has just 10 goals through its six-game losing streak. Gibson has won his last two starts with two goals allowed in each outing, and Anaheim is also rolling along a six-game winning stretch. Frederik Andersen is an equally strong play but is must more expensive at $39.
Tuukka Rask, BOS at CAR ($34) - Carolina lost 3-1, and in uninspiring fashion, to the Maple Leafs on Thursday, and Boston was already in Raleigh, N.C., waiting for the Hurricanes. Rask has also been much more successful on the road this season with a 13-5-3 record, a .932 save percentage and a 2.10 goals-against average. This is a cushy cap hit, too.
Goalie to Avoid:
Eddie Lack, CAR vs. BOS ($36) - Boston has averaged 3.6 goals per game through its last five games and 3.27 goals per road game. Additionally, the Hurricanes are playing their second road game in consecutive nights. While Lack has a respectable 2.39 goals-against average through his last nine games, he has just four wins and a mediocre .914 save percentage. The cap hit is steep for an average-at-best tender in a weak matchup.
CENTER
Steven Stamkos, TB at NJ ($25) - With a goal in four consecutive games, Stamkos continues to be a reliable fantasy option. Friday, the Lightning grab New Jersey on the wrong end of back-to-back games, and Tampa Bay should face a favorable goaltending situation with Cory Schneider playing his second game in consecutive nights or backup Keith Kinkaid donning the blue paint.
Center to Avoid:
Logan Couture, SJ vs. BUF ($31) - There is too much boom or bust in Couture's fantasy game lately. He has missed the scoresheet in six of his last 12 games but also has a point-per-game mark during the span because of four-point and three-point showings. Outside of those two games, Couture has been a serious disappointment in his last dozen games.
WING
Tomas Hertl, SJ vs. BUF ($21) - The top-line winger is rolling along a three-game point streak with three goals, 12 shots on net and a plus-2 rating. Buffalo has allowed 2.64 goals per game in February, but Hertl's exposure to Joe Thornton and Joe Pavelski comes at a discount, and the third wheel is in fine form. He also has 19 points through his last 25 games, so the hot stretch isn't a flash in the pan.
Andre Burakovsky, WAS vs. MIN ($17) - Despite a red-hot stretch dating to mid-January, Burakovsky is still extremely affordable. He has missed the scoresheet in just four of his last 18 games and has 19 points -- nine goals -- during the span with 37 shots on net and a plus-6 rating. Minnesota plays its second road game in consecutive nights and has lost consecutive games.
Wings to Avoid:
Alex Ovechkin, WAS vs. MIN ($34) - It is extremely difficult to field a competitive lineup with Ovechkin. You'll have to sacrifice significantly at all other skater positions, unless you're going with true fliers in net. Ovechkin's upside is there night in, night out, but putting all your eggs in one basket is risky. If you assemble a lineup you're comfortable with including Ovechkin, go for it. A number of inclusions here can help manipulate the cap to include No. 8.
DEFENSE
Dmitry Orlov, WAS vs. MIN ($15) - An uptick in production has Orlov's value on the rise. He has five points in hi last six games with eight shots on net, eight blocked shots and a plus-2 rating. He doesn't log oodles of minutes or receive power-play time but has excellent chemistry with his countrymen, including goals-per-60-minute marks at five-on-five north of 4.0 with Ovechkin and Evgeny Kuznetsov.
Simon Despres, ANA vs. EDM ($13) - Take the savings and reliable counting stats and spend up elsewhere. As mentioned, it is a juicy matchup, and Despres has a pair of helpers and a plus-6 rating with 15 shots and 27 blocked shots. The peripheral contributions are there for solid foundation and an appearance of the scoresheet would make Despres a huge profit.
Defenseman to Avoid:
Sami Vatanen, ANA vs. EDM ($25) - There is huge blow-up potential fading Vatanen, especially with him locked in offensively -- three goals and three assists through his last six games with at least one point in five of six outings. However, five of six points have also been via the power play, so his numbers are a touch unsustainable. Expect Vatanen to be extremely chalky Friday, and zigging where others zag has huge upside.
