This article is part of our Yahoo DFS Hockey series.
TGIF -- unless you're a hockey fan. The NHL is taking it easy to end the work week, as there are only two games on the docket. However, that doesn't mean you can't play daily fantasy, so let's identify some players to pursue and avoid in Yahoo Daily Fantasy.
GOALIE
Corey Crawford, CHI at WPG ($29): With only four goalies in action, your choices are limited. Crawford has been pretty good, as he's posted a 2.59 GAA and .917 save percentage. This is more about Chicago being a better team than Winnipeg. The Blackhawks have won three in a row and have a plus-12 goal differential; the Jets have lost their last two and have a minus-13 goal differential. Crawford is also $1 cheaper than Winnipeg's Connor Hellebuyck, which is another point in his favor.
GOALIE TO AVOID
Connor Hellebuyck, WPG vs. CHI ($30): Hellebucyk hasn't played much recently, and there's good justification for that. He's got a 2.78 GAA and a woeful .909 save percentage. Chicago's offense isn't as potent as it has been in the past, but the 'Hawks are still averaging 2.80 goals per game. Given Hellebucyk's struggles this season, it's hard to trust him.
CENTER
Mikael Granlund, MIN vs. TAM ($20): Sure, Granlund hasn't scored a point in his last two games, but before that he had a 12-game point streak. He's already hit new career highs in goals and points, and he's tallied 12 power-play points as well. Meanwhile, the Lightning have allowed 2.87 goals per game and have the 21st-ranked penalty kill, so Granlund could get back on the scoresheet after a brief hiatus.
CENTER TO AVOID
Brian Boyle, TAM at MIN ($16): The Wild have been decidedly better than the other three teams in action Friday, and goalie Devan Dubnyk has a 1.99 GAA. Indeed, the Lightning have the toughest matchup, although their centers aren't a terribly exciting group with Steven Stamkos out to begin with. Boyle has only averaged 4.9 fantasy points per game, so even if this matchup wasn't so bad, there would be better choices available.
WING
Jason Zucker, MIN vs. TAM ($20): Zucker doesn't get much time on the power play, but he hasn't needed it to have a good fantasy season. He's scored 16 goals on 107 shots in 53 games, and he's averaged 7.3 fantasy points per game. Meanwhile, Tampa's Ben Bishop hasn't managed to turn his season around, as he has a .907 save percentage.
Ryan Hartman, CHI at WPG ($17): Hartman has scored goals in three straight games, and he's tallied 19 shots on net over his last five contests. The Jets have been one of the worst teams in the league defensively, as they've allowed 3.13 goals and 30.7 shots on net per game. Given how few players are in action Friday, Hartman represents an interesting value play.
WINGS TO AVOID
Nikolaj Ehlers, WPG vs. CHI ($20): Ehlers has been good this season, but his 7.0 fantasy points per game are not quite elite. Meanwhile, the Blackhawks have allowed 2.60 goals per game, which ranks in the top 10 in the NHL. With two defensively challenged teams in action, you can do a little better than Ehlers. It's
not a bad matchup, but it's a relatively uninspiring one.
Jonathan Drouin, TAM at MIN ($19): As previously mentioned, Dubnyk has been one of the NHL's best goalies with a 1.99 GAA, and his .933 save percentage leads the NHL. Drouin has had a solid season (6.8 fantasy points per game), but this is far and away the toughest matchup any team is facing Friday. This is not the day to target Lightning players.
DEFENSEMEN
Jacob Trouba, WPG vs. CHI ($17): Trouba has played a ton of minutes since taking the ice this season, averaging 24:26 of ice time. He's put 104 shots on net in 41 games, adding 80 blocks, so he has a nice fantasy floor. The matchup with the Blackhawks isn't great, but Trouba is having a good year, and he comes relatively cheap Friday. That couple of extra bucks saved makes Trouble worth sticking in your lineup, especially since he can help you on both ends of the ice.
Brent Seabrook, CHI at WPG ($15): After a dry patch, Seabrook has four points in his last five games. He's also tallied 12 power-play points while playing 3:05 a night with the extra man. The Jets have the 28th-ranked penalty kill, which is something Seabrook can definitely take advantage of.
DEFENSEMEN TO AVOID
Victor Hedman, TAM at MIN ($24): Hedman is having an excellent season, but he has zero goals in his last 15 games. This is once again about the difficult matchup with the Wild, though. Hedman is the most-expensive defenseman Friday, meaning he has a lot to overcome to end up a being a good value. He will be hard-pressed to earn his price point, which you can't say about a lot of other blueliners in action.
Marco Scandella, MIN vs. TAM ($14): The defensive pool gets shallow pretty fast due to the relative dearth of teams in action. Scandella is where things start to get iffy. He's only averaged 3.7 fantasy points per game, which is far from impressive. Even in a favorable matchup and with so few players to choose from, he seems like an iffy proposition.
