This article is part of our Yahoo DFS Hockey series.
NHL action returns Friday with a 15-game slate beginning at 1:00 PM Eastern time. There's plenty of selection to choose from here, but certain players stand out as options to target or avoid. Read on to see who falls into which category.
GOALIE
Semyon Varlamov, COL at ARI ($33): Varlamov's three-game winning streak has improved his record to 7-5-2, and he has a sparkling 2.37 GAA and .925 save percentage accompanying that record. Arizona ranks third from the bottom with 2.50 goals per game while Colorado's second from the top at 3.71, so Varlamov's primed to extend his winning streak here.
GOALIE TO AVOID
Devan Dubnyk, MIN vs. WPG ($37): Dubnyk has struggled in his past four starts, winning only once while allowing 14 pucks to cross the goal line. He'll have a tough time getting back on track against a Jets team that's outscoring opponents 3.20 to 2.65 on average this season.
CENTER
Filip Chytil, NYR at PHI ($14): It's amazing how cheap Chytil is, even though he's become just the 20th teenager in NHL history to muster a five-game goal streak by lighting the lamp in each of his past five games. Skating on the top line and No. 1 power-play unit, Chytil's in position to keep the good times rolling against a Flyers team that's allowing the second-most goals per game (3.62) while killing penalties at the league's second-lowest rate (68.5 percent).
CENTER TO AVOID
Evgeni Malkin, PIT at BOS ($34): Malkin thrived while Sidney Crosby sat for a few games, but the Russian's responsibilities should be reduced with Crosby back, and Malkin's average of 10.0 fantasy points is the lowest among all centers priced at $29 or more. Even reaching that average will be tough against a Bruins team that's allowing the second-fewest goals per game (2.48).
WINGS
Kyle Palmieri, NJ vs. NYI ($24): Palmieri's off to a fantastic start, as his average of 9.4 fantasy points is tops among all New Jersey skaters -- even better than reigning MVP Taylor Hall's 9.2. Against an Islanders team that's allowed 16 goals in its past three games (at least five in each), Palmieri's primed for another big game.
Jonathan Drouin, MON at BUF ($18): Drouin has been terrific over his past nine games, with five goals and 11 points. At just $18, it's worth plugging in the third overall selection from the 2013 draft in hopes of another strong performance.
WINGS TO AVOID
Blake Wheeler, WPG at MIN ($29): Wheeler gets the majority of his production at home, and he's heavily reliant on the power play, with 13 of his 25 points coming on the man advantage. On the road against a Wild team that boasts the league's third-best penalty kill (85.7 percent), Wheeler is unlikely to live up to his lofty valuation.
Timo Meier, SJ vs. VAN ($23): This matchup looks good, but Meier's overpriced after riding an early wave of luck. The career 9.8 percent shooter is still due for further regression from his current 16.9 mark. You're better off picking one of Meier's similarly priced teammates.
DEFENSEMEN
Esa Lindell, DAL vs. OTT ($18): Lindell's a nice option for owners that don't want to pay up for Dallas' expensive top forwards but still want to exploit Ottawa's league-worst defense and penalty kill. He shares the ice with those top guys often, especially as the quarterback of the top power-play unit while John Klingberg's recovering from a hand injury. That extensive role should translate into results against a Senators team that's surrendering 4.27 goals per contest while only killing 67.1 percent of penalties.
Roman Josi, NSH at STL ($23): Josi has been outstanding over the past 11 contests. Not only is he performing at a point-per-game pace, but Josi's averaging more than four shots on goal in that stretch. With his valuation brought down by an early-season rough patch, Josi should deliver excellent bang for the buck against a Blues team that's giving up 3.15 goals per game.
DEFENSEMEN TO AVOID
Tyson Barrie, COL at ARI ($20): Since the start of last season, 37 of Barrie's 76 points have come with the extra man. He has a high offensive ceiling, but Barrie's unlikely to approach that ceiling against Arizona's top-ranked, 91.9 percent penalty kill.
Jacob Trouba, WPG at MIN ($19): Trouba doesn't do enough offensively to justify a $19 valuation -- he's never eclipsed 33 points in a season. With no shortage of available alternatives in this price range, owners should strive for a higher ceiling than what Trouba offers here.
