This article is part of our Yahoo DFS Hockey series.
January is over after Thursday. If only winter was going to be over, as well. Hey, at least there are three NHL games, right?
Here are some players to target and avoid…
GOALIE
Keith Kinkaid, NJD vs. NYR ($22): This isn't really about Kinkaid himself, as his numbers are decidedly mediocre. However, the Rangers, who are 8-14-2 on the road, have averaged 2.50 goals and 27.1 shots on net per game away from home. Meanwhile, the Devils rank in the top 10 in goals per game at home. This is a favorable matchup, and Kinkaid has a good shot of picking up a win. I don't expect a shutout, but he could prove a nice value.
GOALIE TO AVOID
Carter Hart, PHI at BOS ($26): Yes, Hart has a 2.52 GAA and .922 save percentage, but that's in only 13 career games. He's also only made four appearances on the road, and has a 3.02 GAA and .907 save percentage in that time. Meanwhile, the Bruins have averaged 3.46 goals per contest at home. This could be a bit of a reality check for Hart.
CENTER
Kevin Hayes, NYR at NJD ($19): Hey, like I said, I don't expect Keith Kinkaid to stand on his head and pitch a shutout. Hayes returned from injury Tuesday, and played 22:25 while putting six shots on goal. He looks no worse for the wear, and he has 30 points in 40 contests. The Devils do have a 3.37 GAA as a team, so while the Rangers' offense may be largely punchless, I have some faith in Hayes.
CENTER TO AVOID
Claude Giroux, PHI at BOS ($23): Giroux has been dishing out assists this season, but he has only one goal in his last 14 games. He hasn't been helped by the fact he only has one shot on net in each of his last four contests. This may not be the game where Giroux turns it around, as the Bruins have a 2.46 GAA at home.
WING
Kyle Connor, WPG vs. CLM ($21): Connor, who had 31 goals as a rookie, has 21 in 50 games this season. He's been extra hot recently, as he has eight goals in his last 12 contests. As for the Blue Jackets, Sergei Bobrovsky has been struggling, as he has a 4.02 GAA and .863 save percentage in his last eight outings.
Blake Coleman, NJD vs. NYR ($18): You may not be all too familiar with Coleman, but perhaps you should be. He has 18 goals on 145 shots, including seven goals in his last 10 games. The Rangers have been strikingly poor defensively on the road. In away games, they have a 4.09 GAA, second highest in the league.
WINGS TO AVOID
Jakub Voracek, PHI at BOS ($20): Voracek has two goals in his last 17 games, but goal scoring has never been his strong suit. What's more unusual, and concerning, is the fact he only has eight points with the extra man. The Bruins have the 16th-ranked penalty kill, so that's the one place Voracek could have had some success. Instead, given his struggles, you have to be concerned about his potential given the Bruins 2.46 home GAA.
Jake DeBrusk, BOS vs. PHI ($14): The Bruins are feeling line an one-line team these days. DeBrusk has 14 goals, but zero in his last seven games. Plus, he has only four assists all season. Even if Carter Hart ends up not being the same goalie on the road, I'm skeptical about DeBrusk.
DEFENSE
Josh Morrissey, WPG vs. CLM ($18): Morrissey has been having a nice season under the radar. He's got 27 points, already a career high, including 10 with the extra man. He's only 23, and averaging two more minutes per game than his previous high, so this isn't all a fluke. January has been rough for the Blue Jackets, as they have a 3.20 GAA this month, so now could be the time to get on board with Morrissey.
Damon Severson, NJD vs. NYR ($13): Severson has 24 points in 49 games, including four in his last six contests. He's put 88 shots on goal, and he's currently skating on New Jersey's top defensive pair. As previously noted, the Rangers have a 4.09 road GAA, but they have also given up 35.6 shots on net per contest away from home.
DEFENSE TO AVOID
Seth Jones, CLM at WPG ($21): Jones was an All-Star, and a deserving one, but he's been a bit snakebit on the goal front. He's only notched one goal in his last 19 games, and he doesn't have a single power-play goal. The Jets have a 2.65 home GAA, and though Connor Hellebuyck has had a bit of a down season, he's been perfectly fine (2.74 GAA, .915 save percentage) in his last 12 games.
Ivan Provorov, PHI at BOS ($15): Provorov was really impressive last year, but this season has been lackluster for the Russian defenseman. He's only got four goals and 17 points in 50 games, and only one point with the extra man. The Bruins, as previously noted, have a 2.46 home GAA, so Provorov's rough season seems likely to continue.
