This article is part of our Yahoo DFS Hockey series.
It's an unusual Friday, as the Sabres and Lightning are starting at 2:00 PM ET. Since it may be hard for you to get your lineup in before that, I won't be including it in my picks for your DFS lineup. That leaves you three games worth of players to choose from. Here are the guys I would target, and also the players I would avoid.
GOALIE
Mike Smith, EDM vs. NJD ($32): Smith and Mikko Koskinen have been splitting starts pretty evenly, so you'll want to keep an eye on who is getting the start. I would go with either of these guys as both have played well, with Smith posting a 2.22 GAA and .926 save percentage. The Devils have been middling offensively, but they are also on the road for the second leg of a back-to-back.
GOALIE TO AVOID
Thatcher Demko, VAN at WPG ($30): This isn't about Demko's play. It's partially because he's the only potential starter I'm on the fence about. Everybody else is either a strong starting play, or an obvious goalie to avoid. The thing about Demko is that the Canucks are on the road for the second night of a back-to-back. Additionally, the Jets have averaged 33.1 shots on net per contest.
CENTER
David Krejci, BOS at DET ($18): Since returning from injury, Krejci has notched four points in four games. He's recorded a 6.7 shooting percentage on the year, but that's bound to regress toward the mean. This could be the night that starts, as the Wings have struggled to a .879 team save percentage.
CENTER TO AVOID
Dylan Larkin, DET vs. BOS ($25): Larkin is doing his best to get the Red Wings' offense going, but he hasn't had a lot of help. You know what won't be helpful? The fact the Bruins comes in with a 2.33 GAA. Larkin has also struggled on the power play, and Boston boasts a top-five penalty kill.
WING
Brock Boeser, VAN at WPG ($23): Yes, the Canucks are on the road for the second game of a back-to-back, but there's still plenty to like about this matchup. The Jets enter with a 3.13 GAA and have given up 33.1 shots on net per contest. Winnipeg also owns a bottom-five penalty kill. Boeser has notched seven points with the extra man, so this matchup could be right up his alley.
James Neal, EDM vs. NJD ($22): The Oilers are doing their best to make things easy for Neal in his first year with the team. He's started 67.7 percent of his shifts in the offensive zone - highest on the Oilers - and has averaged 3:30 per game on the power play. That's helped him notch 11 goals, including eight with the extra man. The Devils have a bottom-five GAA, and they are playing an away game for the second straight night.
WINGS TO AVOID
Taylor Hall, NJD at EDM ($27): Hall may be looking for revenge against his old team, but it may be tricky. He's racking up assists, but he's only notched two goals on the season. Also, as I have noted already, the Devils are on the second leg of a back-to-back. If Mike Smith with his .926 save percentage stays hot, Hall's revenge hopes may be dashed.
Anthony Mantha, DET vs. BOS ($23): Mantha got off to a hot start to the season, but he only has tallied two goals over his last eight games - and they came in the same game. If Tuukka Rask is in net, it will likely be a long night for Mantha, as the Finnish netminder has starred with a 1.88 GAA and .936 save percentage.
DEFENSE
Oscar Klefbom, EDM vs. NJD ($20): Yes, Klefbom doesn't have a point in his last 10 games. But over that time, he's put 27 shots on goal, blocked 31 shots, and averaged 3:55 per game with the extra man. The offense is going to come. This could be the night, as Cory Schneider will likely be in net, and he enters with a 4.71 GAA and .847 save percentage. Those numbers aren't typos.
Quinn Hughes, VAN at WPG ($17): Hughes is already a real weapon on the power play as a rookie, as eight of his 11 points have come with the extra man. Those are usually easier minutes, the kind that may not tax you too much, say, on the second night of a back-to-back. It also helps that the Jets own a bottom-five penalty kill.
DEFENSE TO AVOID
Josh Morrissey, WPG vs. VAN ($17): I recommended avoiding Demko, but the Canucks have been strong enough defensively and he's looked good enough in net, so I don't necessarily want to bet on every Jets' player. That includes Morrissey, who has notched six of his 10 points on the power play. And the Canucks also maintain a top-five penalty kill.
P.K. Subban, NJD at EDM ($17): Subban is off to a bit of a slow start with his new team with only five points. That's despite the fact he's managed a 6.5 shooting percentage, which is actually an improvement over last season's number. The Oilers come in with a 2.65 GAA, so whoever is in net should be a tough matchup.
