This article is part of our Yahoo DFS Hockey series.
I hope you can take a break from roasting chestnuts or what have you, because there are 11 NHL games Tuesday. There are three teams with issues in net on the road for the second leg of a back-to-back, though, so you could be forgiven for just focusing on those three games from a DFS perspective. However, I've looked at the entire picture, and here are the players I suggest targeting, and avoiding, for daily fantasy purposes.
GOALIE
Carter Hart, PHI vs. ANA ($35): The Flyers are banged up and struggling, but I have faith they can turn it around for at least one night at home. Even with a few off games recently, Hart has a 2.47 GAA. That's because the Flyers have only allowed 28.7 shots on net per game. That's also exactly the same amount of shots on goal per game the Ducks are averaging offensively. It could be a light night for Hart.
GOALIE TO AVOID
David Rittich, CGY vs. PIT ($29): Rittich is the clear No. 1 for the Flames, and he's paying off pretty well given that he has a .914 save percentage, a new personal best. He's also picked up a win in six of his last eight games. However, even at home I don't like Rittich's odds here. The Penguins have averaged 3.27 goals per game, and they've put 33.7 shots on net per contest as well.
CENTER
Dylan Larkin, DET vs. CLM ($19): Larkin isn't getting a lot of support, but over his last seven games he's notched five points and put 26 shots on net. Normally you don't want any part of Detroit's offense, but the Blue Jackets are on the road for the second game of a back-to-back. Elvis Merzlikins may be in net for Columbus, and he has a 3.41 GAA and .889 save percentage.
CENTER TO AVOID
Logan Couture, SAN vs. ARI ($23): Couture has a goal in each of his last two games, which finally got him over double digits on the season. However, what's happened to him on the power play? He's been held without a point with the extra man in his last 14 games. The one place Arizona has had issues is on the penalty kill. Even with that, though, it has a 2.34 GAA.
WING
Alex Killorn, TAM vs. OTT ($18): Because Tampa hasn't lived up to expectations, you may not be aware that Killorn has 26 points in 29 games. He's on the Lightning's first power-play unit, which has helped him notch nine points with the extra man. The Senators are on the road for the second game of a back-to-back, and that could mean unproven netminder Marcus Hogberg getting the start.
Josh Bailey, NYI vs. NAS ($17): It's been a weird year for Bailey, who just isn't shooting the puck. Even so, he has eight points in his last eight outings. He's also started 55.1 percent of his shifts in the offensive zone, highest among New York forwards. Nashville, on the second night of a back-to-back, has saved Pekka Rinne for this one, but that's no reason for trepidation. The 37-year-old goalie has an .893 save percentage.
WINGS TO AVOID
Patrik Laine, WPG vs. CAR ($26): The Jets have been rolling this month, but I think they will face a tricky obstacle in the Hurricanes. Carolina has a 2.61 GAA and has only given up 28.9 shots on net per game. On top of that, the Canes have the second-best penalty kill in the NHL. While Laine has been a power-play weapon in the past, he only has two power-play points in his last 16 games.
Filip Forsberg, NAS at NYI ($25): Being on the second night of a back-to-back isn't just bad for a defense -- forwards can have tired legs too. However, this is more about the matchup for Forsberg. The Islanders are once again crushing it when it comes to goal prevention under Barry Trotz. They have a 2.32 GAA, which is top two in the NHL.
DEFENSE
Torey Krug, BOS vs. LOS ($20): Sometimes things just like up perfectly. Krug has averaged 3:54 per game with the extra man and has 13 power-play points in 29 games. The Kings, meanwhile, have the 30th-ranked penalty kill. You can add up how that looks on paper for the former Michigan State defenseman.
Noah Dobson, NYI vs. NAS ($10): The Islanders drafted Dobson 12th overall in 2018, and it seems like the team wants to get a chance to see what he can do. He's started 58.5 percent of his shifts in the offensive zone, highest on the team, and they've started playing him on the power play as well. One of the many ways in which the Predators have struggled this year is that they have a bottom-10 penalty kill. If you're willing to take a cheap flyer on potential and upside, Dobson could be your man.
DEFENSEMEN TO AVOID
Roman Josi, NAS at NYI ($27): Josi is having a really good year, especially shooting the puck, but he's on the road for the second leg of a back-to-back. He's another talented Predator who is just stuck in a bad matchup Tuesday. The Islanders have a 2.32 GAA, which is great, but at home it's even better at 2.25.
Mark Giordano, CGY vs. PIT ($21): Giordano does have three points in his last five games, but even with that he only has four goals and 13 assists in 35 contests. There will be no Norris Trophy encore. Meanwhile, the rise of Tristan Jarry has really changed the landscape in Pittsburgh. Jarry has a 1.92 GAA and .937 save percentage, both tops in the NHL.
