This article is part of our Yahoo DFS Hockey series.
Thursday's eight-game slate is full of intriguing matchups. The league's hierarchy is starting to take shape, but there are still teams like the Ducks and Penguins looking to overcome their foul starts. It's still early enough to reverse disturbing trends, but early season optimism is starting to wane for few of the league's fanbases.
There are a few teams in action Thursday looking to add to these fanbases' misery (like the Islanders against Carolina, Tampa Bay against Colorado and Pittsburgh against Buffalo), and the trick to winning in DFS is finding the right value plays from their rosters while also locating the potentially productive guys from squads facing trickier opponents.
GOALIE
Jaroslav Halak, NYI vs. Car ($36) - Halak is ha-locked in with two shutouts in his last three starts, and he faces a Carolina team that averages less than two goals per game. His price isn't cheap, but the 30-year-old netminder is an excellent bet to return value on your investment playing behind the high-scoring Islanders.
Goalie to Avoid:
Corey Crawford, CHI@WPG ($38) - Crawford has been on a tear lately, but dropping bank on an opposing goaltender playing at the MTS Centre isn't the smartest play. You shouldn't spend $38 on a goalie in this format unless you're almost sure he's pulling out a win, and the Blackhawks aren't the safest bet on the road against a Jets team smarting from a home loss to the Kings.
CENTER
Sidney Crosby, PIT vs. BUF ($24) - Crosby is a couple bucks cheaper than normal due to his slow start, and prudent investors should view this as an opportunity to buy low. The 28-year-old posted 188 points his previous two seasons, and it's not like his skills just vanished. Crosby's will break out in a big way at some point, and a matchup against the lowly Sabres seems as good a time as any for him to get it going.
Center to Avoid:
Jared McCann, VAN at DAL ($18) - One great performance does not a fantasy star make. The 19-year-old center dominated Montreal with two goals on five shots Tuesday, but he still only played 12:13. Overall, he has just four points while only seeing 10:43 on the ice per game, making his $18 price tag nearly impossible to justify.
WING
Jakub Voracek, PHI vs. NJD ($20) - Much like fellow 2014-15 All Star Sidney Crosby, Voracek is available at a discount due to a sluggish start in 2015-16. The Czech winger has shown signs of life recently with 10 shots on goal in his last two games, and it's only a matter of time until he finds the back of the net. New Jersey isn't exactly killing it with a .500 record and minus-5 goal differential, so taking a flyer on Voracek at this mix of price and matchup makes sense.
Ryan Callahan, TBL vs. COL ($18) - Callahan is seeing first-line minutes with the Lightning, and the former Rangers captain is due for a big game after struggling his last three. Tampa Bay's top forwards will be hungry to perform in front of their home fans after returning from a four-game road trip, and playing Callahan gives you access to their top line and No. 1 power-play unit without having to spend top dollar.
Wings to Avoid:
Chris Kunitz, Pit vs. Buf ($17) - Kunitz's price and matchup actually make him seem like an excellent value candidate until you dig a little deeper. His goal Saturday is Kunitz's only point of the season, and he was dropped to the third line as a result of his poor play. The veteran winger just isn't worth anywhere near $17 now.
Patric Hornqvist, Pit vs. Buf ($20) - Not to hate on the Penguins, but Hornqvist is not worth $20 despite his new first-line role. Playing on a line with Sidney Crosby isn't that significant an upgrade over skating with Evgeni Malkin, and Hornqvist completely failed to produce as Malkin's winger. With a Del Zotto-esque one assist and a minus-four rating on the season, Hornqvist isn't exactly off to the best of starts, so hold off on using him until he shows some signs of life.
DEFENSEMEN
John Klingberg, DAL vs. VAN ($20) - Klingberg has flown under the radar a bit in Dallas due to the early exploits of some of their forwards, but the second-year defenseman has quietly amassed eight points over the season's first nine games. The guys who make the prices will start treating him as an upper-echelon guy soon enough, but for now just ride the Swedish stud at home for $20 and don't question it.
Jason Garrison, TBL vs. COL ($16) - The Lightning should be heavily favored at home against the struggling Avalanche, and Garrison's role as a second-pairing defenseman means he mostly gets to avoid facing Colorado's top line. Garrison's 25 shots on goal and 18 blocked shots through 10 games show he's been able to contribute even when he doesn't make it onto the scoresheet, making him an excellent high-floor play at a reasonable price.
Defensemen to Avoid:
Michael Del Zotto, PHI vs. NJD ($17) - We've once again hit the "avoid Michael Del Zotto" section of the article. Del Zotto is still playing just as poorly as he did at the start of the year, and his 17 shots and 12 blocks this season are little consolation for his minus-4 rating and lack of power-play production. He's bound to add to his one assist so far at some point, but $17 is too much to pay for Del Zotto's defensive-zone ineptitude and plus/minus risk.
