This article is part of our Yahoo DFS Hockey series.
Thursday brings us nine games of NHL action, with several strong offenses in prime position to beat on some of the league's defensively disadvantaged franchises. I'm looking for values on the Bolts as they head to Buffalo, the Kings as they play host to the Jackets and the Flyers against Calgary's suspect goaltending, but there's intrigue to be found all around the league. So let's identify some players with upside who just might help you win some cash in Thursday's Yahoo Daily Fantasy Hockey contests.
GOALIE
Ben Bishop, TB at BUF ($32) - Getting a price this good on Bishop in a matchup this good is quite the windfall. The Sabres don't have a bad offense, but they also don't have a very good one -- this despite the fact that they shoot the puck plenty. Meanwhile, they're turning to a combination of Chad Johnson and Linus Ullmark in net with Robin Lehner (ankle) still sidelined. That all adds up to a perfect storm of utility for Bishop, who might give up a couple goals, but is in a good situation to provide 30-plus saves and a win, all at an appetizing middle-of-the-pack price.
Goalie to Avoid:
Mike Condon, MON vs. NYI ($36) - If John Tavares' illness were still lingering, Condon might be in the other category here, but the Isles' captain is back at practice and expected to play Thursday. I don't see any need to buy Condon at what is, well, a Carey Price price, especially as a rookie against a winning Isles team that knows how to put the puck in the net.
CENTER
Nicklas Backstrom, WAS vs. BOS ($20) - The price on the Swedish star continues to linger at a surprisingly affordable 20 bucks, which will get me to bite every time. He's been held off the scoresheet the last two games, so you know Backstrom will be eager to find his way back into the point column, and there's no reason for owners to fear Tuukka Rask and the Bruins, as he racked up six assists in three games against Boston last year.
Claude Giroux, PHI at CGY ($20) - I was only going to list one center, and then I saw Giroux sitting there at the same bargain-basement price as Nicklas Backstrom. Fortunately, there's room in the ol' lineup for both. The 27-year-old is off to a cold start, and has been particularly bad the last four games, with just one point, three shots on goal and a minus-3 rating. Not coincidentally, the Flyers have only totaled five goals in that span. Look for that to change as Giroux and his mates continue their road trip in Calgary, as the Flames have struggled mightily. They've given up at least four goals in six consecutive games, so if there's any team that can help Philadelphia's lagging scorers to get it going again, this is the one.
Center to Avoid:
Mikko Koivu, MIN vs. NAS ($19) - On an evening when you can pay just $1 more for the aforementioned duo, it seems like an odd (but certainly contrarian) choice to roll out a guy like Koivu, who draws the unenviable duty of trying to score on Pekka Rinne on Thursday. Koivu's a good player, but he's not a point-per-game guy, which is the pace he's sitting on now; regression will come in the form of scoreless outings, and this could very well be one of those. He also doesn't take a lot of shots, which lowers his floor in this format.
WING
Jakub Voracek, PHI at CGY ($20) - I may be a Rangers fan, but if you price me into these Flyers stars in a great matchup, I can't go against them. Like Giroux, Voracek is in an early slump, missing the scoresheet in five of the last six; he still hasn't found the back of the net this year, but he's also launched 50 shots on goal in 12 games without a reward. His luck is overdue to turn, and there's a prime opportunity for that to happen against a Calgary team that's expected to feature Karri Ramo and his 4.43 GAA in goal.
Wing to Avoid:
Nikolaj Ehlers, WPG at OTT ($22) - Listen, I'm as big an Ehlers fan as anyone, but the kid is still looking for his first career multi-point game and has only cleared 16 minutes of ice time once in 12 games this year -- while he's a nice fit for the format, there's no reason to pay an elite player's price for a guy who's yet to truly bust out. Sure, it could happen in any game -- including Thursday against the beatable Craig Anderson -- but paying an expectant price for that sort of thing tends not to work out. We're looking for value.
DEFENSEMAN
Drew Doughty, LA vs. CLM ($22) - Well, I had to find a place to work someone in for the Kings in a strong matchup against a Columbus team that might have righted the ship to some degree but is still quite vulnerable in its own zone. Doughty, meanwhile, has recorded at least 14 fantasy points in the Yahoo format in four of his last five games, and he hasn't picked up fewer than six in a game since mid-October. This is a format that's rewarding to everything he does well -- blocking shots, shooting the puck and scoring on the power play.
Defenseman to Avoid:
Johnny Boychuk, NYI at MON ($21) - Outside of his typical complement of blocked shots, Boychuk's been invisible on scoresheets lately -- he's failed to take a shot on goal in consecutive games, hasn't recorded a point in the last four and owns a modest five points in 13 games this year. Not to mention that his power-play time is way down and he's facing a tough Habs D that's been right there at the top of the league in terms of preventing goals. It's not a good time to spend on Johnny Rocket.
