This article is part of our Yahoo DFS Hockey series.
As is often the case, the NHL isn't very busy on Friday. The league's taking you into the weekend with a mere three games. Here's a look at some players to target and others to avoid among the handful of players taking the ice.
GOALIE
Al Montoya, MON at CLM ($34): While Montoya's .955 save percentage overstates his abilities, he's still the confirmed Friday starter for a team that has won eight games in a row, and he's playing a squad that's scored 21 goals in eight games this season. He's a great bet for a win, and that goes a long way.
GOALIE TO AVOID
Sergei Bobrovsky, CLM vs. MON ($32): This is not a knock on Bobrovsky, who has a .941 save percentage. However, if Montreal is the best bet to win, Columbus has to be the worst. The Habs are also averaging 3.4 goals per game, so Bobrovsky's matchup is too tough to justify the price.
CENTER
Ryan Kesler, ANA vs ARI ($18): Kesler is currently averaging his highest minutes – both overall oand on the power play –since becoming a Duck. He's turned that ice time into seven points and 23 shots on goal. Matchups with the Coyotes are usually good for their opponents, and Arizona's expected to start Justin Peters on the second night of a back-to-back. He's spent the last two seasons in the AHL, which has to sound good from Kesler's perspective.
CENTER TO AVOID
Alex Galchenyuk, MON at CLM ($23): While the Canadiens are likely to beat the Jackets, it also seems likely to be a low-scoring game. Galchenyuk is averaging a point a game (10 in 10), but he's only taken 15 shots on goal. He's the third-most-expensive center, and that seems a bit rich given this matchup.
WING
Henrik Zetterberg, DET vs WPG ($17): Zetterberg finally got his first goal of the season in his last game, but he's also taken at least three shots on goal in his last four contests. The Jets are on the second night of a back-to-back, and they gave up four goals Thursday night – not surprising, considering their defensive struggles. If Zetterberg keeps taking shots, he could easily light the lamp again.
Corey Perry, ANA vs. ARI ($24): It'd be nice if the Ducks had some good secondary wings to target, but they really don't. Perry, though, is a proven commodity who's worth paying a slightly elevated price to acquire. He's got eight points to go with 35 shots on goal in 11 games. The shots are good, but against the defensively struggling Coyotes , he has a better chance of converting.
WINGS TO AVOID
Patrick Laine, WPG at DET ($29): Laine is the most expensive wing Friday, but he's not so clearly ahead of the pack to really justify the price. Yes, Petr Mrazek has struggled in his last two starts, but he's streaky, and Jimmy Howard could always end up being the one who starts in net. If Laine was cheaper, he might be a practical option, but he's just too pricey to have a good chance of earning his value.
Cam Atkinson, CLM vs. MON ($17): If Price were in net, then all the Jackets would clearly be players to avoid. However, even with Montoya in goal, there's still reason for skepticism. All five of Atkinson's five points have come on the power play, but he's also playing less than two minutes a game with the extra man, which is less than your usual top power-play weapon.
DEFENSEMEN
Oliver Ekman-Larsson, ARI at ANA ($22): It seems like a good idea to get at least one Coyote on your team. The Ducks haven't been great defensively and will likely have Jonathan Bernier in net; while he's been good in three appearances this year, he had a .908 save percentage last season. While you might want to save your money and try to go with somebody like Alex Goligoski ($15), Ekman-Larsson is a star who's well worth the price.
Cam Fowler, ANA vs. ARI ($17): Fowler is racking up the power-play points – he has six already while playing 3:45 a night with the extra man. That's not unusual, and neither are his 25 shots on goal. Since there are so few games Friday, you've already heard about how good this matchup is for the Ducks. That includes Fowler.
DEFENSEMEN TO AVOID
Jeff Petry, MON vs. CLM ($16): Petry got off to a good start to the year, but both of his goals came in his first game of the season. He's also only taken 11 shots on goal in nine games. Considering the success Columbus has had preventing goals with Bobrovsky in net this season, the Jackets should be able to keep Petry – not an offensive star in the first place despite his current stats – in check.
Seth Jones, CLM at MON ($16): Although Jones plays more than 24 minutes per night, he's only averaging one minute per game on the power play. He's also only taken 14 shots in eight games, which isn't bad for a defenseman, but also won't excite fantasy owners. With this tough matchup, it's wise to look elsewhere.
