This article is part of our Yahoo DFS Hockey series.
Quite a few of the top teams in terms of goal prevention are in action on Friday's seven-game slate, which is foreboding for fantasy players. However, we can work around that to help you find some players to target for your Yahoo DFS hockey lineups.
GOALIE
Robin Lehner, BUF vs. NYI ($29): This is not a game that's going to get many people excited. Both offenses have struggled, and the Islanders are scoring 2.57 goals per game while ranking dead last in power-play percentage. For his part, Lehner has been solid, posting a respectable .919 save percentage over 20 games. The Islanders are 2-7-1 on the road, so despite the Sabres' issues, there's a decent chance they get the win. Lehner is rather cheap for a goalie, so he's worth a shot in this matchup with Jack Eichel back and sparking Buffalo's offense.
GOALIE TO AVOID
Chad Johnson, CGY vs. CLM ($35): This is not an overreaction to Calgary's last game, in which Johnson got pulled after allowing four goals on 21 shots. No, this is all about how great the Blue Jackets have been. They're third in goals scored, second in goals allowed, and first on the power play. They've also won seven games in a row. It's hard to bet on Johnson picking up a W here.
CENTER
Tyler Johnson, TAM at VAN ($16): Johnson has been elevated to the role of Tampa's top center with Steven Stamkos out. He's been solid, posting 16 points and 62 shots on goal in 30 games, with eight of those points on the power-play. The Canucks are allowing 3.1 goals per game, and they just gave up eight goals to the Hurricanes in their last outing. This is a favorable matchup for the quite reasonably priced Johnson.
CENTER TO AVOID
Joe Pavelski, SAN at MON ($28): This is no disrespect to Pavelski, who has been one of the few Sharks forwards to get any production going this season. However, a matchup with Montreal means dealing with Carey Price, who has a 1.80 GAA and .940 save percentage. Pavelski is one of the priciest center options out there Friday, and it will be really difficult for him to live up to that dollar figure in this game.
WING
Kyle Okposo, BUF vs. NYI ($19): Yes, Buffalo's offense has been bad on the whole, but that doesn't fall at Okposo's feet. He's got 21 points in 27 games, including 12 with the extra man, and now he's skating alongside the magic-making Eichel. The Islanders are allowing 2.96 goals and 32.6 shots per game, and they're a middling 17th in penalty-killing percentage. Just because his teammates have struggled doesn't mean you shouldn't believe in Okposo.
Jonathan Drouin, TAM at VAN ($15): Drouin has been playing well recently, putting up six points in his last five games. Overall, he's notched 63 shots on goal in 22 games, far and away the best shot rate of his career. The 21-year-old is showing the talent that made him a third overall pick, and he should be in line for a career year. In the short-term, though, he's got a nice matchup with the Canucks on the table.
WINGS TO AVOID
Max Pacioretty, MON vs. SAN ($23): Pacioretty is having a good year, especially since he apparently played through a broken foot in November. However, he does only have four power-play points, if you want to quibble. The real concern here is the Sharks, who are only allowing 2.20 goals per game as well as the NHL's second-fewest shots per game (26.6). Pacioretty could be fine, but do you want to pay $23 for fine when there are 14 teams in action?
Jeff Skinner, CAR vs. WAS ($22): Like Pacioretty, Skinner has provided few reasons for complaint (both are averaging 8.4 fantasy points per game). Also like Pacioretty, he has a really tough matchup Friday. The Capitals and their Vezina-winning netminder are only allowing 2.11 goals per game, and they only give up 28.1 shots on average. Washington should make things difficult enough for Skinner to make you think twice.
DEFENSEMEN
Keith Yandle, FLA at COL ($17): Yandle has been unfortunate to only tally one goal, as he's put 72 shots on net in 31 games. His 1.4 shooting percentage is all but destined to rise. Besides that, he's playing 3:19 per game on the power play, and he's got 13 helpers. Colorado could be the team to help Yandle get his goal scoring on track. The Avs are allowing 3.18 goals per game, worst in the NHL, and they've given up 32.4 shots on net per contest as well.
Justin Schultz, PIT vs. LOS ($15): There are a couple of extenuating factors that make this matchup intriguing for Schultz. One, the Kings will be on the road for the second night of a back-to-back. Two, an injury to Kris Letang could lead to more minutes and more power-play time for Schultz. The 26-year-old has been blazing hot recently, notching 12 points in his last eight games, so this is a perfect moment in time for him to see his opportunity increase.
DEFENSEMEN TO AVOID
Mark Giordano, CGY vs. CLM ($22): Points have been scarce for Giordano, who has only managed three goals and nine assists. As mentioned earlier, Columbus is second in the league in goals allowed, giving up a mere 2.07 goals per game. The Jackets have been even better with Sergei Bobrovsky in net, as he has a 1.94 GAA and a .934 save percentage. All in all, it seems unlikely that Giordano breaks through in this matchup.
Alec Martinez, LOS at PIT ($18): Despite his hot start, Martinez is only averaging 6.0 fantasy points per game. That's not bad, but he only has two points in his last seven contests. Matt Murray has helped stabilize things in net for the Penguins, as he has a spectacular 1.93 GAA and .935 save percentage. That's not going to help Martinez's case. Even though he's available at a mid-range price, it's still not looking like a good value.
