This article is part of our Yahoo DFS Hockey series.
There's only one month left in the NHL regular season. Savor it while you can. Thursday is making that easy to do, as there are 10 games on the slate. That's a lot of hockey, and a lot of options for your daily fantasy lineup. Here are some recommendations to consider…
GOALIE
Corey Crawford, CHI vs. ANA ($34):John Gibson is injured, which leaves Jonathan Bernier (2.85 GAA, .904 save percentage) as Anaheim's primary option in net. That certainly helps Chicago's chances of getting a win, not that they've needed much help recently. The Blackhawks are 9-1-0 in their last 10 games, and they've won seven in a row. Additionally, Chicago is 22-8-4 at home, while the Ducks are a mere 13-14-7 on the road.
GOALIE TO AVOID
Cory Schneider, NJD at COL ($38): This is a battle of two bad teams, but New Jersey has been particularly poor recently. They are 1-7-2 in their last 10 games, and they've lost eight in a row. Schneider has also had a bit of a rough season, as he has a .914 save percentage to go with a 2.65 GAA. The Devils and Avalanche are the two lowest-scoring teams in the NHL, so this game isn't likely to see a ton of goals. However, Schneider is the second most expensive goalie Thursday, and that seems a bit rich given how bad New Jersey has been recently.
CENTER
Mitch Marner, TOR vs. PHI ($18): Since returning from injury, Marner has four points in four games. That's a continuation of what he has been doing all season, as he's tallied 52 points in 60 games, including 17 power-play points. It's not surprising to see how much the fourth overall pick has done offensively considering that he's started 40.9 percent of his shifts in the offensive zone, which is the most of any Maple Leaf. The Flyers have allowed 2.91 goals per game, and their penalty kill ranks 17th. That's not the kind of penalty kill that is likely to concern Marner (and Toronto's second-ranked power play) in the slightest.
CENTER TO AVOID
Evgeny Kuznetsov, WAS at SAN ($22): Kuznetsov has averaged 6.7 fantasy points per game, which is good, but on the low end for players in his price range. On top of that, he has to go up against a Sharks team that has allowed a mere 2.32 goals per game. That's the third lowest in the NHL, and they are also third in shots on net allowed per game (27.5). Kuznetsov isn't even a major shot producer to begin with, as he has 135 shots on goal in 65 contests.
WING
Rick Nash, NYR at CAR ($19): Nash has been piling up the shots on net recently, as he's tallied 34 in his last nine contests. Overall, he's notched 163 shots in 55 games, and the Hurricanes have given up 2.83 goals per game, thanks largely to their goaltenders' collective .898 save percentage. Cam Ward's recent struggles have led to more starts for Eddie Lack, but he has a .886 save percentage on the season, so that's hardly encouraging.
Anders Lee, NYI at VAN ($17): Lee has been playing alongside John Tavares on the Islanders' top line, and that's certainly paid off for him. He's started 34.7 percent of his shifts in the offensive zone — only his linemates Tavares and Josh Bailey have more such shifts, and Lee has tallied 25 goals in 64 games. The Canucks have allowed 2.82 goals and 31.4 shots on net per contest, and they also have the 25th-ranked penalty kill. Lee has 11 power-play points, so that's another fact in his favor.
WINGS TO AVOID
Johnny Gaudreau, CGY vs. MON ($22): Gaudreau has averaged 6.4 fantasy points per game, and to find a player that's averaged fewer, you have to get down to Corey Perry at $19. Admittedly, he's had some bad puck luck, but he's also only potted three goals in his last 26 games. To make matters worse for Gaudreau, in his last eight starts Carey Price has a 1.35 GAA and a .951 save percentage.
Jeff Skinner, CAR vs. NYR ($21): Speaking of goalies who have turned things around, Henrik Lundqvist has a 2.26 GAA and a .930 save percentage in his last 19 games. Skinner has had a solid season (6.9 fantasy points per game), but has zero multipoint games in his last 19 tilts. With 20 teams in action, and with New York's defensive play the last couple of months, you can find somebody with higher potential value, and likely at a cheaper price as well.
DEFENSEMEN
Shayne Gostisbehere, PHI at TOR ($17): Gostisbehere is perhaps the most offensively oriented defenseman in the NHL. He's started 45.8 percent of his shifts in the offensive zone, an exceedingly high number for a defenseman, and he's put 146 shots on goal in 59 games. Additionally, Ghost has averaged 3:55 per game with the extra man, and he's tallied 18 power-play points. Granted, Toronto has the ninth-ranked penalty kill, but they've allowed 2.88 goals and 32.6 shots on net per contest, so there's still plenty of offensive opportunity here. Gostisbehere has five points and 31 shots on goal in his last 10 contests, so he's picked it up a bit recently. Also, the Maple Leafs have averaged 61.2 shot attempts per 60 minutes, second most in the NHL. Gostisbehere has 74 blocked shots, so he could add a little value on that end of the ice.
Nick Leddy, NYI at VAN ($17): Leddy hasn't been quite as prolific on the power play as Gostisbehere, but he's averaged 3:05 per game and tallied 12 points. Plus, Leddy has a much easier matchup, as the Canucks have the 25th-ranked penalty kill. Leddy has notched 112 shots on goal and 87 blocked shots, and now he finds himself in a very favorable matchup Thursday. In his last 12 games, Ryan Miller has a 3.08 GAA and a .909 save percentage, which is another argument in Leddy's favor.
DEFENSEMEN TO AVOID
Roman Josi, NAS at LOS ($24): The Kings have allowed a league-low 26.0 shots on net per game, and they've only allowed 2.48 goals per contest. That was with Peter Budaj and Jeff Zatkoff shouldering the load in net for much of the season. Now they have the duo of Jonathan Quick and Ben Bishop tending goal, and also boast the fourth-ranked penalty kill, so don't expect any respite for Josi there. Furthermore, Josi is the fourth most expensive defenseman Thursday, and it will be hard for him to live up to this price point against Los Angeles.
Matt Niskanen, WAS at SAN ($19): Niskanen has nine power-play points, but none have come in his last nine games. Now the Capitals have added Shattenkirk, who has averaged 4:43 of power-play time since joining Washington, cutting into Nisky's role on the PP. On top of that, San Jose, as previously mentioned, has only allowed 2.32 goals and 27.4 shots on net per contest.
