This article is part of our Yahoo DFS Hockey series.
Friday's NHL schedule has an unusual 6:00 PM Eastern starting time and features 12 teams. There's plenty of value available in this medium-sized slate if you know where to look, so read on to find out which players offer the best bang for the buck…
GOALIE
Oscar Dansk, VGK vs. COL ($20): Dansk is an incredible bargain at $20 given his 2-0-0 record, 2.43 GAA and .929 save percentage in two NHL appearances. The 23-year-old Swede is expected to man the crease with both Marc-Andre Fleury (concussion) and Malcolm Subban (lower body) sidelined, and will be heavily favored to pick up another victory as the 7-1-0 Golden Knights host an Avalanche club that's dropped three of its last four games in regulation and two straight on the road.
GOALIE TO AVOID
Mike Smith, CGY vs. DAL ($35): Smith's worked his price up to $35 with a solid start, but his Flames have been outscored 30-24 in a .500 start through 10 games. A lack of scoring support makes the veteran netminder tough to trust at this lofty valuation against a Dallas club that features two of the league's most dangerous offensive threats in Jamie Benn and Tyler Seguin.
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CENTER
Derick Brassard, OTT at NJ ($18): Brassard's off to a fantastic start with six goals, 10 points and a plus-9 rating through nine games. He should have an even greater share of the offensive workload on his plate with Kyle Turris sidelined by an illness and will face backup goalie Keith Kinkaid with Devils starter Cory Schneider still out with a lower-body injury. Brassard's a great value in this situation at just $18 given his hefty role and early contributions.
CENTER TO AVOID
Jonathan Toews, CHI vs. NSH ($22): Toews was manhandled by goaltender Pekka Rinne and the talented Nashville defense corps in last year's first-round sweep, managing just two points and a minus-5 rating. Don't expect things to get any better for him here, especially since Toews has been held without a point in four of his past five games, including an Oct. 14 home date with these same Predators.
WINGS
Kyle Connor, WPG at CLS ($12): Even in a tough matchup, Connor's too good a value to pass up at just $12. Mathieu Perreault's injury has paved the way for the 17th overall pick in the 2015 Draft to join one of the league's most dangerous top-six forward groups, and early results have shown the move to be a resounding success. Connor's recorded a point in each of his first two games while averaging over 18 minutes of ice time, so he won't stay this affordable much longer.
Artemi Panarin, CLS vs. WPG ($24): Panarin's time in Columbus is off to a terrific start, as he has 10 points and a plus-5 rating in nine games despite an unlucky 4.0 percent shooting percentage that figures to climb closer to his 14.7 percent career mark as the season unfolds. The talented Russian's offensive prowess should be on full display here against a Jets team that's allowing 3.71 goals per game and killing off penalties at just a 72.0 percent rate. While Panarin doesn't come cheap, he tends to live up to his price and then some in favorable matchups. With a pair of three-point performances under his belt already this year, Panarin boasts one of the highest ceilings around.
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WINGS TO AVOID
Patrik Laine, WPG at CLS ($28): Laine's talented enough to pot one in any matchup, but the odds will be stacked against him in the second leg of a road back-to-back against defending Vezina Trophy winner Sergei Bobrovsky. At $28, committing to Laine will limit your flexibility at other spots without providing a major chance of offensive success.
Kyle Palmieri, NJ vs. OTT ($18): Even if Palmieri ends up playing through a lower-body injury here, he won't be a prudent choice against the Senators. Ottawa's penalty kill is operating at a league-best 92.0 percent and the Senators are surrendering just 2.33 goals per game. Those numbers are bad news for Palmieri, who has scored 20 of his 59 goals since the start of the 2015-16 campaign on the power play.
DEFENSEMEN
Brad Hunt, VGK vs. COL ($16): Hunt has done nothing but contribute in four games since being given a chance to crack the starting lineup, compiling four points in four games while skating over 18 minutes in each. Three of those four points have come with the extra man, but Hunt has also proven himself to be defensively responsible at even strength with a plus-2 rating. With his team heavily favored against a Colorado club that's killing off penalties at a mere 77.8 percent rate, Hunt brings excellent offensive upside relative to his price here.
Jaccob Slavin, CAR vs. STL ($18): Slavin quietly emerged as a terrific two-way defenseman last season, finishing with 34 points and a plus-23 rating. The 23-year-old blueliner seems to have added more offense to his game this year, as he's averaging 2.3 shots per game after averaging a mere 1.2 last season and has already potted two goals. His hefty role and defensive ability also give Slavin a high floor, as he's already at plus-4 in over 24 minutes per game.
DEFENSEMEN TO AVOID
Colton Parayko, STL at CAR ($19): Parayko hasn't lit the lamp since the season opener and has cracked double-digit fantasy points only once through 10 games. He's been especially mediocre away from home, with an average of just 4.3 fantasy points per contest in seven road tilts. You can do better at this price.
Dougie Hamilton, CGY vs. DAL ($17): Hamilton must not enjoy the home cooking in Calgary, as he's chipped in just 3.7 fantasy points per game in four matches at Scotiabank Saddledome. He continues to be outclassed by similarly priced teammates T.J. Brodie ($18) and Mark Giordano ($19), both of whom provide a much sturdier fantasy base by contributing plenty of shots and blocks. With just eight blocked shots and an even rating through 10 games, Hamilton's dead weight when he doesn't chip in offensively.
