This article is part of our Yahoo DFS Hockey series.
Friday's NHL slate is on the busy side, with 11 games on tap beginning at 7:00 PM Eastern time. While there's no shortage of selection, some players stand out as the night's top deals while others are primed to struggle. Read on to see which guys to target and which to avoid.
GOALIE
Henrik Lundqvist, NYR at DET ($34): Lundqvist is well-rested heading into this one, as his last appearance was Dec. 23. In his past five starts, the veteran stud has faced four above-average offenses and 184 shots, but he's stopped 173 of those for a .940 save percentage to go with a 3-1-1 record over that span. After that gauntlet, dealing with a 27th-ranked Red Wings offense that's scoring only 2.64 goals per game should be easy.
GOALIE TO AVOID
Ben Bishop, DAL vs. STL ($34): Bishop is priced identically to Lundqvist despite scoring 2.2 fewer fantasy points per game, and he's unlikely to close that gap here. St. Louis fires an eighth-ranked 33.3 shots on net per game and allows the fourth-fewest goals (2.46), plus the Blues have already defeated Dallas twice by a combined 7-2 margin.
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CENTER
Nico Hischier, NJ vs. BUF ($17): Hischier continues to improve, as he's now topped his season ice time average of 16:20 in six of the past seven games and recorded his second career multi-goal performance in the first game following the Holiday break. The first overall pick in this past draft is teeming with talent, and he should have no problem capitalizing on his recent increase in role against a Sabres team that's allowing the third-most goals per game (3.30).
CENTER TO AVOID
Brian Boyle, NJ vs. BUF ($18): Boyle's been hot lately and the matchup is right, but his value relative to his teammates isn't very good at $18. He has just 16 points in under 14 minutes of ice time per game and has topped 26 points only once in his career, so owners paying $18 for the 33-year-old center are likely to be disappointed.
WINGS
Nikolaj Ehlers, WPG vs. NYI ($19): Ehlers costs $5 less than teammate Patrik Laine, but he's produced nearly an identical season so far with 17 goals, 13 assists and 7.5 fantasy points per game to Laine's 18 goals, 11 assists and 7.6 fantasy points per contest. While both are primed to get on the scoresheet against an Islanders team that's surrendering a league-high 3.46 goals per game, Ehlers is the much stronger value play.
Oliver Bjorkstrand, CLS at OTT ($16): Bjorkstrand's 17:16 of ice time Wednesday was his highest mark since Nov. 22, and he's earned that increase in role with all-around success this season. The 22-year-old winger has contributed across the board with six goals, 18 helpers and a plus-11 rating in 38 games. More success is likely to come against a Senators club that's been outscored 3.26 to 2.63 on average.
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WINGS TO AVOID
Wayne Simmonds, PHI at TB ($20): Simmonds' minus-7 rating gives him an extremely low floor for his price range. A Lightning team that's outscored opponents 3.74 to 2.46 this season has the potential to dramatically lower that unimpressive rating while keeping Simmonds off the scoresheet.
Johnny Gaudreau, CGY at ANH ($26): Gaudreau's only lit the lamp once in his past 10 games, and he's unlikely to turn things around here on the second night of a back-to-back. The Ducks team he's facing here ranks in the middle of the pack in goals allowed, but don't expect Gaudreau to add to his 15 power-play points against Anaheim's ninth-ranked, 82.8 percent penalty kill.
DEFENSEMEN
Ryan McDonagh, NYR at DET ($19): McDonagh continues to excel in every category except goals. His 18 assists and plus-11 rating in 33 games have McDonagh averaging 7.3 fantasy points per game, which is more than 10 of the 15 defensemen priced at $20 or more. There's little reason to expect a drop-off against this subpar opponent.
Victor Hedman, TB vs. PHI ($25): While most of this slate's most expensive defensemen clearly aren't worth paying up for, Hedman is an exception to that rule. The outstanding two-way blueliner has 26 points and a whopping plus-18 rating in 36 games, and he's unlikely to slow down here against the Flyers. Philadelphia's 76.3 percent penalty kill is third-worst in the league, so Tampa Bay's first-unit point man is primed to add to his double-digit point production in extra-man situations.
DEFENSEMEN TO AVOID
Roman Josi, NSH at MIN ($27): Josi needs offensive production to live up to his lofty valuation, but he's unlikely to get it in this tough road matchup. Ten of Josi's 22 points have come with the extra man and Minnesota sports a fourth-ranked, 84.2 percent penalty kill.
Erik Karlsson, OTT vs. CLS ($29): With an average of just 6.6 fantasy points per game, Karlsson's consistently underperformed his $29 price. The offensive-minded blueliner will be fighting an uphill battle once again with Columbus in town, as Blue Jackets netminder Sergei Bobrovsky sports a 2.41 GAA and .921 save percentage.
