This article is part of our Yahoo DFS Hockey series.
Thursday's NHL slate is a busy one with 12 games on tap beginning at 7:00 PM Eastern time. Certain players stand out from the crowd as guys to target while others should be avoided.
Read on to find out which players fall in which category…
GOALIE
Matt Murray, PIT vs. CAR ($26): Murray stopped all 11 shots in over a period of relief action Tuesday and is a strong buy-low option here. The two-time Stanley Cup champ is capable of much better results than he's shown this season, and he should garner plenty of offensive support from a Penguins team that's 12-6-1 at home against a Carolina club that's 8-9-4 on the road.
GOALIE TO AVOID
Cory Schneider, NJ at DAL ($33): With plenty of options in this price range with far superior matchups, it's tough to trust Schneider on the road against Dallas. The veteran netminder has scuffled of late with at least three goals allowed in four of his past six games and four markers against in each of his past two appearances. Meanwhile, the Stars are an outstanding 14-5-1 at home.
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CENTER
Eric Staal, MIN vs. BUF ($19): Staal's shown off his elite DFS upside with four multi-goal performances in his past 16 games. His ceiling is therefore astronomical against an awful Sabres team that's allowing the fourth-most goals per game (3.28). Staal's scored 30 of his 35 points this season in situations other than the power play, so Buffalo's above-average penalty kill shouldn't limit his effectiveness.
CENTER TO AVOID
Joe Thornton, SJ at TOR ($17): Thornton's picked up more than half of his 27 points this season on the power play, but Toronto's eighth-ranked, 83.1 percent penalty kill is likely to make life difficult for the 38-year-old center in such situations. On the other hand, Toronto's quick-strike offense could easily take advantage of Thornton's lack of foot speed at even strength and further lower his minus-9 rating, especially with the Maple Leafs controlling matchups thanks to last change.
WINGS
Kevin Fiala, NSH at ARI ($16): Fiala's mired in a five-game point drought, but this is the perfect opportunity to snap that skid. The 2014 first-rounder played his second-highest ice time total of the season at 20:35 in Tuesday's regulation loss to Vegas and continues to skate in an offensive-minded role on the second line and second power-play unit. He'll face a much weaker foe this time as the Coyotes allow the second-most goals per game (3.54).
Jakob Silfverberg, ANH at EDM ($18): Silfverberg's been hot with five points in the past five games and has a great opportunity to keep the good times rolling here. His six power-play points rank second for the injury-depleted Ducks, putting Silfverberg in position to flourish against Edmonton's league-worst, 70.8 percent penalty kill. Team power-play leader Rickard Rakell ($18) also makes a terrific play at center given his recent success.
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WINGS TO AVOID
Vladimir Tarasenko, STL vs. VGK ($31): Tarasenko's been great this season, but he has a pedestrian four points in his past eight games and is unlikely to improve that pace here. Vegas netminder Marc-Andre Fleury is 8-1-1 with a 1.77 GAA and .943 save percentage, so all St. Louis skaters will have their work cut out for them.
Max Pacioretty, MON vs. TB ($20): Pacioretty hasn't lit the lamp since Nov. 30, tallying just five helpers in 13 subsequent appearances. Improvement is unlikely to come against a Lightning team that's outscoring opponents 3.69 to 2.36 on average this season.
DEFENSEMEN
Shayne Gostisbehere, PHI vs. NYI ($21): Gostisbehere's offensive-minded style gives him astronomical upside against this opponent, as New York's allowing the most goals per game (3.58) while killing penalties at the league's second-lowest rate of 74.6 percent. That last stat is music to Gostisbehere's ears, as he's contributed 17 points on the power play along with eight goals and 21 assists overall.
Zach Werenski, CLS at COL ($19): Werenski is another blueliner with massive offensive potential, as the NHL sophomore has 22 goals and 66 points in 115 career appearances. He continues to skate on the top defensive pairing alongside Seth Jones, and should see no lack of chances against an Avalanche team that's been worse than average in terms of both goals (3.10) and shots (32.1) allowed per game.
DEFENSEMEN TO AVOID
Brent Burns, SJ at TOR ($32): The reasoning behind skipping Burns here is nearly identical to that for Thornton, as half of Burns' 26 points have come with the extra man while his rating's a dreadful minus-15. Given the blueliner's lofty price tag, there's significantly greater risk associated with rolling Burns out in this less-than-ideal matchup.
Nick Leddy, NYI at PHI ($21): Leddy's hot start continues to mask just how awful he's been lately. Anyone willing to spend $21 on a player that's averaging only 1.6 fantasy points per contest in his past 11 appearances is likely to be disappointed regardless of matchup.
