This article is part of our Yahoo DFS Hockey series.
Thursday's NHL schedule is extremely busy, with all but one of the league's 31 teams in action starting at 7:00 PM Eastern time. There's no shortage of selection here, but certain players stand out as guys to target or avoid.
GOALIE
Sergei Bobrovsky, CLS at ARI ($28): Of all the goaltenders to choose from, Bobrovsky has the best combination of ability, matchup and affordability. The defending Vezina Trophy winner is available at a discount after dropping three decisions in a row, but his 2.50 GAA and .919 save percentage this season are right in line with his excellent career marks. Bob couldn't ask for a better bounce-back opportunity than this matchup against a Coyotes team that's scoring the second-fewest goals per game (2.37) while allowing the third-most (3.39).
GOALIE TO AVOID
Connor Hellebuyck, WPG at ANH ($37): Hellebuyck has been amazing at home, but his 9-5-5 record, 2.61 GAA and .917 save percentage on the road are all more pedestrian marks. Improving those numbers won't be easy against a Ducks team that's finally starting to get healthy. That improved health has translated to the scoresheet, as Anaheim's potted 15 goals while winning three of its past four games.
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CENTER
Jack Eichel, BUF at VAN ($22): Given his recent form, it's a travesty Eichel is priced equally to or below 16 other centers, especially given his opponent in this slate. The second overall pick from the 2015 NHL Draft comes in riding a seven-game point streak, and he has a whopping five goals and 14 points over that dominant stretch. Expect Eichel to keep the good times rolling against a Canucks club that's allowing 3.17 goals per game -- seventh-most in the league.
CENTER TO AVOID
Mika Zibanejad, NYR at SJ ($19): San Jose's fifth-ranked, 83.8 percent penalty kill is likely to cause problems for Zibanejad, who has recorded 12 of his 28 points on the power play. His minus-7 rating is also in serious danger of dropping considering the Rangers are just 7-12-2 on the road.
WINGS
Rick Nash, NYR at SJ ($19): With three different two-goal performances in the past five games, Nash is as hot as he's been all season. The veteran sniper has also fired seven shots on net twice over that span, so it's not like he's riding a wave of luck to these results. Don't be surprised to see another strong performance against a Sharks team that's allowed four of its past nine opponents to light the lamp at least five times.
David Perron, VGK vs. NYI ($17): The entire Vegas offense is primed for success in this home tilt against the league's worst defensive team, but Perron makes just a bit more sense to use financially compared to his fellow wingers. He and center Erik Haula are tied for the cheapest price in Vegas' top-six forward group at $17 even though both have been red-hot of late with six points apiece in the past four games. Perron's defensively responsible play should also come in handy against an Islanders offense that ranks third with 3.41 goals per game -- almost enough to match the 3.63 New York gives up.
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WINGS TO AVOID
Blake Wheeler, WPG at ANH ($30): Like Hellebuyck, Wheeler's had trouble carrying his home success over into road games. His five goals, 16 assists and even rating in 28 away appearances are nowhere near the production expected of a $30 player. The Ducks allow the 11th-fewest goals per game (2.71) and rank 11th in penalty killing (82.3 percent), so this is also far from a favorable matchup.
Jakub Voracek, PHI vs. TB ($28): Philadelphia's been rolling lately across the sports spectrum, but Voracek hasn't contributed as much to the Flyers' recent success as his extravagant price suggests. Prior to Tuesday's two-point outing, Voracek had gone four games without marking the scoresheet while totaling 4.5 fantasy points over that stretch. That low floor makes him tough to trust against a Lightning team that's leading the league in goals per game (3.50) while allowing the third-fewest (2.54).
DEFENSEMEN
Jeff Petry, MON vs. CAR ($14): Petry's offensive upside is excellent for a $14 blueliner, as he's effectively quarterbacked Montreal's top power-play unit in Shea Weber's (foot) absence. Of the five points Petry's accrued in the past seven games, three have come with the extra man. The risk:reward ratio is right for owners to give Petry a look against a Hurricanes penalty kill that's been fifth-worst in the league at 77.6 percent.
T.J. Brodie, CGY at EDM ($14): Brodie's case is similar to that of Petry but with an even better matchup. His 10 power-play points are easily best among Flames defensemen, but Brodie's priced at least $5 below two teammates at his position. No team is likelier to concede power-play production than Edmonton, as the Oilers' 71.4 percent penalty kill is easily worst in the NHL.
DEFENSEMEN TO AVOID
Erik Karlsson, OTT vs. BOS ($26): Karlsson's downward spiral has intensified recently, as he has just one point and a minus-8 rating over the past six games. A dominant Bruins team that's outscoring opponents 3.26 to a league-low 2.43 in the average game this season is primed to keep him off the scoresheet again while further lowering Karlsson's embarrassing minus-23 rating.
Matt Dumba, MIN at PIT ($18): Dumba's average of 5.7 fantasy points per game is second-lowest among all blueliner's priced at $18 or more (Keith Yandle-5.6), and that number could well drop lower by the time Dumba's finished with this difficult matchup. The streaking Penguins are 16-7-1 at home while Minnesota's 9-13-1 on the road.
