This article is part of our Yahoo DFS Hockey series.
Thursday's NHL slate offers no shortage of selection with 10 games on tap beginning at 7:00 PM Eastern time. While some teams are jostling for playoff positioning and others are developing youth with an eye on the future, there's still value to be found all across the league's landscape for those who know where to look. Read on to see which players to target and which to avoid in this slate.
GOALIE
Sergei Bobrovsky, CLS at CGY ($37): Bobrovsky's provided a major boost for fantasy owners down the stretch, and there's little reason for that to change now. He's won eight of his last nine starts while allowing no more than three goals in any game over that span. Another excellent outing should be in the cards against a Flames team that's missing some of its biggest weapons in Sean Monahan (wrist) and likely Matthew Tkachuk (upper body) and Johnny Gaudreau (personal) as well. Even with those guys all in there for most of the season, Calgary's just 15-18-4 on home ice.
GOALIE TO AVOID
Chad Johnson, BUF vs. DET ($36): Sure, Detroit's not the toughest competition, but it's still ridiculous to pay $36 for a backup goalie who owns a 3.25 GAA and .899 save percentage this season. With so many alternatives available in this slate, there's absolutely no need to look Johnson's way here.
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CENTER
Connor McDavid, EDM at VAN ($32): The way he's playing right now, it's imperative that owners clear the cap space to add McDavid to their lineups, especially against a Canucks team that's allowing the fifth-most goals per game in the league (3.18). McDavid's casually dropped four consecutive multi-point efforts, storming into the league points lead with six goals and six assists in that stretch. He's figuring out that goalies have trouble picking up his filthy release, and the 21-year-old's newfound aggressiveness coupled with his tremendous touch and passing skills should continue to mean trouble for opponents. Don't miss out on what promises to be another epic effort.
CENTER TO AVOID
Ryan Donato, BOS vs. TB ($26): Donato's point-per-game pace through five NHL appearances is likely unsustainable considering he's skating fewer than 17 minutes per game. Paying this much for an unproven commodity against a league-best offense capable of making a serious dent in Donato's even rating is asking for trouble.
WINGS
Anthony Mantha, DET at BUF ($15): No healthy winger priced at $15 or less is averaging more fantasy points than Mantha's 5.7, which would make him a strong value play even in an average matchup. This matchup is far more favorable than average, however, as the Sabres allow the third-most goals per game (3.26) while scoring the fewest (2.32). With the combination of price, production and opponent all aligned in his favor, Mantha's primed to make owners happy.
Nick Bjugstad, FLA at OTT ($18): If you want to capitalize on Florida's favorable matchup against an Ottawa team that's surrendering the second-most goals in the league (3.46 per game) but can't afford one of the four Panthers forwards that cost at least $22, Bjugstad's the man for you. He's been on a tear since the calendar flipped to February, posting 24 points (nine goals) in 26 subsequent games. That production has been accompanied by an uptick in usage for Bjugstad, as he's exceeded his season ice time average of 15:09 seven times in his last nine appearances.
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WINGS TO AVOID
Craig Smith, NSH vs. SJ ($19): Smith's been a non-factor recently, as he's totaled 14.5 fantasy points over his last five appearances combined and hasn't lit the lamp in any of his past nine. Turning things around won't be easy against a Sharks team that ranks eighth-stingiest defensively (2.68 goals allowed per game) while boasting the second-most effective penalty kill (84.4 percent).
Joe Pavelski, SJ at NSH ($22): While Nashville's forwards will have their hands full with the defensively responsible Sharks, the same is even more true going in the other direction. The Predators are tied with Los Angeles for fewest goals allowed per game (2.45), so San Jose's scorers will be fighting an uphill battle here. Even if you insist on using a Sharks winger, Logan Couture makes more sense to use than Pavelski considering Couture costs $1 less despite averaging .3 more fantasy points per game.
DEFENSEMEN
Alexander Edler, VAN vs. EDM ($18): Edler's minus-18 rating certainly makes him a risk against McDavid and company, but his consistent excellence in other categories has allowed Edler to excel despite that poor rating all season. He's been especially effective in the month of March, averaging 8.3 fantasy points per game in 13 appearances while recording at least four combined shots and blocks in every game and skating at least 25 minutes 10 times. Edler's scored almost half (13/30) of his points this season on the power play, further boosting his stock against an Oilers team that ranks third-worst in the league on the penalty kill (75.5 percent).
Sami Vatanen, NJ vs. PIT ($17): Vatanen's lost a little of his luster by failing to record a point in his past four games after tallying 16 points in the previous 18, but his seven-shot effort Tuesday suggests it's only a matter of time until Vatanen starts marking the scoresheet again. He'll have a great opportunity to do so here against a Penguins team that's allowed 27 goals in its past seven games, including at least three in each.
DEFENSEMEN TO AVOID
Oliver Ekman-Larsson, ARI at LA ($17): This is a nightmare matchup for Ekman-Larsson, who relies primarily on power-play production to make up for a minus-33 rating that's second-worst in the NHL. Los Angeles' league-best 84.9 percent penalty kill is likely to keep Ekman-Larsson from adding to his 43 power-play goals over the last five seasons while the middling Kings offense is talented enough to capitalize on the Swede's defensive deficiencies.
Dustin Byfuglien, WPG at CHI ($23): Winnipeg's high-powered offense is likely to produce against a Chicago club with major issues in goal, but don't count on Byfuglien being a major contributor in this contest. While he's been his usual effective self at home with 26 points (five goals) in 34 appearances, Big Buff's come up small on the road with just 14 points (one goal) in 30 games. That lack of away production is a major red flag for a player that comes with a hefty $23 price tag.
