This article is part of our Yahoo DFS Hockey series.
There are seven games in the NHL on Friday with the Rangers, Avalanche, Panthers and Golden Knights all huge favorites. Additionally, the Predators, Red Wings and Jets are also all playing their second road game in consecutive nights. Here's a peek at recommendations and fades at each position ahead of Friday's action.
All statistics from Natural Stat Trick and Hockey Reference.
GOALIE
Thatcher Demko, VAN vs. WPG ($24): Vancouver has won back-to-back games under new bench boss Bruce Boudreau, and Demko is in top form with a .940 save percentage and 1.90 save percentage through his past nine contests. Additionally, the Jets are playing the second leg of a back-to-back road set.
GOALIE TO AVOID
Mackenzie Blackwood, NJ vs. NSH ($32): While Wednesday's shutout over the Flyers is encouraging, Blackwood hasn't been overly impressive with a .900 save percentage and 3.09 GAA through his past 10 appearances. There are a lot of soft matchups to target Friday, and Blackwood's salary is also high.
CENTER
Nathan MacKinnon, COL vs. DET ($35): The top-line center finally found the back of the net Wednesday, but it was just his second goal of the season, and his current 4.3 shooting percentage is still unsustainably low. With Detroit playing the second leg of a back-to-back road set Friday, it should also prove to be a soft matchup for MacKinnon's statistical correction to continue. After all, he posted an 11.5 shooting percentage through the previous four years.
CENTER TO AVOID
Sidney Crosby, PIT at WAS ($29): With an upper-body injury sidelining Jake Guentzel ($28), Crosby's wingers are projected to be Evan Rodrigues ($17) and Kasperi Kapanen ($15) on Friday, and it's a notable downgrade. Additionally, the Capitals are 9-1-4 on home ice with a plus-10 goals differential at even strength, so Crosby is probably more of a contrarian option Friday. Just note, he does have three tallies and eight helpers during his current six-game point streak.
WING
Artemi Panarin, NYR at BUF ($31): Since joining the Rangers three years ago, Panarin ranks third in points per 60 minutes, and he's also in high-end current form with 20 points – seven goals – through his past 13 games. Obviously, the matchup is perfect here, too. Buffalo has surrendered the most goals in the league since Nov. 1.
Dryden Hunt, NYR at BUF ($10): A minimum-salary candidate and stack option with five-on-five linemate Artemi Panarin ($31), Hunt has had modest success with three tallies and two helpers through his past nine games. He profiles as an upside source of cap relief in the noted soft matchup against Buffalo.
WINGS TO AVOID
Mark Stone, VGK vs. PHI ($25): While Stone is coming off a three-point showing and has marked the scoresheet in six straight, he's only recorded double-digit fantasy points twice during the stretch. Additionally, expect him to be a popular target Friday with Philadelphia allowing 3.33 goals per game and ranking 22nd in penalty-kill percentage.
Alex Newhook, COL vs. DET ($15): With a goal in three consecutive games and a 42.9 shooting percentage, Newhook is a candidate for negative regression. His year-long 26.1 mark is also high, and the 20-year-old center also skates in a supporting role with an average of just 13:22 of ice time per game (1:51 with the man advantage).
DEFENSE
Cale Makar, COL vs. DET ($27): The NHL leader in points per 60 minutes among blueliners since entering the league, Makar draws the noted plus-matchup Friday. He's collected nine goals, eight assists, 40 shots and a plus-12 rating through the past 12 games, too.
Brandon Montour, FLA at ARI ($11): A solid low-salary target playing an offensive role for the Panthers, Mountour quarterbacks the No. 2 power-play unit and 71.7 percent of his zone starts are in the opponent's end. He's also recorded a respectable 11 points, 48 shots and 20 blocks through 25 games for the campaign.
DEFENSE TO AVOID
Dougie Hamilton, NJ vs. NSH ($25): The expensive blueliner has been held below double-digit fantasy points in seven of his past nine contests and has only marked the scoresheet in three of those games. With multiple high-end defensemen in the player pool, Hamilton probably carries more risk given his game-to-game inconsistency.
Kris Letang, PIT at WAS ($22): As noted, the Capitals have been next to automatic on home ice, so this might not be the best spot to target Letang. Additionally, before recording six assists during his current four-game point streak, the veteran only found the scoresheet twice through his prior seven contests.
