This article is part of our Yahoo DFS Hockey series.
Keep an eye out for backup goalies as the Sharks, Oilers and Jets are the only teams not playing the first or second leg of a back-to-back, while the Maple Leafs, Blackhawks, Islanders, Blue Jackets and Lightning all saw action yesterday. The Oilers come in as the largest favorites with the Islanders also receiving notable chalk. Also note the early start time with Yahoo daily contests beginning at 6 p.m. EST.
All statistics from Natural Stat Trick and Hockey Reference.
GOALIE
Brian Elliott, TB at PHI ($26): Despite many injuries to key players, the Lightning continue to win and have allowed the ninth fewest goals per game this season - including only 12 through their last six. An Elliott ticket carries risk considering his .887 save percentage and 3.16 GAA, but the Flyers also rank sixth-worst in offense.
GOALIE TO AVOID
Connor Hellebuyck, WPG vs. TOR ($31): It's been a mediocre start for Hellebuyck with an 8-6-4 record, .916 save percentage and 2.68 GAA. And even with Toronto playing on consecutive evenings, the club ranks second in expected goals per 60 minutes and have scored 29 times through the past six outings.
CENTER
Logan Couture, SJ at CLS ($20): This could prove to be a tricky schedule spot for the Blue Jackets as they lost 3-1 in Washington yesterday and travel home to face the rested Sharks after a winless road trip. Couture has only recorded a single goal with a 4.8 shooting percentage over his last 10 games despite registering 33 shot attempts and 11 individual high-danger scoring chances.
CENTER TO AVOID
Anze Kopitar, LA at EDM ($23): Typically, turning to a proven scorer who's only found the back of the net once with a 2.9 shooting percentage from 13 appearances would be in play. Eyeing a long night opposite Connor McDavid ($38) and/or Leon Draisaitl ($35) for the bulk of your ice time probably isn't the spot. Kopitar also sports a disastrous minus-8 rating during the noted 13-game stretch.
WING
Wayne Simmonds, TOR at WPG ($13): With Mitch Marner ($28) out of action yesterday, Simmonds climbed to Auston Matthews' ($34) flank alongside Michael Bunting ($17) for large stretches. It didn't click for the trio, but Simmonds carries tremendous value at his salary if he returns to the top unit. There's an outside chance Ondrej Kase ($16) could also receive a look higher in the lineup, so double-check Toronto's projected lines before lock.
Josh Bailey, NYI at CHI ($11): Another affordable top-line option, Bailey has been skating alongside Mathew Barzal ($15) and Anders Lee ($15). It should be a favorable matchup with the Blackhawks surrendering both the ninth-most goals per game and per 60 minutes at five-on-five. Bailey's current 1.48 points per 60 minutes significantly trails his 2.24 mark over the previous two years.
WINGS TO AVOID
Mark Stone, VGK vs. CGY ($25): Calgary has allowed the fewest goals per 60 minutes and rank fifth in penalty-kill percentage, so this isn't a target-worthy matchup for Stone. He's also not in high-end form with just a single multi-point outing and two showings with double-digit fantasy points through nine games since returning from a lower-body injury.
Jesse Puljujarvi, EDM vs. LA ($21): Skating away from Connor McDavid ($38) and Leon Draisaitl ($35) hasn't completely slowed Puljujarvi down, as the Finnish winger has still found the scoresheet in three straight. However, the numbers don't lie. He's been on the ice for 8.01 goals per 60 minutes over the past three years when skating with the two superstars and just 2.76 when teamed with other linemates.
DEFENSE
Evan Bouchard, EDM vs. LA ($18): With an expanding role due to injuries on the Edmonton blueline, Bouchard has produced a high-end two tallies, three helpers, six shots and five blocks through the past five contests. More importantly, he's spent well over half his five-on-five ice time the last three skating with Connor McDavid and/or Leon Draisaitl.
Brent Burns, SJ at CLS ($17): The high-scoring blueliner is in the midst of an 11-game point drought despite averaging a hefty 25:34 of ice time - including 2:14 with the man-advantage - during the stretch. His current 1.14 points per 60 minutes also sits well below the 1.78 he managed the previous three seasons, and he's been on the ice for 41 high-danger scoring chances across the noted point drought.
DEFENSE TO AVOID
Alex Pietrangelo, VGK vs. CGY ($22): As mentioned, the Flames have been the stingiest team in the league, so this probably isn't the best spot to spend up for Pietrangelo. He also doesn't skate with the No. 1 power-play unit and hasn't hit double-digit fantasy points in any of the past six games.
Oliver Kylington, CGY at VGK ($18): It's been an excellent run for Kylington having picked up three tallies and 12 helpers through the past 19 outings. However, it hasn't resulted in high-end fantasy numbers in this scoring system only reaching double-digit fantasy points five times during this span. And eight of the assists have been of the secondary variety, and Kylington doesn't receive big or consistent power-play minutes.
