This article is part of our Yahoo DFS Hockey series.
GOALIE
Jake Allen, MON at SJ ($21): The Sharks have been overperforming so far, scoring 2.67 G/60 at even strength while recording just a 1.74 xGF/60 in that stretch. They're bound to regress eventually, and the Canadiens' stout defense could make that happen tonight. Regardless, Allen can hold his own in the blue paint after posting a solid .907 save percentage and 2.68 GAA last year.
GOALIE TO AVOID
Frederik Andersen, CAR vs. BOS ($36): Andersen has been spectacular to start the year with his new team, recording a .946 save percentage. It's quite impressive, but it's tough to look past his .895 save percentage and 2.96 GAA last season. The Hurricanes' defense has also posted a 2.63 xGA/60 so far, the sixth-highest rate in the league. Andersen could come back down to earth Thursday.
CENTER
Robert Thomas, STL vs. COL ($14): Thomas has fired out of the gate with five assists -- one with the man advantage -- in as many games, and he ranks fifth in the league with a 3.86 xGF/60 at even strength. Furthermore, he's skating on the third line with one of the top goal scorers in the league, Vladimir Tarasenko, who is back on track with three goals so far.
CENTER TO AVOID
Sebastian Aho, CAR vs. BOS ($33): Aho is off to a red-hot start with four goals and three apples through five games, and he's virtually matchup-proof. However, we have reason to fade him in this matchup at this salary, as the Bruins have been tough to crack defensively this year. The B's rank second in the league with a 1.73 xGA/60, and Linus Ullmark has posted a .935 save percentage thus far.
WING
Jake Guentzel, PIT vs. CGY ($24): Guentzel is coming off his fourth straight 20-goal season, but he's off to a bit of a slow start with just one goal despite firing 16 shots on net (6.3 percent) through five games. Jacob Markstrom has been inconsistent this year with two games above a .965 save percentage and two below an .890 mark, so Guentzel has high upside in tournament DFS contests.
Kirill Kaprizov, MIN at SEA ($24): There's no reason to believe that last year's 27-goal, 24-assist campaign was a fluke despite Kaprizov doing it on 17.2 percent shooting. He is on a three-game pointless streak, but he's getting plenty of chances with 10 shots on net over that stretch. Philipp Grubauer, who has recorded an .883 save percentage this year, will likely be in net tonight.
WINGS TO AVOID
Matthew Tkachuk, CGY at PIT ($21): Tristan Jarry is performing like the Penguins wanted him to when they signed him to a three-year deal last October, as he has recorded a .933 save percentage through five games. The Pittsburgh defense is holding up its end of the bargain as well with a 1.76 xGA/60 mark -- the third-best rate in the league. Tkachuk can provide a solid floor with his shooting volume, but his upside is lower in tournaments.
Ondrej Palat, TB vs. ARI ($19): Palat is scoring at an unsustainable rate (20 percent), and he's averaging a mediocre 16:36 of ice time per game. The Coyotes (0-5-1) don't have much going for them, but they have been solid defensively with a 1.92 xGA/60 (fourth), and goaltender Karel Vejmelka has held his own as a rookie so far.
DEFENSE
Ivan Provorov, PHI at VAN ($18): Provorov has produced an assist, four shots on net, 17 blocked shots and a plus-3 rating through four games while averaging a whopping 25:33 of ice time per contest. Those numbers provide a steady floor, and he's handling time on the second power-play unit. So far this year, the Canucks rank 23rd in the league with a 77.8 percent penalty kill.
Matt Roy, LA vs. WPG ($10): Roy is a major contrarian play that could be a bargain. The 26-year-old is set to take on a role on the top pairing and top power-play unit because Drew Doughty is out long term. Roy's spot on the power play is key, because the Jets rank 30th in the league with a 60.0 percent penalty kill.
DEFENSEMEN TO AVOID
Cale Makar, COL at STL ($23): Makar is off to a slow start with four points and a minus-9 rating through six games. He's still listed with the highest salary among defensemen on this slate, and his plus-minus rating is a concern with the Blues -- who have scored five goals per game -- coming to town. Makar's ceiling is lower as well because St. Louis leads the league with a 93.3 percent penalty kill.
Josh Morrissey, WPG at LA ($18): Morrissey has scored two goals through six games. It's clearly unsustainable because he's never scored more than seven goals in a season, and he's fired just 10 shots on net so far. He doesn't provide much of a floor either with five blocked shots.
