This article is part of our Yahoo DFS Hockey series.
It's a busy Thursday in the NHL, with 12 games on the docket. There are so many options out there, which can make it hard to make a decision. Hopefully this list of players to target, and to avoid, will help make your decisions easier.
GOALIE
Tuukka Rask, BOS vs. VGK ($24): Rask is off to a slow start, but he's going to get better. He's never had a save percentage lower than .915 over a full season. Vegas' luck has started to even out, and it's been particularly unlucky in net. The Golden Knights are down to their fourth-string goalie, which gives the Bruins, and Rask, a great chance of picking up a win.
GOALIE TO AVOID
Jimmy Howard, DET at OTT ($32): The Senators have scored 3.58 goals per game, and that's with Erik Karlsson missing a few games this season. While Howard has played well, the Red Wings have given up 34.7 shots on net per game. Howard likely will be in for a long day, and it will be hard for him to pick up the win.
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CENTER
Anze Kopitar, LOS vs. TOR ($21): Kopitar is making up for his bad luck last season, as he has seven goals and seven assists through 14 games. Toronto has a 3.38 GAA and is on the second night of a back-to-back. That means Curtis McElhinney will be in net, which is another big point in Kopitar's favor.
CENTER TO AVOID
Claude Giroux, PHI at STL ($21): The Blues have a 2.31 GAA, which is second lowest in the NHL. Giroux, meanwhile, has only averaged 8.6 fantasy points per game. The Flyers are also on the second night of a back-to-back and on the road, which could hamper Giroux and company further.
WING
Jeff Skinner, CAR at COL ($22): Skinner already has seven goals on 35 shots through 10 games, and last year he notched 37 goals on 281 shots. The Avalanche, meanwhile, had a league-high 3.37 GAA last season. Skinner also has three power-play points, and Colorado had the 29th-ranked penalty kill last year.
Johnny Gaudreau, CGY vs. PIT ($22): Gaudreau has started 64.3 percent of his shifts in the offensive zone, and he's averaged 3:45 per game on the power play. This has helped his tally 15 points (five on the power play) through 12 games. The Penguins are playing on the second night of a back-to-back, and this year they have a 7.25 GAA with zero days of rest. Pittsburgh also is starting the untested Tristan Jarry in net.
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WINGS TO AVOID
Patrik Laine, WPG vs. DAL ($28):Ben Bishop (2.51 GAA, .920 save percentage) has helped the Stars solidify their situation in net. Laine, meanwhile, has only averaged 6.0 fantasy points per game. He has zero points in his last four games, and he's notched only two shots on goal in his last three contests. It's hard to pay this price for Laine until his performance picks up.
James van Riemsdyk, TOR at LOS ($22): The Kings have a league-low 2.00 GAA, and Jonathan Quick has a 1.89 GAA and a .942 save percentage. Last season they allowed a league-low 25.9 shots on net per game, so this is a team that has been tough defensively for quite some time. Van Riemsdyk will also be playing his second game in as many nights, which certainly won't help matter either.
DEFENSEMEN
Mark Giordano, CGY vs. PIT ($19): Giordano only has one goal this year, but he's put 29 shots on goal, so that total should go up soon. There's definitely a chance of that happening against the Penguins here. As noted, Pittsburgh has struggled immensely on the second night of a back-to-back this season, and there are questions about Jarry in net. Additionally, Giordano has 35 blocked shots through 12 games.
Jake Muzzin, LOS vs. TOR ($17): Muzzin is hot out the gate, as he's averaged 8.7 fantasy points per game. He's tallied nine points and 33 shots on net through 12 games. As mentioned, the Maple Leafs are on the second night of a back-to-back, and they will be starting McElhinney, who has a career 2.95 GAA and .906 save percentage.
DEFENSEMEN TO AVOID
Ryan McDonagh, NYR at TAM ($18): McDonagh has only averaged 5.1 fantasy points per game this year, and he has yet to score a goal. Tampa Bay has a 2.69 GAA, which is in the top 10 of the NHL this year. There are a lot of favorable matchups out there, so it's hard to justify paying this price for McDonagh given his struggles.
Brad Hunt, VGK at BOS ($18): Is Hunt off to a hot start? Absolutely, as he has seven assists, five on the power play, through six games. However, he's also a 29-year-old journeyman who had nine career points before this season. He's only put eight shots on goal as well. It's hard to get too excited about six games given Hunt's track record.
