This article is part of our Yahoo DFS Hockey series.
The playoff races are really shaping up. While some teams are out of it, and a few of those teams are in action Tuesday, that doesn't tamp down the excitement for daily fantasy hockey. In fact, those lousy teams out of contention often represent opportunity in the world of daily fantasy. There are eight games on the NHL slate Tuesday. Here are some players to target, and to avoid, for your lineup.
GOALIE
Thatcher Demko, VAN vs. NYI ($27): Demko hasn't been as good as Jacob Markstrom (who is close to returning from injury) this year, but at home he's put up respectable numbers. In Vancouver, Demko has a 2.75 GAA and .909 save percentage. The Islanders have only managed 29.4 shots on goal per game, and they will be far from home Tuesday.
GOALIE TO AVOID
Tuukka Rask, BOS at PHI ($35): Rask leads the NHL in GAA, but the Flyers are the toughest team in the NHL at home. Philly has also been scorching offensively recently. Since the All-Star break, the Flyers lead the league with 4.11 goals per game.
CENTER
Nick Suzuki, MON vs. NAS ($14): Suzuki has had a nice under-the-radar rookie season, as he's notched 40 points in 70 games. He's also averaged 2:10 per contest with the extra man and tallied 14 power-play points. The Predators have the 29th-ranked penalty kill, so the 20-year-old's increased power-play time could pay off.
CENTER TO AVOID
John Tavares, TOR vs. TAM ($28): Tavares is maybe a bit overshadowed by Auston Matthews, and Matthews' presence does leave the former Islander on the second line for the Maple Leafs. He still has 58 points in 62 games, though his power-play production has dropped off (two points in his last 14 contests). The Lightning have a 2.78 GAA, and while they did just allow four goals to the Red Wings they've been just fine recently. Since the All-Star break they have a 2.62 GAA.
WING
Teuvo Teravainen, CAR at DET ($23): Teravainen has been hurt by his 8.4 percent shooting, but he's still managed 61 points in 67 games. That's because he's tallied 46 assists, including 16 on the power play. As for Tuesday, I mean, it's a matchup with the Red Wings. They have a 3.71 GAA. No other team has a GAA higher than 3.33.
Danton Heinen, ANA vs. OTT ($11): The team with a 3.33 GAA, by the way? That would be the Senators. In fact, on the road they have a 3.69 GAA. Since joining the Ducks in a trade, Heinen has been dropped onto Anaheim's first line and averaged 2:38 per game with the extra man. That's helped him tally three goals in seven games.
WINGS TO AVOID
Brad Marchand, BOS at PHI ($29): I mentioned how strong the Flyers have been at home, and that's certainly been true defensively. The Flyers have a 2.00 GAA in their own arena, lowest in the NHL. They've also only given up 28.8 shots on net per game at home. Marchand is having a fine season, but this is an imposing matchup you may want to avoid.
Claude Giroux, PHI vs. BOS ($21): I recommended avoiding Rask because he's pricey and this is a tough matchup. It'll be hard for Rask to get a win. That being said, the Bruins do have a 2.44 road GAA, lowest in the NHL. I'm not expecting a high-scoring game here, and it might be a long night for most of the key offensive players. You can find better options than Giroux.
DEFENSE
Miro Heiskanen, DAL vs. NYR ($18): Heiskanen has 33 points in 67 games, equaling the number he put up as a rookie last year. He's also been quite active, as he's put 159 shots on goal, third most on the Stars. The Rangers have allowed 35.4 shots on net per game on the road, so the Finnish defenseman should have opportunity.
Jaccob Slavin, CAR at DET ($17): Slavin has done a more than admirable job replacing Dougie Hamilton in Carolina's lineup. He's notched 14 points in his last 18 games, and after getting no time on the power play while Hamilton was healthy he's now on the top unit. That hasn't yielded a ton of points for the defenseman, but the Red Wings do have the 30th-ranked penalty kill.
DEFENSEMEN TO AVOID
Anthony DeAngelo, NYR at DAL ($20): DeAngelo has jumped from four goals last year to 15 this year, thanks largely to his shooting percentage blowing up to 10.3 percent. It's a little late for regression to the mean to hit, but the Stars have put the kibosh on a lot of strong offensive players. Dallas has a 2.18 home GAA, second lowest in the NHL.
Alexander Edler, VAN vs. NYI ($17): With Quinn Hughes now running Vancouver's power play, Edler's role in the offense has diminished. He only has one goal in his last 31 games, and he only has seven power-play points overall. The Islanders have a 2.78 GAA, and Edler won't be in line to face their middling penalty kill much.
