This article is part of our Yahoo DFS Hockey series.
Now that we're a quarter of the way into the season, the numbers are starting to normalize and regress toward the mean. No team is averaging over four goals per game anymore or giving up over four goals on average. But there are still some matchups that are better than others. We've got five NHL games Friday. Here are some players to target, and to avoid, for your daily fantasy lineup.
GOALIE
Jordan Binnington, STL at CLM ($36): Even on the road, I like Binnington quite a bit in this matchup. In his sophomore campaign, the netminder has posted a 2.35 GAA and .921 save percentage. Columbus has only managed 2.33 goals per game, so even at home I am not afraid of that offense.
GOALIE TO AVOID
Carey Price, MON at WAS ($30): Price has been hot after a slow start, with a 2.31 GAA and .927 save percentage over his last 10 games. However, can we completely discount those four awful games to start the season? Either way, he's on the road against a Capitals' team that has scored an NHL-best 3.85 goals per contest.
CENTER
Nick Bjugstad, PIT at NJD ($12): Sidney Crosby is going to be out six weeks with an injury. That hurts the Pittsburgh offense, but that also means somebody has to step into the second-line center role for the Penguins and a spot on the power play. It appears Bjugstad will be that man. He's averaged over 2:00 per game on the power play in his last three outings and will be going up against the Devils and their 3.65 GAA.
CENTER TO AVOID
Max Domi, MON at WAS ($22): Domi enjoyed a breakout campaign after joining the Canadiens last year, and he also got off to a hot start to this season. However, over his last eight games, he's only managed two points. Braden Holtby has produced a 2.51 GAA and .925 save percentage over his last nine starts, with a 1.67 GAA at home during that stretch.
WING
David Perron, STL at CLM ($20): Perron has started 59.2 percent of his shifts in the offensive zone, highest on the Blues. He's also red hot after notching 18 points in 19 games. He's notched a 16.5 shooting percentage, but it's not that unusual considering he carried a 20.5 shooting percentage through 57 games last year. In addition to their punchless offense, the Blue Jackets come in with a 3.33 GAA.
Oskar Lindblom, PHI at OTT ($16): In his second full season in the NHL, Lindblom is getting a sizable role with the Flyers. He's playing more than three minutes more per game in ice time, and over a minute more on the power play. This has helped him notch 14 points in 18 outings. Meanwhile, the Senators enter with a 3.33 GAA and have given up 34.2 shots on net per contest.
WINGS TO AVOID
Taylor Hall, NJD vs. PIT ($28): Hall has been snakebit all season, with only two goals on 62 shots. Eventually he'll turn it around, but it may not be in this matchup. The Penguins boast a 2.61 GAA and have only allowed 29.1 shots on net per contest. On top of that, Pittsburgh owns the second-ranked penalty kill.
Brady Tkachuk, OTT vs. PHI ($19): Tkachuk has racked up 11 points in 18 games, but he's produced a whopping zero points on the power play. A lack of talent around him may be part of that, and this matchup won't help as the Flyers possess a top-five penalty kill. Philly has also allowed a mere 29.2 shots on goal per game, so Tkachuk's opportunities may be limited.
DEFENSE
Justin Schultz, PIT at NJD ($14): Schultz gets overshadowed by Kris Letang, but he's got plenty going for him offensively as well. The 29-year-old has registered eight points in 18 games, but he's also put 48 shots on goal. That's good news given the Devils have an .876 team save percentage.
Matt Grzelcyk, BOS at TOR ($12): Torey Krug is expected to be out, so somebody has to step into the top power-play unit. Grzelcyk apparently will be that guy. In the last game, he played 23:08 - including 3:37 with the extra man - and put five shots on goal. The Leafs have given up 32.9 shots on net per game and they also own the 24th-ranked penalty kill, so this is a really good chance for Grzelcyk to provide some bang for your buck.
DEFENSE TO AVOID
Morgan Rielly, TOR vs. BOS ($24): Rielly is compiling another impressive season, hence the lofty price. But he hasn't been quite as good as last year, as his shooting percentage has fallen from 9.0 to 5.8. Shooting percentages tend to dip against the Bruins and their league top-five 2.50 GAA.
Seth Jones, CLM vs. STL ($20): Jones is struggling to light the lamp this year, as he only has one goal. Granted, goal scoring isn't necessarily his thing, but he's also only tallied two power-play points. I don't expect Jones to get out of his funk in this one, as Jordan Binnington has posted a 2.35 GAA and .921 save percentage as previously noted.
