This article is part of our Yahoo DFS Hockey series.
Normally, Friday would be the final day of February. However, thanks to this being a Leap Year, you will get one more chance to play daily fantasy hockey before March. There are five games tonight to kick off the weekend. Here are some players to target, and to avoid, for your daily fantasy lineup.
GOALIE
Marc-Andre Fleury, VGK vs. BUF ($30): While Fleury's numbers have dipped this year and Vegas hasn't been the same juggernaut at home, he has posted a 2.27 GAA and .913 save percentage over his last 10 games. With the Golden Knights only allowing 29.8 shots on net per contest and the Sabres only averaging 29.2 shots on goal, Fleury might not be too busy Friday night.
GOALIE TO AVOID
Pavel Francouz, COL at CAR ($29): Francouz has been more than formidable when replacing Philipp Grubauer this season, as his 2.26 GAA and .927 save percentage will show. However, the Hurricanes have scored 3.22 goals and put 33.9 shots on net per contest at home. The Avalanche have allowed 32.1 shots on goal per game on the road, so Francouz could be quite busy.
CENTER
Boone Jenner, CLM vs. MIN ($18): Jenner has been moved up to centering Columbus's top line, which - given various injuries - is the only line with notable players remaining on the wing. He's also notched four points in his last four games and will be taking on a Wild team sporting a 3.19 GAA that is also on the road for the second leg of a back-to-back.
CENTER TO AVOID
Ryan Getzlaf, ANA vs. PIT ($14): The 34-year-old center is definitely not the player he used to be. He also doesn't possess the talent around him there was back in the heyday, especially now that Ondrej Kase has been traded. Getzlaf has produced 39 points in 61 games, while Tristan Jarry comes in with a 2.23 GAA and .927 save percentage.
WING
Jonathan Marchessault, VGK vs. BUF ($20): Marchessault has been on fire recently, with 12 points and 55 shots on goal in his last 15 games and 12 power-play points on the campaign. The Sabres own the league's worst penalty kill, so any time with the extra man could pay off for Marchessault.
Jakub Voracek, PHI vs. NYR ($18): Voracek has started 54.6 percent of his shifts in the offensive zone, highest among Philly forwards. He's also averaged 2:53 per game with the extra man, notching 14 power-play points. The Rangers have allowed 35.3 shots on net per contest - second-highest in the NHL - and are on the road for the second leg of a back-to-back.
WINGS TO AVOID
Artemi Panarin, NYR at PHI ($33): Panarin's first year in New York has gone nearly perfectly and he's currently riding a 11-game point streak. However, he's also a very pricey player and the Rangers are on the road for the second consecutive evening. On top of that, playing in Philadelphia is incredibly tough for anybody with the Flyers producing a league-best 2.06 home GAA.
Zach Parise, MIN at CLM ($16): Parise didn't get traded at the deadline, which means his 21 goals in 63 games are still in Minnesota. However, the Wild are on the second leg of a back-to-back. While Elvis Merzlikins is hurt, Joonas Korpisalo is back and has compiled a 2.48 GAA and .914 save percentage.
DEFENSE
Shea Theodore, VGK vs. BUF ($21): Theodore has recorded a point in each of his last four games. He's also found a lot of success with the extra man, notching 15 assists on the power play. And as previously noted, the Sabres own the league's worst penalty kill.
Ivan Provorov, PHI vs. NYR ($17): Provorov had a down campaign last year, mostly because he only had a 4.8 shooting percentage and no luck on the power play. This season, his shooting percentage is back up to 8.0 and he's racked up 14 PPPs. Provorov has also put 138 shots on net in 63 games while firing home 11 goals. As previously noted, the Rangers have given up 35.3 shots on goal per game on the road and are playing on consecutive nights.
DEFENSE TO AVOID
Anthony DeAngelo, NYR at PHI ($19): Thanks in part to an elevated 10.4 shooting percentage, DeAngelo has registered 13 goals in 61 games. However, it's never easy to be on the road for the second leg of a back-to-back. 16 of DeAngelo's 47 points have come on the man-advantage, but the Flyers boast the seventh-ranked penalty kill at home.
Ryan Suter, MIN at CLM ($18): Suter has accumulated 42 points across 63 games, but he's also on the road for the second night of a back-to-back Friday. Additionally, 17 of the veteran's points have come with the extra man. The Blue Jackets own the fifth-ranked home penalty and also maintain a 2.18 in their own arena - second-lowest in the NHL.
