This article is part of our FantasyDraft NHL series.
As we get further into November, it's feeling more and more like hockey season is here. There are seven games in the NHL on Thursday — here are some players worth targeting…
GOALIE
St. Louis Blues, STL vs. ARI ($15,400): For starters, you have to like the Blues' chances of picking up a win for their goalie. After all, St. Louis is 6-1-0 at home, while Arizona is 1-8-1 on the road. Beyond that, though, the Blues have a stellar team GAA of 2.31, while the Coyotes have averaged a mere 2.41 goals per game. This really feels like a steal of a price.
CENTER
Brayden Schenn, STL vs. ARI ($13,000): Let's stick with the Blues-Coyotes game, because things are also looking great for St. Louis on offense as well. Arizona has a team GAA of 4.00, and a team save percentage of .879. The latter is the worst in the NHL. Schenn has 14 points with his new team, including five on the power play. On top of everything else, the Coyotes have the 28th-ranked penalty kill.
Bo Horvat, VAN at ANA ($10,300): Anaheim has allowed 35.3 shots on net per contest. Considering the Ducks are missing their top two centers, and also defenseman Cam Fowler, they could be in trouble defensively for now. After breaking out with 20 goals and 52 points last season, Vancouver's top center has 13 points in 15 games, including six in his last three.
WING
Max Pacioretty, MON vs. MIN ($13,700): The Wild played Wednesday night, and since Alex Stalock had to abruptly leave due to the birth of his child, it's possible Devan Dubnyk will be pulling double duty, or that third-stringer Niklas Svedberg will be in net. Despite an 8.7 shooting percentage that would be his lowest in eight seasons, Pacioretty already has six goals. That's what happens when you put 69 shots on net in 16 games.
Patrick Maroon, EDM at NJD ($9,900): The Devils are a young team, which may be partially responsible for the fact they've allowed 35.4 shots on net per game. They also have a team GAA of 3.14. Maroon broke out with 27 goals last season, and he has 10 points in 14 games thus far. He's skating on Connor McDavid's line, and that counts for a lot.
Gustav Nyquist, DET at CGY ($9,800): Nyquist has started 61.8 percent of his shifts in the offensive zone, the most of any Red Wing forward. After a slow start he's picked up his play, as he has four points in his last six contests. The Flames have a team GAA of 2.87, but that's with Mike Smith posting a .923 save percentage. He has a career save percentage of .913, and he's allowed nine goals in his last two games so perhaps the regression is already starting.
DEFENSEMEN
Oscar Klefbom, EDM at NJD ($9,900): As previously noted, the Devils have given up 35.4 shots on net per contest this season. Last year they allowed 31.4, so this is not a new problem for New Jersey. Klefbom notched 201 shots on net last season, and he has 46 through 14 games. He only has one goal, but his 2.2 shooting percentage is likely to improve.
Colton Parayko, STL vs. ARI ($9,400): Parayko hasn't had much puck luck dating back to last season, but he still has offensive potential. He also has five points and 40 shots on net through 16 games. If there ever was a game where a player was going to get lucky, though, it's against the Coyotes. As mentioned earlier, they have a team GAA of 4.00, and that's after they had a 3.15 mark last year with Mike Smith between the pipes.
