This article is part of our Yahoo DFS Hockey series.
Thursday's NHL slate is a busy one with 10 games on tap beginning at 7:00 PM Eastern time. Certain players stand out from the pack as guys to target or avoid, and those options are highlighted below…
GOALIE
Pekka Rinne, NSH vs. ARI ($32): This is an absolute steal at $32, as Rinne has been rock-solid with a 21-8-3 record, 2.43 GAA and .925 save percentage. He should have no trouble improving those numbers at home against a Coyotes team that scores the second-fewest goals per game (2.30) while allowing the second-most (3.48).
GOALIE TO AVOID
Marc-Andre Fleury, VGK at TB ($37): Fleury's nearly matchup-proof, but this matchup is one of the few exceptions to the rule. He carries way too much risk to justify a $37 investment against an offense that's scoring a league-best 3.61 goals per game.
CENTER
Brayden Point, TB vs. VGK ($21): Don't be intimidated by the tough opponent, as Point has been incredible against pretty much everyone at Amalie Arena. In 22 home games, he's got 13 goals, 27 points and a plus-15 rating. Until Point starts showing signs of coming back down to earth, he's a must-start on home ice.
CENTER TO AVOID
Sidney Crosby, PIT at LA ($31): Crosby's been hot of late, but it's hard to see him living up to his $31 valuation in this tough situation. His team will be playing the second half of a road back-to-back against a Kings club that's stingiest in terms of both goals allowed (2.43 per game) and penalty killing (87.1 percent).
WINGS
Pavel Buchnevich, NYR vs. BUF ($13): This is a good buy-low opportunity on Buchnevich, who started to show signs of breaking out of his slump with some marvelous passes Tuesday, including one that resulted in an assist. Even with his struggles of late, the affordable winger ranks third on the team with 27 points despite being priced below seven other Rangers forwards. There's also almost no risk to using him in a home matchup with a Sabres club that scores the fewest goals in the league (2.25) while allowing the fourth-most (3.41).
Vladimir Tarasenko, STL at OTT ($31): Tarasenko's actually been unlucky to score "only" 19 goals and 44 points in 47 games, as the career 13.2 percent shooter is shooting a career-low 9.8 percent this season. Ottawa seemed to consistently come out at the opposite end of the luck spectrum last season, but the fluky Eastern Conference finalist's true colors have been on display recently. The Senators have surrendered 35 goals in their past eight games and are allowing the third-most goals per game overall (3.43). Expensive forwards are best used selectively against the most vulnerable opponents, so this is the perfect time to deploy Tarasenko.
WINGS TO AVOID
Wayne Simmonds, PHI vs. TOR ($19): Simmonds comes in riding a five-game point streak, but keeping the good times rolling will be difficult in this matchup. The power forward makes up for poor even-strength play with power-play production, as he's scored eight of his 15 goals on the power play while posting a subpar minus-6 rating. Toronto's primed to contain Simmonds' strength while exploiting his weakness, as the Maple Leafs rank fifth on the penalty kill (84.0 percent) and eighth offensively (3.11 goals per game).
Joe Pavelski, SJ at COL ($23): Pavelski's average of 6.8 fantasy points per game is lowest among wingers in this slate priced at $22 or above, and that number's unlikely to grow against a streaking Avalanche team that's won seven consecutive games. If you're set on using a Sharks winger, Logan Couture represents significantly better value considering he costs $1 less but averages 1.2 more fantasy points per game.
DEFENSEMEN
Jake Gardiner, TOR at PHI ($12): Gardiner's offensive potential from the blue line is tremendous relative to his $12 price. He skates on Toronto's top power-play unit, and seven of Gardiner's 20 points have come with the extra man. Meanwhile, Philadelphia has the worst penalty kill among teams in this slate and third-worst in the league overall at 74.5 percent.
Mattias Ekholm, NSH vs. ARI ($13): While Ekholm's offensive prospects are reduced with Ryan Ellis back from injury, the pendulum has swung too far in the other direction. Ekholm's significantly underpriced at $13, as his average of 6.0 fantasy points per game is tops among all defensemen valued at $15 or under and is even better than one of the $20 options in this slate. Look for his all-around ability to shine through in this favorable matchup, as Ekholm's still averaging over 23 minutes of ice time per game in five appearances with Ellis in the lineup.
DEFENSEMEN TO AVOID
Kevin Shattenkirk, NYR vs. BUF ($19): Shattenkirk dished out a helper against Buffalo in the Winter Classic, but that's his only point in the past 12 games. The slumping defenseman's rating is also down to minus-14 after a minus-7 performance over the last four games, so he's overpriced at $19 regardless of opponent at the moment.
Kris Letang, PIT at LA ($25): Letang faces all the same challenges as Crosby here, but he's an even riskier play. Los Angeles' top-ranked penalty kill is likely to limit Letang's production in such situations, and his minus-12 rating and 13 points at even strength suggest he's unlikely to provide much value outside of man-advantage situations.
