This article is part of our Yahoo DFS Hockey series.
Another weekend of NHL action is upon us. The baseball playoffs may be going on but as we wait to see who faces the Nationals in the World Series, let's focus our attention on Friday's NHL slate. There are six games on the schedule. If you want a little assistance in setting your daily fantasy lineup, here are some players I'd consider targeting, but also some guys I'd steer clear of.
GOALIE
Matt Murray, PIT vs. DAL ($36): Murray is off to a good start to the year, posting a 2.65 GAA and .914 save percentage. It's still early, of course, but he did manage a .919 save percentage last season. It's also early for the Stars, but so far their offense has only managed 1.88 goals per game.
GOALIE TO AVOID
Philipp Grubauer, COL at FLA ($35): Grubauer comes in with a 2.50 GAA, but he's been a busy guy when in net as the Avalanche have allowed 33.8 shots on net per game. Meanwhile, the Panthers have been quite active offensively by putting a whopping 38.2 shots on net per contest through six games.
CENTER
Nicklas Backstrom, WAS vs. NYR ($26): Backstrom is the picture of consistency. He's recorded at least 50 assists and 70 points in each of his last six seasons, and has racked up seven points through eight games this year. The Capitals are catching the Rangers on the road for the second game of a back-to-back. Henrik Lundqvist will be in net, and managed a .907 save percentage last year.
CENTER TO AVOID
Sebastian Aho, CAR at ANA ($26): After a slow start, Aho has gotten going a bit. He has registered a point in each of his last two games, but I think that streak will end before it even really begins. The Ducks have compiled a 1.71 team GAA, and John Gibson has sparkled with a .941 save percentage. He's an elite goalie who has never posted a save percentage worse than .917 in a full season, so I have faith in his hot start.
WING
Alex DeBrincat, CHI vs. CLM ($25): DeBrincat notched 28 goals as a 19-year-old rookie, and last year built on that with 41. The Blackhawks have only played four games so far, so the fact the 21-year-old only has one goal on 12 shots isn't a big deal. Joonas Korpisalo has struggled with a .903 save percentage to start this season. That's not a good number, but it's actually an improvement over his .897 save percentage last year.
Zack Kassian, EDM vs. DET ($14): Kassian has been skating on Edmonton's top line with Connor McDavid and Leon Draisaitl. Need I say more? There's a reason the 28-year-old journeyman has six points to start the year. As long as he's getting to skate with those two, he's going to have a raised fantasy ceiling. Facing a Red Wings team on the road for the second game of a back-to-back also helps.
WINGS TO AVOID
Artemi Panarin, NYR at WAS ($26): The Rangers just played in their fourth game Thursday night, so we haven't seen a lot of Panarin on his new team. However, it's worth noting again the Russian is on the road for the second game of a back-to-back. It might also be a tricky night for Panarin, as the Capitals have only allowed 27.8 shots on net per contest.
Anthony Mantha, DET at EDM ($23): Mantha's numbers are boosted by the fact he broke out with seven points in his first two games. He's cooled down a bit since then. Normally, I wouldn't be overly concerned about this matchup, but the Red Wings are on the road for the second game in as many nights. Also, the Oilers have gotten off to an unexpectedly good start defensively by posting a 2.71 GAA and the fifth-ranked penalty kill.
DEFENSE
Seth Jones, CLM at CHI ($18): Jones has three points on the season - all assists - but he's bound to score a goal eventually. After all, he's put 18 shots on net through six games. He's also averaged 3:03 with the extra man. Last year, the Blackhawks owned the league's worst penalty kill, and they rank 28th to start this year.
Duncan Keith, CHI vs. CLM ($18): Let's flip to the other side of that Blackhawks-Blue Jackets matchup. Keith isn't the player he used to be, but he did manage 40 points last season. He has two assists through four games this year, and he's still earning some power-play time. As previously noted, Joonas Korpisalo has a .903 save percentage with an .897 mark last year.
DEFENSE TO AVOID
Jacob Trouba, NYR at WAS ($21): I recommended Trouba for Thursday, as the Rangers were facing the Devils. Now, they're on the road for the second game of a back-to-back. Also, the Capitals are a decidedly tougher matchup. As I mentioned earlier, the Capitals have only given up 27.8 shots on net per contest.
John Klingberg, DAL at PIT ($19): Eventually, I expect Klingberg to turn it around. However, he only has one point - that being an assist - through eight games. He's also had one shot or less in three of his last five outings. The Penguins have posted a 2.57 GAA this season, and the fact Klingberg is on the road playing for an ice-cold offense doesn't help his case either.
