This article is part of our Yahoo DFS Hockey series.
February opens up with 14 games, and this article focuses on the evening slate, which features 11 contests. There's plenty of teams in the midst of back-to-back games, so read on for tips on setting your DFS lineup.
GOALIE
MacKenzie Blackwood, NJ vs. DAL ($28): Blackwood fits the tournament-winning pedigree, as he's a contrarian play that has shown flashes this year. He's 1-0-1 since the All-Star break and was impressive in the win, and this is a favorable matchup. The Stars were 6-4-0 in January and posted 1.39 GF/60 at even strength -- the worst rate in the league -- per Natural Stat Trick.
GOALIE TO AVOID
Jaroslav Halak, BOS at MIN ($33): Halak was Boston's No. 1 for a bit while Tuukka Rask was out with a concussion, and he finished below an .890 save percentage in three of five starts. Each poor outing was on the road, and the Wild have been playing well lately. They've scored three goals in five straight games, taking down the Stars and Lightning in the process.
CENTER
Auston Matthews, TOR vs. OTT ($35): There's no place like home. Matthews has racked up 27 of his 36 goals on home ice, and he shoots with a higher volume there as well. Ottawa hasn't kept the net empty, either, as it has yielded 2.91 G/60 at even strength -- the eighth-most in the league -- in January.
CENTER TO AVOID
Nico Hischier, NJ vs. DAL ($19): Hischier hasn't lit the lamp in six games, and he fired exactly one shot on net in four of those contests. It'll be tough to break the trend in this outing, as Ben Bishop is expected to start in the opposing goal, and he put up a 2.28 GAA in January.
WING
Max Pacioretty, VGK at NSH ($27): The Predators have gotten diced up by opposing power plays over the last month (13.28 GA/60), and that's exactly when Pacioretty does his best work. He's piled up five goals and nine assists with the man advantage this year. He's marked five shots on goal in seven straight as well, alleviating the concerns about his high price tag.
Brady Tkachuk, OTT at TOR ($19): Tkachuck's on a three-game point streak and has showered the net with 15 shots in that stretch. That provides a sturdy floor, and he should pay major dividends on the power play as well. The Maple Leafs rank 25th with a 76.9 percent mark on the penalty kill this year.
WINGS TO AVOID
Evander Kane, SJ vs. TB ($20): Kane hasn't produced a point in four games, running up a minus-3 rating in that stretch. The Sharks will be without Tomas Hertl and Logan Couture, and even a shooter like Kane may not be able to pick up that slack, especially against the Lightning, who recorded 1.57 GA/60 in January.
Johnny Gaudreau, CGY vs. EDM ($22): Gaudreau went pointless in four of the last five contests, including Wednesday's win over the Oilers when he managed just one shot on net. He's not worth top dollar in this slate.
DEFENSE
Torey Krug, BOS at MIN ($20): Krug has been in a bit of a lull lately, but he clocks 20 minutes most nights and works on a loaded power-play unit. Minnesota's defensive struggles extend to the penalty kill, as it allowed 15.71 G/60 over the last month. Krug pocketed a three-point game against the Wild back in November as icing on the cake.
Anthony DeAngelo, NYR at DET ($17): DeAngelo has been relatively quiet since his signature five-point night against the Devils on Jan. 9, but he was able to stack up two points against the Red Wings on Friday. Look for him to replicate that effort, as the Wings have struggled to stop opposing power plays all year.
DEFENSEMEN TO AVOID
Erik Karlsson, SJ vs. TB ($20): Karlsson has finished in the negatives in two of the last four games, and he's generated 33 percent of his points this year on the power play. His chances could be limited here, as Tampa has killed penalties effectively over the past month, allowing just 3.52 G/60 -- the second-best rate in the league.
Duncan Keith, CHI at ARI ($17): It's been tough to depend on Keith all year. He has just 14 points (one goal, 13 assists) this year, and he failed to direct a shot on net in his last game before the All-Star break. The Coyotes' penalty kill has been strong this year, too, ranking 13th at 81.8 percent.
