This article is part of our Yahoo DFS Hockey series.
Hoo boy. I hope you like hockey, and I expect you do, because there are 13 NHL games going down Tuesday. That means you have a ton of options for your daily fantasy lineup. To try and keep you from getting overwhelmed, here are some players to target, and to avoid, for DFS purposes.
GOALIE
Matt Murray, PIT vs. NYI ($35): Murray has been getting plenty of offensive support, as the Penguins have averaged 3.30 goals per game. However, he's also been getting defensive help, as Pittsburgh has only allowed 28.9 shots on net per contest. That's notable, because the Islanders have only managed 28.2 shots on goal per game, fewest in the NHL. It could be a light night for Murray.
GOALIE TO AVOID
Connor Hellebuyck, WPG at NAS ($36): Hellebuyck is looking even better than he did in his breakout campaign, as he has a 2.44 GAA and .927 save percentage. However, he's also been quite busy, as the Jets have faced 33.1 shots on net per game. The Predators have scored 3.68 goals per game, top three in the league, so Hellebuyck could be quite busy, and it will be hard for him to play to his usual standard.
CENTER
Dylan Larkin, DET vs. OTT ($22): Larkin is doing his best to keep Detroit's offense afloat. He's notched 16 points in 22 games, and put 66 shots on net as well. The Senators have a 3.25 GAA, and have also given up 33.8 shots on net per contest, both of which bode well for Larkin.
CENTER TO AVOID
Bo Horvat, VAN at DAL ($19): Horvat's first year as Vancouver's captain has gone well, but recently he's slowed down a bit. The center only has one point, an assist, in his last five games. While Dallas' offense has struggled, its defense is as strong as ever. The Stars have a 2.43 GAA, top five in the NHL.
WING
Andrei Svechnikov, CAR at CHI ($22): In his sophomore campaign, Svechnikov has started 55.7 percent of his shifts in the offensive zone. That's most on the Hurricanes. This has perhaps helped the 19-year-old to start the year with nine goals on 53 shots through 20 games. The Blackhawks do have Robin Lehner, who covers a lot of sins. However, Chicago has given up a whopping 37.1 shots on net per contest, which is a pretty big sin.
Anthony Duclair, OTT at DET ($15): Duclair has tallied six goals on 35 shots and added three assists in his last 12 games. The journeyman forward is also finally getting real playing time for the first time in his career, as he's averaged 16:09 in ice time and is skating on Ottawa's top line. This is the rare opportunity for the Senators to have a favorable matchup. The Red Wings have a 3.68 GAA. That's highest in the NHL.
WINGS TO AVOID
Taylor Hall, NJD vs. BOS ($28): There's having bad luck, and there's being Hall this season. He's only managed two goals, thanks to woeful 2.9 percent shooting. He will rebound in time, but it hasn't happened yet, and this is a tough matchup for turnarounds. Tuukka Rask has a 2.14 GAA and .927 save percentage.
Jake Guentzel, PIT vs. NYI ($26): What will Guentzel be without Sidney Crosby as his center? Sure, he has Evgeni Malkin in that spot now, but Crosby and Guentzel have had magic together. To be honest, though, even if Crosby was healthy I'd be down on Guentzel here. After all, the Islanders have a 2.33 GAA.
DEFENSE
Dougie Hamilton, CAR at CHI ($25): Remember when I told you that the Blackhawks have allowed 37.1 shots on goal per game? Hamilton is the perfect defenseman to take advantage of that. The dude has put 65 shots on net through 20 games, an incredible number for a blueliner. There's no surprise he has a five-game point streak.
Ivan Provorov, PHI at FLA ($17): Shayne Gostisbehere is struggling, but Provorov has been producing from the blue line for the Flyers. He's tallied 13 points in 20 games, including eight with the extra man. So far, Sergei Bobrovsky has solved nothing in Florida, as the Panthers have a 3.55 GAA and .884 save percentage.
DEFENSEMEN TO AVOID
Morgan Rielly, TOR at VGK ($24): Rielly has gotten off to another strong start, though he only has two points, both assists, in his last seven games. He's also slowed down on the power play considerably, as he only has one point with the extra man in his last 15 outings. The power play is where Rielly made his name the last couple of years, and the Golden Knights have the fourth-ranked penalty kill, so this isn't the right matchup for him.
Aaron Ekblad, FLA vs. PHI ($17): Ekblad has had at least 12 goals and 36 points in the four seasons he's played at least 70 games. He's got 10 points to start this year, but his shooting percentage is down, and he doesn't have a single power-play point. The Flyers have only given up 29.0 shots on goal per game, and now Carter Hart is starting to turn his play around. In his last six starts he has a 1.77 GAA and .934 save percentage.
