This article is part of our Yahoo DFS Hockey series.
There's five games on the slate Friday. Check out the recommended players below before assembling your lineup…
GOALIE
Jonathan Quick, LOS at NYR ($33): The Rangers have been fine offensively, but this is all about how well Quick and the Kings have been playing. The team is 8-1-1 in their last 10 contests, and Quick has been a big part of that. He has a 2.30 GAA and a .926 save percentage on the year. Additionally, Los Angeles has the top-ranked penalty kill in the NHL.
GOALIE TO AVOID
Curtis McElhinney, TOR at DET ($31): Yes, the Red Wings haven't been great, but the Maple Leafs are on the road for the second night of a back-to-back. Toronto has allowed 34.4 shots on net per game, which would put a lot of burden on McElhinney. While the veteran journeyman has been strong this year, he has a 2.93 GAA and a .906 save percentage for his career. Those are hard numbers to bet on.
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CENTER
William Nylander, TOR at DET ($15): That's not to say there aren't things to like about this matchup for Toronto. The Red Wings have a team GAA of 3.26, and that number is all the way up to 4.40 in the month of December. Jimmy Howard has a 3.98 GAA and a .863 save percentage in his last 11 contests, so this isn't just about a few games this month. Nylander has 16 assists through 33 games, and his 6.8 shooting percentage seems likely to improve at some point.
CENTER TO AVOID
Nico Hischier, NJD vs. DAL ($15): Here's a positive for daily fantasy players: I had to get all the way down to Hischier to find a player I felt justified in suggesting to avoid at center. The first-overall pick has just two assists in his last seven games. The Stars, for their part, have only given up 29.7 shots on net per contest, fourth fewest in the NHL.
WING
Sebastian Aho, CAR at BUF ($17): After being an under-the-radar success as a rookie last season, Aho has seen his minutes increase. He's averaged 18:26 per game, including 2:58 on the power play. In that time, he's notched 21 points, and it wouldn't be surprising to see him add to that Friday. The Sabres are on the second night of a back-to-back, and that could mean Chad Johnson (3.64 GAA, .883 save percentage) is in net. Even if Robin Lehner gets the start, this is an excellent matchup.
Anthony Mantha, DET vs. TOR ($15): Mantha hasn't scored in a few games, but he's averaged 6.4 fantasy points per game, so it hasn't been a bad season on the whole. As mentioned previously, Toronto will be on the road for its second game in as many nights and has given up a ton of shots. If McElhinney plays to his career numbers, Mantha might get back on the scoresheet. At this price, it's worth the gamble.
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WINGS TO AVOID
Dustin Brown, LOS at NYR ($23): Brown has been a good story this season, but it still seems surprising to see him as the third most expensive wing Friday. While he hasn't regressed entirely yet, his 14.1 shooting percentage is still unusually high. He hasn't been above 8.0 in his previous four campaigns. Henrik Lundqvist got off to something of a slow start, but in his last 13 games he has a 2.32 GAA and a .930 save percentage. The Rangers also have the seventh-ranked penalty kill.
Brian Gibbons, NJD vs. DAL ($17): Speaking of shooting percentage, Gibbons currently has 12 goals despite only putting 43 shots on net in 31 games. That gives him a 27.9 shooting percentage that is destined to plummet. The Stars have allowed 2.84 goals per game, which has them ranked just outside the top 10, and they've only given up 29.7 shots on net per contest.
DEFENSEMEN
Marc-Edouard Vlasic, SAN at VAN ($18): Vlasic has five points in his last 10 games. In those same 10 tilts he's put 28 shots on net. The Canucks have a 2.97 team GAA, but that's owing in part to an unexpectedly good start. In November they had a 3.20 team GAA, and in December that number is up to 3.50.
Esa Lindell, DAL at NJD ($15):John Klingberg gets most of the love, but don't overlook Lindell. The 23-year-old is taking his game to a new level, and he's put 76 shots on net, notching four goals in the process. The Devils have been quite giving on the shot front, as they had allowed 33.4 pucks on net per contest before giving up 36 on Thursday. Since New Jersey played Thursday, Keith Kinkaid (3.48 GAA, .893 save percentage) could be in net for this one.
DEFENSEMEN TO AVOID
Kevin Shattenkirk, NYR vs. LOS ($21): Shattenkirk hasn't recorded a point in four games, and the Kings have a league-best 2.28 team GAA. Plus, Los Angeles has the top penalty kill as well, and Shattenkirk has notched nine of his 20 points with the extra man.
Alec Martinez, LOS at NYR ($18): Martinez hasn't added to his point total much recently, as he has a mere four points in his last 18 games. He's also only put 42 shots on net in 29 games on the season. As previously noted, Lundqvist has played great in net for the Rangers recently, so it seems unlikely that Martinez will break through in this one.
