This article is part of our Yahoo DFS Hockey series.
There are four games in the NHL on Friday with two home favorites and two home underdogs. The Avalanche are receiving the most chalk on the docket while Boston, Carolina and Edmonton are also all notable favorites. Additionally, the Predators and Blues are attempting to avoid being down 3-0 in their respective series, whereas the Oilers are looking to rebound after being upset in Game 1 by the Jets. Finally, the Bruins host the Capitals up 2-1 after the three first games all went to overtime. Friday projects to be another exciting night, so here are picks and pans for each position for the featured contests at Yahoo.
All statistics from Natural Stat Trick and Hockey Reference.
GOALIE
Philipp Grubauer, COL vs. STL ($30): This salary is too low. As noted, Colorado is the largest favorite on the docket, and Grubauer has topped 54 of 58 shots in consecutive wins to start the series, and the Avs have held St. Louis to just 15 high-danger scoring chances.. He also posted an elite .922 save percentage and 2.95 GAA through the regular season, so his recent form shouldn't surprise.
GOALIE TO AVOID
Tuukka Rask, BOS vs. WAS ($36): The only real knock here is Rask's position-high salary. He's stopped 100 of 108 shots through the first three meetings of the series, and Boston has held the Capitals to just 28 high-danger scoring chances. Still, this has the makings of a long, back-and-forth series, and the Capitals have firepower. Washington finished the regular season fourth in the league in goals per game, after all.
CENTER
Nathan MacKinnon, COL at STL ($35): Until MacKinnon's salary makes it prohibitive to build around him, or the Blues slow him down, he's worth a long look every night he laces them up. MacKinnon has five goals, two assists, 10 shots, 16 attempts and six individual high-danger scoring chances. He's up to 61 points -- 25 goals -- through just 42 career playoff games, too.
CENTER TO AVOID
Mark Scheifele, WPG at EDM ($25): Look for a rebound showing from the Oilers on Friday, as the underlying statistics highlight how caved in Winnipeg was for most of the night Wednesday. Edmonton finished with 27 more five-on-five shot attempts, and Connor McDavid ($36) had a 62.1 Corsi For percentage through 13:46 of five-on-five ice time while matched up against Scheifele. Consider the Winnipeg center a plus-minus risk with his projected role of lining up opposite McDavid again Friday.
WING
David Pastrnak, BOS vs. WAS ($31): The high-scoring winger has attempted a team-high 19 shots and 35 attempts through the first three games of the series without finding the back of the net. Pastrnak also has only scored four goals with a 4.8 shooting percentage through his past 24 games dating back to the regular season. There's screaming statistical correction here.
Kailer Yamamoto, EDM vs. WPG ($10): While quiet in Game 1, Yamamoto projects to remain on the second line with Leon Draisaitl ($34) and Ryan Nugent-Hopkins ($21). The trio clicked for 4.92 goals and 13.76 high-danger scoring chances per 60 minutes over the past two regular seasons, and they also generated 16 shot attempts and three high-danger scoring chances at five-on-five in Game 1.
WINGS TO AVOID
Filip Forsberg, NSH at CAR ($21): The Hurricanes have kept Forsberg in check through two games, as he's recorded just a single goal, seven shots and 13 attempts while posting a minus-2 rating. There's definitely bounce-back potential for the Predators on home ice, but it's also further discouraging that Forsberg logged 7:28 of power-play time in Game 2 and still failed to make a fantasy dent in Yahoo's scoring settings. He's well within fade territory.
Dominik Kahun, EDM vs. WPG ($12): This is more of a warning than fade because there's little risk turning to Kahun at his salary considering he's projected to skate alongside Connor McDavid ($36) on the No. 1 line. However, Kahun isn't a high-volume shooter with just 10.92 shot attempts per 60 minutes during the regular season, and he'll likely be the winger dropped from McDavid's flank if Leon Draisaitl ($34) jumps up to the No. 1 line temporarily or for a prolonged stretch. Kahun also doesn't receive consistent power-play time.
DEFENSE
Tyson Barrie, EDM vs. WPG ($23): This is a solid spot to target Barrie. He finished second in points per 60 minutes among regular defensemen during the regular season and collected an assist in Game 1. It's worth noting that Edmonton only had one power-play opportunity Wednesday, which cut into Barrie's upside. The Oilers had the eighth most power-play chances in the league during the regular season, so it would be surprising if the power-play quarterback doesn't see more ice time with the man advantage Friday.
Charlie McAvoy, BOS vs. WAS ($18): It's been a solid start to the playoffs for McAvoy, and he returned to quarterbacking the No. 1 power-play unit in Game 3. The 23-year-old blueliner has racked up two assists, 13 shots and two blocks with a plus-3 rating while logging a hefty 28:12 of ice time through three games against Washington. He's positioned for another solid showing, and this salary is probably a little short given his current form and role.
DEFENSE TO AVOID
Cale Makar, COL at STL ($28): Atop the defense salary list, Makar has found the scoresheet in both games of the series after finishing the regular season with the most points per 60 minutes among regular blueliners. The fade call is more about lineup assembly, as it often proves more beneficial to allocate the big chucks of cap space for forwards and goaltenders. This is a deep defense pool, too.
Roman Josi, NSH vs. CAR ($21): The Nashville captain buoyed his final stat line with eight shots in Game 2, but his minus-1 rating cut into the fantasy-point total, and Josi is a minus-4 for the series. He also posted a minus-3 rating through five regular-season meetings. Additionally, similar to teammate Filip Forsberg ($21), Josi logged 7:50 of power-play time in Game 2 and still didn't make much of a fantasy impact.
