This article is part of our Yahoo DFS Hockey series.
There are five games in the NHL on Friday with San Jose, New Jersey and Calgary all playing for the second consecutive night. The Golden Knights, Rangers and Jets are all notable favorites, whereas the other two contests are projected to be close. Here's a peek at recommendations and fades for each position.
All statistics from Natural Stat Trick and Hockey Reference.
GOALIE
Robin Lehner, VGK vs. ARI ($33): This is a bounce-back spot for Lehner, as he's only won one of his past four starts and posted a discouraging .877 save percentage and 3.82 GAA in the process. Arizona should prove to be a cakewalk, though. The Coyotes rank second last in both goals for and expected goals for per 60 minutes at five-on-five.
GOALIE TO AVOID
James Reimer, SJ at NYR ($33): The Sharks are playing their second road game in consecutive nights and are significant underdogs, so this might not be the best spot to target Reimer. He's also probably currently overachieving with a .934 save percentage and 2.06 GAA through 14 appearances this year considering his .906 and 2.83 marks over the previous three seasons.
CENTER
Nicolas Roy, VGK vs. ARI ($12): It's been an extremely quiet stretch for Roy with just a single assist through his past 10 games. He's been on the ice for 39 high-danger scoring chances -- 10 of his own -- during the run, though, so look for puck luck to turn in his favor Friday. The Coyotes have surrendered the fifth most goals per 60 minutes and rank 29th in penalty-kill percentage.
CENTER TO AVOID
Elias Lindholm, CGY at ANH ($30): This fade is all about cap management. If you're going to spend up for a 15-percent ticket, why not make a lineup swap or two to go all in with Connor McDavid ($38) or Leon Draisaitl ($35)?
WING
Artemi Panarin, NYR vs. SJ ($30): With a point in 10 of the past 14 games, Panarin has racked up five tallies, 14 helpers and 39 shots with a plus-10 rating. As noted, San Jose could be in a vulnerable schedule spot, too. The Sharks are playing the second leg of a back-to-back road set and their fourth away game in six nights.
Evgeni Dadonov, VGK vs. ARI ($12): Here's another Golden Knight with a low salary to consider. Dadonov paces the club in individual high-danger scoring chances but has just five goals and a 7.9 shooting percentage for the campaign. Statistical correction should be ahead considering he posted a 14.7 mark over 280 games over the previous four years.
WINGS TO AVOID
Troy Terry, ANH vs. CGY ($21): Calgary has surrendered the fewest goals and second fewest expected goals per 60 minutes this season, so this projects as a tough matchup for Terry and the Ducks. While it's been a breakout season for the 24-year-old forward, Terry has already begun to cool down a bit with six points -- four goals -- through his past nine games. He still sports an unsustainably high 28.3 shooting percentage, too.
Jesse Puljujarvi, EDM at SEA ($21): Currently not projected to skate with Connor McDavid ($38) or Leon Draisaitl ($35) at five-on-five or on the power play, Puljujarvi should be off your radar Friday. He's recorded a dismal 1.32 goals per 60 minutes over the past three years when not skating with either of the two superstars compared to a 7.45 mark when all three are together on the ice.
DEFENSE
Shea Theodore, VGK vs. ARI ($17): This is a manageable salary for Theodore in the noted plus-matchup against Arizona. He found the scoresheet last time out and still has a little room for statistical improvement, as Theodore's current 1.57 points per 60 minutes trails the 1.9 mark he posted over the past two years. It's also worth noting for this scoring setting that his even plus-minus rating so far is well below the plus-40 mark he recorded the past two years.
Brent Burns, SJ at NYR ($17): While this projects as a tough matchup for Burns and the Sharks, the veteran defenseman is in an uncharacteristic, 10-game point drought. He's still logging top minutes (26:23 with 2:30 on the power play), so expecting improvement to his current 1.09 points per 60 minutes is legit. After all, he recorded a 1.78 mark over the previous three years.
DEFENSE TO AVOID
Dougie Hamilton, NJ at WPG ($27): Carrying a position-high salary and playing the second leg of a back-to-back road set, Hamilton is probably more of a risk than usual Friday. He's also missed the scoresheet in four of the past six games, albeit with multi-point showings in the other two contests.
