This article is part of our Yahoo DFS Hockey series.
There are four games included in the main contests at Yahoo beginning at 7 p.m. EST. The Avalanche are a ginormous favorite over the Sabres, whereas the other three games project to be close. Montreal and Buffalo are the only two teams playing for the second consecutive night while Columbus is on the front end of a back-to-back set. It's also worth noting there are bargain-bin salaries for most of the projected starting goalies, so the cap might not be as prohibitive as usual. Here are recommendations and fades at each position.
All statistics from Natural Stat Trick and Hockey Reference.
GOALIE
Joonas Korpisalo, CLS at MON ($22): Montreal is 1-7-4 out of the holiday break with just 29 goals, so this should be a plus-matchup for the Columbus starter. Korpisalo is coming off a 33-save win where he produced 15.8 fantasy points. And if Elvis Merzlikins ($26) receives the start, the salary bump isn't concerning enough to look past the favorable spot.
GOALIE TO AVOID
Darcy Kuemper, COL vs. BUF ($37): The Colorado starter comes in with a contest-high salary and it wouldn't be shocking to see Buffalo make it interesting in a losing effort. As noted, there are ample goalie options lower down the value list while the Sabres have attempted the third fewest shots per 60 minutes since the holiday break. Kuemper's margin for error is small.
CENTER
Boone Jenner, CLS at MON ($19): As noted, Montreal is playing for the second consecutive night after losing 7-2 to Edmonton and allows the most goals per game and ranks third last in penalty-kill percentage. Jenner is coming off his best effort of the season and skates on the No. 1 line and top power-play unit, so he's positioned to stay hot.
CENTER TO AVOID
Mathew Barzal, NYI vs. MIN ($19): With 19 points through his past 16 contests, Barzal is rolling. This is still a tough matchup with Minnesota giving up the second fewest expected goals per 60 minutes since the holiday break and only eight tallies during its active four-game winning streak. Barzal's probably also currently overachieving.
WING
Mikko Rantanen, COL vs. BUF ($34): The star to target today is Rantanen. He's racked up 12 goals, 20 assists and 10 multi-point showings through his past 21 outings and the Sabres have been a defensive doormat with the sixth-worst GAA and seventh worst penalty-kill percentage.
Alex Newhook, COL vs. BUF ($13): The 21-year-old forward scored last time out and projects to remain in a scoring role on the second line and No. 2 power-play unit. Buffalo allows the sixth most goals per game and Newhook represents an affordable addition to a Colorado stack.
WINGS TO AVOID
Roope Hintz and Jason Robertson, DAL vs. BOS ($23/$21): The Bruins sport an 11-3-1 record and have surrendered the fewest expected goals per 60 minutes, so this sets up as a tough matchup for this Dallas duo. Also expect them to line up opposite Patrice Bergeron ($29) most of the night, and he paces the league in Corsi For percentage at five-on-five with a 65.8 mark.
DEFENSE
Cale Makar, COL vs. BUF ($30): If you're looking to spend up on the blueline, Makar should catch your eye in the highlighted plus-matchup. He paces all defensemen in points per 60 minutes since entering the league and has registered two goals and three assists during his active three-game scoring streak.
Zach Werenski, CLS at MON ($17): With the noted soft matchup in mind, Werenski projects to be a popular target and solid option. He's coming off a three-assist performance and the power-play quarterback has been a proven scorer with 86 points through 137 games over the past three years.
DEFENSE TO AVOID
Charlie McAvoy, BOS at DAL ($18): There's a lot of hit-and-miss in McAvoy's log, and the misses usually come against decent teams. Dallas is 7-5 out of the holiday break while allowing the 10th fewest expected goals per 60 minutes, so today might not be the best time to choose McAvoy.
