This article is part of our Yahoo DFS Hockey series.
Are you having a rough week? Hey, at least you know you won't find yourself traded to Ottawa without any warning. There are 11 games on the NHL slate Thursday. Here are some players to target and avoid for your daily fantasy lineup.
GOALIE
Jordan Binnington, STL at DAL ($40): Binnington's numbers are nearly impeccable. He's played in 17 games, posting a 13-1-1 record with a 1.60 GAA and .937 save percentage. Even on the road, there is little reason for concern. After all, the Stars have only managed 2.51 goals per game.
GOALIE TO AVOID
Matt Murray, PIT vs. SAN ($26): Murray has been up-and-down all season, including recently. He's had some good games, but over his last 10 outings he has a 3.11 GAA and .912 save percentage. The Sharks have been bad defensively on the road, but offensively they've been just fine. In fact, their 3.65 goals per game on the road lead the NHL.
CENTER
Max Domi, MON vs. PHI ($17): The move from the desert has allowed Domi to finally bloom, as he has 20 goals and 52 points in 60 games. That includes 13 points in his last 14 contests. Though Carter Hart has been impressive as a rookie, he's only played in 21 games, and he has a 3.80 GAA and .893 save percentage in his last four starts. The Flyers also have the 27th-ranked penalty kill, and Domi has averaged 2:56 per game with the extra man.
CENTER TO AVOID
Eric Staal, MIN at NYR ($19): Staal may have 37 points in 59 games, but none of them have come in his last nine contests. Though the Rangers' overall defensive numbers are questionable, most of that is from struggling on the road. At home, they have a 2.63 GAA.
WING
Justin Williams, CAR at FLA ($18): Williams is playing on Carolina's top line with Sebastian Aho and the red-hot trade acquisition Nino Niederreiter. Perhaps not coincidentally, he has 10 points and 38 shots on net in his last 10 contests. It wouldn't be surprising to see him stay hot, as the Panthers have a 3.36 GAA and .890 save percentage.
Marcus Johansson, NJD vs. OTT ($16): Johansson's time in New Jersey has not gone at hoped, but recently he's finally showing why the Devils wanted him in the first place. Over his last 13 games he has six goals and six assists, including five points with the extra man. A player doesn't even need to be hot to excel against the Senators, though. Ottawa has a staggering 4.38 GAA on the road.
WINGS TO AVOID
Jeff Skinner, BUF at TAM ($26): Yes, Skinner is having a great season, tallying 36 goals already. However, a top-notch campaign also leads to a higher price point, and it will be hard for the former Hurricane to live up to that in this matchup. Andrei Vasilevskiy has a .930 save percentage, best in the league. Beyond that, the Lightning have the second-ranked penalty kill, so don't expect Skinner to find luck with the extra man.
Jamie Benn, DAL vs. STL ($21): Benn has an Art Ross to his name, and multiple 30-goal seasons on his resume, but he has only one goal in his last 14 contests. Even at home, don't expect Benn to find his usual form. The Blues actually have a 2.21 GAA on the road, which is lowest in the NHL.
DEFENSE
Morgan Rielly, TOR vs. WAS ($24): I hope you haven't started taking Rielly for granted, or expected him to snap back to reality, because he's been crushing it all season. He's notched 15 goals and added 42 assists in 59 games, and 16 of his points have come on the power play. The Capitals have the 22nd-ranked penalty kill, but beyond that they struggle on the road. In fact, Washington has a 3.45 GAA in away games.
Damon Severson, NJD vs. OTT ($13): Severson has a point in each of his last two games, and three of his last four contests. This is as much about the matchup, though. The Senators, as previously noted, have a 4.38 GAA in away games. They've also allowed 36.5 shots on net per contest on the road, and they have the 28th-ranked penalty kill overall.
DEFENSE TO AVOID
Drew Doughty, LOS at NAS ($19): Doughty has a point in four of his last five games, but he also has only one goal in his last 17 contests. On top of that, the Predators have as 2.61 GAA and have only given up 29.8 shots on net per game. Additionally, 18 of Doughty's 33 points have come on the power play, and the Predators have the 12th-ranked penalty kill at home.
Shayne Gostisbehere, PHI at MON ($19): This has been a down year for Gostisbehere, as he "only" has 27 points in 57 games, with 12 of those coming on the power play. However, while Ghost hasn't looked like his old self, Carey Price has. The Hart-winning netminder has a 2.56 GAA and .916 save percentage. Plus, the Habs have the 10th-ranked penalty kill at home, and some of that involves time where Antti Niemi has been in net.
