This article is part of our Yahoo DFS Hockey series.
The NHL is kicking off February with a bang. There are 11 games on the slate Tuesday, perhaps because the All-Star break is coming up. Here are some players to target, and to avoid, for your daily fantasy hockey lineups.
GOALIE
Juuse Saros, NAS vs. VAN ($38): Saros' last four games have been stellar, as he's posted an 1.72 GAA and .953 save percentage. Overall, he has a 2.36 GAA and .927 save percentage. The Canucks are in the bottom five in goals per game, and they are also a long way from home on the second leg of a back-to-back.
GOALIE TO AVOID
Igor Shesterkin, NYR vs. FLA ($36): Shesterkin is going to be in the running for the Vezina, as he has a 2.10 GAA and .937 save percentage. However, Tuesday's matchup represents a daunting task for the 26-year-old netminder. The Panthers are second in the NHL in goals per game and first in shots on net per contest. Even though Florida is on the second leg of a back-to-back, I'm not messing with this offense at this salary.
CENTER
Mathew Barzal, NYI vs. OTT ($19): Barzal got off to a bit of a slow start, but over his last 11 games he has four goals and six assists. That came after he missed three contests, hence the demarcation point. The Senators, meanwhile, have a 3.36 GAA and have allowed 33.4 shots on net per contest. Plus, they are on the second night of a back-to-back.
CENTER TO AVOID
Evgeny Kuznetsov, WAS at PIT ($23): Kuznetsov was just added to the All-Star lineup, and he's earned it, but this is a tough matchup. Tristan Jarry has a 2.17 GAA and .925 save percentage. On the top of that, the Penguins have the second-ranked penalty kill. That's a concern for Kuznetsov, given that 14 of his 43 points have come with the extra man.
WING
Jonathan Marchessault, VGK vs. BUF ($20): Marchessault had six points in five games before a four-game point drought. Having said that, those four games were on the road against elite defensive teams like the Lightning and Hurricanes. Now, Marchessault is at home against the Sabres. Buffalo has a 3.43 GAA and have allowed 34.9 shots on net per contest.
Alex Newhook, COL vs. ARI ($15): Newhook has recently been moved up to Colorado's second line, meaning he's getting to play alongside Nazem Kadri. That's helped him notch a point in back-to-back games. Tuesday he gets to take on the Coyotes, who rank 31st in the NHL with a 3.70 GAA.
WINGS TO AVOID
Timo Meier, SAN at TAM ($28): Meier is having a top-notch season even beyond his five-goal game, but most of the time he isn't on the road facing Andrei Vasilevskiy. Vasilevskiy has been his usual elite self, as he's posted a 2.23 GAA and .922 save percentage. I'd be surprised if Meier scores one goal, let alone five.
Brady Tkachuk, OTT at NYI ($20): Tkachuk has been cold on the goal-scoring front. He hasn't lit the lamp once over his last 13 games. I don't think that's going to change against the Islanders, as Ilya Sorokin has a 2.37 GAA and .923 save percentage.
DEFENSE
Charlie McAvoy, BOS vs. SEA ($18): This year McAvoy has become a weapon on the power play. He's averaged 3:05 per game with the extra man and notched 15 power-play points. That includes seven power-play points over his last nine games. The Kraken have a 3.52 GAA, and a big reason for that is the fact they have gotten nothing from their goalies. For example, Philipp Grubauer has an .885 save percentage.
Alexandre Carrier, NAS vs. VAN ($16): Carrier pairs with Roman Josi on Nashville's blue line, and he's gotten some power-play time recently. Over his last 15 games he's averaged 1:49 per game with the extra man. Power-play time can pay off in this matchup. The Canucks have the league's worst penalty kill, and they are also on the road for the second leg of a back-to-back.
DEFENSEMEN TO AVOID
John Carlson, WAS at PIT ($21): Carlson has nine goals this year, though on a career-high 9.2 percent shooting. It's possible the regression is already happening, as he only has one goal in his last seven games. Assuming Jarry and his .925 save percentage are in net, this is going to be a tough matchup to navigate for Carlson.
Quinn Hughes, VAN at NAS ($17): Hughes has been racking up a lot of assists, though he only has two goals. That being said, as I have noted the Canucks are on the road for the second leg of a back-to-back. On top of that, as I also noted Saros has a 2.36 GAA and .927 save percentage.
