This article is part of our Yahoo DFS Hockey series.
There are 10 NHL games taking place Tuesday. That gives us an eclectic array of teams, some good and some bad. There are teams with paltry offenses and teams with porous defenses. Also, there are squads on the second leg of a back-to-back. Here are some players to target, and to avoid, for your DFS lineups.
GOALIE
Ilya Sorokin, NYI at OTT ($32): Sorokin has a 2.49 GAA and .925 save percentage after putting up a 2.17 GAA and .918 save percentage last season. The Senators are in the bottom eight in goals per game, and they are also on the second night of a back-to-back. Ottawa also has the highest GAA, so I like Sorokin's chances of getting a win.
GOALIE TO AVOID
Connor Hellebuyck, WPG vs. CAR ($32): Hellebuyck has a .916 save percentage for the second season in a row. However, since he's facing more shots, he has a 2.70 GAA. The Hurricanes have averaged 3.26 goals and 33.5 shots on net per contest, and I think their offense has even more upside than that.
CENTER
Mathew Barzal, NYI at OTT ($17): The Islanders are off to a slow start offensively, and Barzal has been part of it. Having said that, he has a three-game point streak. Plus, his 9.6 percent shooting is likely to improve. This is as favorable a matchup as Barzal is going to get, since the Senators are on a back-to-back and as noted have the league's highest GAA.
CENTER TO AVOID
Mark Scheifele, WPG vs. CAR ($21): Scheifele has picked things up recently, including scoring a hat trick. That was against the Devils, though. The Hurricanes have a 2.26 GAA – second lowest in the NHL – and have only allowed 27.6 shots on net per contest. Carolina also has the second-ranked penalty kill, another obstacle in Scheifele's way.
WING
Ondrej Palat, TAM at MON ($17): Brayden Point is out right now, but Steven Stamkos has moved to center on the top line for Tampa. That's good for Palat, who has a goal in two of his last three games. Meanwhile, the Habs are in the bottom five in GAA and penalty-kill percentage.
Jeff Skinner, BUF vs. ANA ($17): Skinner became an afterthought last season, but his role this year is more in line with his career peaks. He's averaged 16:58 in ice time and 2:37 on the power play. With all that time, he's put 71 shots on net in 24 games. The Ducks are in the bottom 10 in shots on net allowed per game, and they are also on the road for the second night of a back-to-back.
WINGS TO AVOID
Filip Forsberg, NAS at DET ($21): Regression is going to come for Forsberg's 26.2 percent shooting. Prior to this season he had a career rate of 12.1 percent. He'll be on the road and likely facing Alex Nedeljkovic. Over his last 15 games "Ned" has a 2.29 GAA and .928 save percentage.
Oliver Bjorkstrand, CLM at TOR ($14): Bjorkstrand started the year hot, but he's cooled down. Over his last seven games he only has one point. Now he will likely have to face Jack Campbell in net, and Campbell has a 1.78 GAA and .942 save percentage. I don't expect Bjorkstrand to get back on the scoresheet.
DEFENSE
MacKenzie Weegar, FLA at STL ($19): Weegar has racked up 14 assists in 24 games. He doesn't have a goal yet, but he's put 51 shots on net. He scored six goals in 54 outings last year, when he also had 30 assists. Right now Jordan Binnington is out, leaving Ville Husso as the top netminder for St. Louis. He had an .893 save percentage last season, and over his last four games this year (out of the six he's played in) he has a 3.25 GAA and .904 save percentage.
Sebastian Aho, NYI at OTT ($10): I believe this is the first time I have ever recommended the other Sebastian Aho. Since being called up by the Islanders he's started 66.2 percent of his shifts in the offensive zone, highest among players currently on the NHL roster. He's also averaged 2:23 per game with the extra man. Throw him on the ice against the lowly Senators on a back-to-back, and Aho's opportunities could pay off.
DEFENSEMEN TO AVOID
Thomas Chabot, OTT vs. NYI ($18): I like Sorokin in net Tuesday, on account of the fact he has a .925 save percentage. By the same token, I am skeptical of Chabot's value. The fact he will be playing his second game in as many nights is, of course, also a reason for concern.
Brent Burns, SAN vs. CGY ($17): Burns just ended an 11-game point drought. On the other hand, he had an 11-game point drought. Now he's going up against the team with the lowest GAA in the NHL. Jacob Markstrom is a big reason for that, as he has an 1.83 GAA and .937 save percentage.
