This article is part of our Yahoo DFS Hockey series.
There were 12 NHL games Thursday, but only two Friday. It so happens those four teams didn't play Thursday, so we have no teams on a back-to-back. However, one of the teams in question is the Red Wings, so you can probably guess how this article is going to go. Here are my players to target, or to avoid, for your daily fantasy lineup.
GOALIE
Ben Bishop, DAL vs. DET ($37): Don't overthink this one. Washington and Carolina - the other two teams playing Friday - own top-10 offenses, so I don't trust either of their goalies as a result. The Red Wings have only scored 2.17 goals per game, which puts them last in the NHL by a wide margin. Even if Bishop wasn't having a great year - and he has with a 2.33 GAA - I would be all-in on him.
GOALIE TO AVOID
Ilya Samsonov, WAS at CAR ($29): Braden Holtby has been struggling, so it's not surprising to see Samsonov get a start. He's posted a .918 save percentage, but he's also played in a mere 14 games during his NHL career. Being on the road in Carolina can be tricky, as the Hurricanes have scored 3.67 goals per contest at home and have directed 36.0 shots on net per contest.
CENTER
Roope Hintz, DAL vs. DET ($16): Hintz has been moving between center and wing, so it's a little weird he's only produced six assists. However, he has notched 13 goals over 34 games, and also has registered four points in his last five contests. The really important thing here is the fact the Red Wings come in with a 3.80 GAA. Much like their offense, that's the worst mark in the NHL by a significant margin.
CENTER TO AVOID
Dylan Larkin, DET at DAL ($19): Larkin is the only Red Wing you'd consider at this time, given that Anthony Mantha is currently out with an injury. But this is not a day for Larkin, as the Stars have compiled a 2.46 team GAA and Anton Khudobin sits at 2.29. It doesn't matter who is in net for Dallas, as they're getting great goaltending from both netminders.
WING
Ryan Dzingel, CAR vs. WAS ($17): Just to not recommend only Stars players, there are also some potential options on the Hurricanes. The Capitals own a 3.05 road GAA on the road. Washington also maintains a top-five penalty kill, so I didn't want to go with a Cane reliant on the power play. Dzingel could be the man for that role, and he's racked up five points in his last four games.
Denis Gurianov, DAL vs. DET ($13): Gurianov didn't register a point in the Winter Classic, but that ended a five-game point streak. The 22-year-old has also started 57.8 percent of his shifts in the offensive zone, second highest on the Stars. Detroit enters with a 4.00 road GAA, so I probably don't need to say anything more than that.
WINGS TO AVOID
T.J. Oshie, WAS at CAR ($21): Oshie has tallied 15 goals, but also only has 81 shots on net over 41 games. Given the Hurricanes only allow 26.6 shots on goal per contest, it wouldn't be surprising if Oshie didn't get a single shot in this one. And seven of the American's goals have come with the extra man, with the Hurricanes owning the 11th-ranked penalty kill.
Jakub Vrana, WAS at CAR ($20): Vrana is enjoying a breakout campaign, with 15 goals and 16 assists through 41 games. That being said, the Hurricanes have posted a 2.72 GAA at home and Petr Mrazek is at 2.67. On top of that, Carolina has only allowed 26.6 shots on net per contest, fewest in the NHL. And Vrana has only averaged 1:32 on the power play, so there's not much room for him to have success with the extra man.
DEFENSE
John Klingberg, DAL vs. DET ($17): Hey, remember the Klingberg that produced 67 points two years ago? It feels like that guy is back. The Swede has recorded eight points in six games, including four with the extra man. This will surely shock you, but the Red Wings also have the 30th-ranked penalty kill on top of everything else.
Esa Lindell, DAL vs. DET ($15): Lindell is Klingberg's partner on the top pairing for the Stars, which often bodes well for him - at least when Klingberg is healthy. The Finn has averaged 23:28 per game while notching five points over his last nine outings. Just to reiterate the point, the Red Wings have a 4.00 road GAA.
DEFENSE TO AVOID
John Carlson, WAS at CAR ($31): Carlson is having a great season, so I can't completely write him off. However, of any defenseman you would ever consider using, he's facing the toughest matchup. If you want an expensive defenseman who is an offensive dynamo, go with Dougie Hamilton. Carolina has only allowed 26.6 shots on net per contest on the road and offers the 11th-ranked penalty kill.
Jaccob Slavin, CAR vs. WAS ($17): There's no real other defenseman you would use on the Capitals, the Stars have a great matchup, and I would forgive you for not knowing a single Red Wing defenseman. That leaves the Hurricanes, and Hamilton is too good. Slavin is having a fine year, but doesn't play on the power play. I feel like you can avoid him giving everything happening Friday.
