This article is part of our Yahoo DFS Hockey series.
Thursday's seven-game NHL slate begins at 7:00 PM Eastern time. While some exploitable matchups are obvious, others require some deeper digging to be uncovered. Read on to find out which players are primed for success and which to avoid in this slate.
GOALIE
Cam Talbot, EDM at NJ ($28): Talbot played arguably his best game of the season Tuesday in Brooklyn, making 36 saves in a 2-1 overtime win over the Islanders. He's starting to round into form with 98 saves on 106 shots for a .925 save percentage in his last three starts, and should get plenty of support against a Devils team that's allowed 13 goals on a whopping 126 shots in dropping three straight, including a 6-3 loss in Edmonton last Friday. Talbot won't stay this cheap once he and his team start playing up to their capabilities, so grab him at this price while you still can.
GOALIE TO AVOID
Jonathan Quick, LA vs. TB ($36): The idea of using Quick at home against an opponent playing the second night of a West coast back-to-back is tempting, but this matchup carries too much risk to trust him. Even with backup Peter Budaj in net for Tampa Bay instead of outstanding young starter Andrei Vasilevskiy, the Lightning still have more than enough firepower to nab a road win here considering they've scored a league-best 3.87 goals per game coming into this set.
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CENTER
Brayden Schenn, STL vs. ARI ($18): Schenn's line with Vladimir Tarasenko ($31) and Jaden Schwartz ($22) is arguably the most effective line in the NHL right now, as each of its members is playing above a point-per-game pace. The former Kings and Flyers center has fit in perfectly with his new club and is in the midst of a video game-like two-game stretch in which he's compiled seven points. Don't expect the cheapest member of this deadly trio to slow down against a Coyotes club that's allowing 4.00 goals per game.
CENTER TO AVOID
Steven Stamkos, TBL at LA ($32): Stamkos has played like a $32 player on plenty of occasions this season, but this is unlikely to be one of those nights. In addition to the fatigue that comes with playing back-to-back road games all the way across the country, Stamkos will also have to deal with a Kings team that leads the league in fewest goals allowed per game (2.27) and penalty killing percentage (92.6).
WINGS
Mikael Granlund, MIN at MON ($17): Granlund finally looks healthy after battling a groin injury to start the season, compiling three points in the past three games after recording just one in his first five appearances. The Finnish forward tied for the team lead with 20 power-play points last season, and has a great chance to build on his season total of one here against a 29th-ranked Montreal penalty kill that's operating at just 74.1 percent. Granlund broke out with 55 points in his final 57 games last season, so it's likely only a matter of time until he's priced well above his current $17 valuation.
Adrian Kempe, LA vs. TB ($14): Kempe's price continues to get dragged down by a slow start which was due to a lack of playing time and isn't representative of his true ability. After skating under 11 minutes in each of his first five games while failing to get on the scoresheet, the 2014 first-rounder has racked up seven goals, 11 points and a plus-13 rating in his past 10 games while topping 15 minutes five times. Four of those five appearances with over 15 minutes have come in Los Angeles' past five games, and Kempe's increased role is likely to turn into production with Vasilevskiy sitting this one out for the Lightning.
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WINGS TO AVOID
Brandon Saad, CHI at PHI ($24): Saad's recent production has been very sad, as he's contributed just one assist without a goal in his past nine games. Until he snaps out of this funk, Saad's not a viable option at $24.
Thomas Vanek, VAN at ANH ($17): Vanek's lack of playing time suggests the veteran winger's going to struggle to produce at a $17 level, as he's topped 15 minutes of ice time just twice all season while averaging a measly 13:23 per game. Power-play production has been the driving force behind Vanek's value this season, but cashing in with the extra man will be a tall order against a Ducks penalty kill that ranks fifth at 85.1 percent.
DEFENSEMEN
Mark Giordano, CGY vs. DET ($20): Giordano brings such a well-rounded fantasy profile that he's a strong choice in all but the most difficult of matchups. He's averaging 2.3 shots and 2.9 blocks per game while bringing a positive rating in over 24 minutes per game and is due to pick things up offensively after averaging 48 points per season over the previous four. This buy-low opportunity on Giordano's offensive production is unlikely to be hindered by a visiting Red Wings team that's been the definition of average with an even 43 goals for and 43 against.
Mike Green, DET at CGY ($17): Green's racked up a team-leading six points on the power play among his 13 points through 16 games, and he's primed to exploit a Calgary penalty kill that ranks fifth-worst at 76.4 percent. With a plus-5 rating and a team-best ice time average of 23:14 per game, Detroit's most appealing fantasy option also brings a decent floor even when he doesn't get on the scoresheet.
DEFENSEMEN TO AVOID
Ivan Provorov, PHI vs. CHI ($20): Sure, Provorov plays a lot and blocks many shots, but those contributions aren't worth much at this price and his offensive production is still largely lacking. A high ice time total can actually be a bad thing against a superior team, as evidenced by Provorov's season-worst minus-2.1 fantasy points in a season-high 29:51 of ice time against these same Blackhawks last Wednesday.
Joel Edmundson, STL vs. ARI ($17): Just because the Blues are playing the Coyotes, that doesn't mean you can just throw in any player from the team without discretion and expect offensive production. Edmundson's four goals on 38 shots are due to a fluky 13.8 shooting percentage, while his career 4.0 percent mark and measly one assist in 16 games this season suggest the stay-at-home defenseman will have trouble living up to a $17 valuation even in this matchup.
