This article is part of our Yahoo DFS Hockey series.
With a number of teams in the midst of a bye week, the NHL schedule has been light of late. Thursday's 7:00 PM Eastern time slate features just three games, but there's still value to be found if you know where to look. Read on to see which players to target and which to avoid.
GOALIE
Sergei Bobrovsky, CLS at BUF ($27): You may never find a better buy-low opportunity on Bobrovsky. Last year's Vezina Trophy winner has turned a corner with three wins in his past four starts and seven goals allowed on 135 shots for a .948 save percentage over that span, yet he can be had for a measly $27 against a Sabres team that's scoring a league-low 2.23 goals per game.
GOALIE TO AVOID
Andrei Vasilevskiy, TB vs. CGY ($40): Vasilevskiy costs $11 more than any other projected starter in net, but his recent play suggests $40 is a massive overpay for the Russian netminder. He's allowed 10 goals in his past two starts, and could be hitting a wall similar to the one he encountered as a starter last year when Ben Bishop went down.
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CENTER
Brayden Point, TB vs. CGY ($20): Most players are better at home, but Point's splits are too wide to ignore. While he's just another depth scorer on the road with four goals, 13 points and a plus-6 rating in 22 games, Point plays like a superstar at Amalie Arena with 12 goals, 26 points and a plus-15 rating in 21 appearances. Only five of his points this season have come on the power play, but that total could well climb against Calgary's ninth-worst, 79.6 percent penalty kill.
CENTER TO AVOID
Jack Eichel, BUF vs. CLS ($22): Bobrovsky's strong recent form has already been outlined, which means Eichel will have trouble contributing offensively. His defensive downside is significant, however, considering Eichel's minus-16 rating is second-worst on the Sabres behind Kyle Okposo's minus-18 mark.
WINGS
Sebastian Aho, CAR at WAS ($19): If you don't count Saturday's game against Boston, which Aho left due to injury after playing less than six minutes, the 20-year-old winger has recorded points in seven consecutive contests, with a whopping seven goals and four assists in that stretch. Aho's showing no signs of slowing down, and his price should only keep climbing, so grab him at $19 while that's still an option.
Tom Wilson, WAS vs. CAR ($15): Wilson's 14 shots on goal over the past four games are the most he's had in any four-game stretch this season, so he's in a groove offensively. That momentum coupled with his top-six role makes Wilson a strong pick given Carolina's subpar play in net. Scott Darling has an unimpressive 2.97 GAA and .893 save percentage this season while Cam Ward's posted a 6.65 GAA and .806 save percentage in losing his past two starts.
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WINGS TO AVOID
Oliver Bjorkstrand, CLS at BUF ($17): Bjorkstrand opened 2018 with a two-goal performance, but he hasn't scored otherwise in the past 11 games and has just two helpers in that stretch. Even including the two-goal game, he's averaging merely 3.7 fantasy points per contest over that stretch. Teammate Josh Anderson is priced at an identical $17, but he completely outclasses Bjorkstrand in both fantasy points per contest (6.7 to 5.5) and ice time (18:27 to 14:07).
Justin Williams, CAR at WAS ($15): Williams will surely be motivated against his former team, but the 36-year-old veteran likely doesn't have enough left in the tank to turn that motivation into production. He's currently in the midst of an 11-game goal drought with just four assists and a minus-2 rating in that stretch. Ending the drought against former teammate Braden Holtby (2.68 GAA, .917 save percentage) won't be easy.
DEFENSEMEN
Mark Giordano, CGY at TB ($19): Giordano was the victim of some awful puck-luck early in the season, but he's been rewarded for his consistently excellent play lately with four goals and four assists in his past nine games (two goals, three assists in the last four). In addition to his scoring and plus-5 rating, Giordano also ranks 16th in the league with 87 blocked shots and 13th among defensemen with 114 shots, so his well-rounded game should lead to success even in a tough matchup.
Seth Jones, CLS at BUF ($20): Jones has been a terrific offensive weapon from the back end of late, producing three goals and 12 points in the past 11 games. He also ranks second among all NHL defensemen with 131 shots on goal. Jones' plus-2 rating is nothing special, but there's almost no risk in using him against a Sabres club that's been outscored 3.47 to 2.23 in the average game this season.
DEFENSEMEN TO AVOID
Jake Dotchin, TB vs. CGY ($16): Dotchin's coming off a two-point performance, but he hasn't lit the lamp in 13 games or marked the scoresheet in six. While Dotchin's solid in his own end, owners should be looking for a bit more upside at this price.
Rasmus Ristolainen, BUF vs. CLS ($17): Ristolainen's recent production makes him a tempting play, but Bobrovsky's 2.40 GAA and .922 save percentage say otherwise. While the talented defenseman has two goals and five assists in his past six games, he was blanked in 13 of his previous 14 appearances and put up a mere 0.8 fantasy points in his only other meeting with the Blue Jackets this season.
