This article is part of our Yahoo DFS Hockey series.
With the trade deadline passed, the daily fantasy landscape has stabilized a bit. Here are some players to target, and to avoid, from Tuesday's nine NHL games.
GOALIE
Philipp Grubauer, WAS vs. OTT ($30): Although Braden Holtby has struggled, Grubauer has posted a reliable 2.45 GAA and a .921 save percentage. Additionally, the Capitals are 21-9-2 at home while the Senators are 7-17-5 on the road. Ottawa has also only averaged 2.69 goals per game.
Goalie to Avoid:
Cam Ward, CAR at BOS ($32): Sure, the Bruins have lost Patrice Bergeron to injury, but he's not the only reason they've scored 3.20 goals per contest. The Hurricanes, meanwhile, have lost five games in a row. Ward only has a .908 save percentage and in his last seven games that number has dropped to .899.
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CENTER
Vincent Trocheck, FLA vs. TOR ($22): Trocheck has averaged 9.0 fantasy points per game thanks in part to the fact he has 24 goals and 31 assists through 59 contests. He's also scored a goal on four shots in each of his last two games. The Maple Leafs have allowed 34.2 shots per contest, and on top of that they are on the road for the second night of a back-to-back.
Center to Avoid:
Anze Kopitar, LOS at VGK ($24): No knock on Kopitar, who is having a fine season. However, Vegas has shut down teams at home. The Golden Knights have a 2.29 GAA in their home arena, second lowest in the NHL. They've also allowed only 29.4 shots per game at home. The teams are facing off for the second game of a home-and-home, but the fact Vegas gets to plays host to this leg is a point in its favor, and a point against Kopitar and the Kings.
WING
Logan Couture, SAN vs. EDM ($23): Couture has averaged 3:11 per game on the power play and has 17 points with the extra man in 59 games. There's no better matchup for a power-play maven. The Oilers have the league's worst penalty kill, but on top of that they simply have been bad defensively overall. Edmonton has a 3.27 GAA, third most in the NHL.
Kyle Palmieri, NJD at PIT ($19): Palmieri has suddenly started putting the puck on net with gusto, as over his last two games he's notched 15 shots on goal. Additionally, he's tallied eight goals and five assists in his last 14 games. Matt Murray is out with a concussion, and the unproven Casey DeSmith, a 26-year-old with seven NHL games to his name, is expected to start in his place.
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Wings to Avoid:
Vladimir Tarasenko, STL at MIN ($30): Tarasenko has four goals and four assists in his last 15 games, which would be great for most players but is not outstanding for somebody of his caliber, not to mention price. Plus, this matchup is more difficult than you might expect. The Wild have an NHL-low 2.19 GAA at home. Devan Dubnyk also has a 2.24 GAA and a .928 save percentage in his last 12 outings.
Filip Forsberg, NAS at WPG ($27):Connor Hellebuyck has a 2.32 GAA and a .924 save percentage. He's been even better recently, posting a 2.16 GAA and a .928 save percentage in his last 17 contests. Forsberg only has one goal in eight games since returning from injury. On top of that, 18 of his points have come with the extra man, and the Jets have the sixth-ranked penalty kill.
DEFENSEMEN
John Klingberg, DAL vs. CGY ($25): Klingberg has managed to have an amazing season despite having a career-low 4.6 shooting percentage. His 47 assists in 62 games is the reason for that. The Flames are without Mike Smith, and that has not been good for their goal prevention. Calgary has a 3.54 GAA since the All-Star break thanks in part to an .889 team save percentage.
Jake Gardiner, TOR at FLA ($18): Gardiner has picked up an assist in five consecutive games, giving him 40 points this season. Florida has a 3.22 GAA and it has given up a whopping 34.7 shots per game. The Panthers also have the 22nd-ranked penalty kill, and Gardiner has 10 points on the power play.
Defensemen to Avoid:
Alex Pietrangelo, STL at WPG ($25): Pietrangelo has been held without a point in his last six games and he has only two points in his last 12 games. As mentioned, the Wild have a 2.19 GAA at home to lead the league. Pietrangelo will be hard pressed to get out of his funk in this matchup.
Dustin Byfuglien, WPG vs. NAS ($23): The Predators have the lowest GAA in the NHL (2.46). They owe that largely to the fact they also have a league-high .924 save percentage. Even though Byfuglien has played well recently, this is a tricky matchup for Big Buff to handle. Plus, 17 of his 34 points have come on the power play. Nashville counters that with the fifth-best penalty kill.
