Yahoo Daily Fantasy Hockey: Friday picks

By Chris Morgan

Friday has a light NHL schedule with only three games on the docket, and one of them is already a rerun, as Edmonton and Calgary are playing each other once again. The action on the ice may be meager and the pickings may be slim, but there are still some players worth targeting and some to avoid. Let’s take a look.

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GOALIE

Corey Crawford, CHI at NAS ($36): Crawford is the most expensive goalie Friday, so why pick him? Well, Pekka Rinne had a .908 save percentage last season, Wednesday’s Oilers-Flames game was a 7-4 shootout, and the Kings have lost Jonathan Quick to injury. It really comes down to Crawford and Mason, so why not just go with the best goalie available?

GOALIE TO AVOID

Cam Talbot, EDM at CGY ($34): Talbot will cost you more than Mason, Rinne or Brian Elliott, who are all priced at $31. However, while Elliott gave up six goals to the Oilers on Wednesday, Talbot gave up four to the Flames. Those extra few dollars matter in this instance.

CENTER

Mikael Backlund, CGY vs. EDM ($18): This isn’t so much about the two assists Backlund picked up in the opener against Edmonton, although that’s not a bad sign. It’s more about the more than two minutes he played on the power-play, where he picked up one of his assists. This figures to be another high-scoring affair, which is good for a mid-priced player like Backlund.

CENTER TO AVOID

Jeff Carter, LOS vs. PHI ($23): This isn’t so much about Carter, who is a good player who took 242 shots on goal last year. Sure, he only had one shot in the opener, but that’s only one game. It’s more about value. Carter will cost you $23, which has him tied for the second-most-expensive center Friday with Jonathan Toews and Anze Kopitar. There are other places to look for value.

WING

Milan Lucic, EDM at CGY ($17): Lucic didn’t get on the scoresheet in Edmonton’s busy opener, but he lodged two shots and played over five minutes of power-play time. He’s still going to be getting a lot of playing time alongside Connor McDavid. If Edmonton has another good day offensively, Lucic could really pay off for you.

Jakub Voracek, PHI at LAK ($17): Yes, Voracek only scored 11 goals last season. However, he still put up 213 shots on goal in 73 games. He had a 5.2 shooting percentage, which is essentially guaranteed to regress toward the mean this season. The Czech’s a major bounce back candidate, and as mentioned, the Kings won’t have the injured Quick in net.

WINGERS TO AVOID

James Neal, NAS vs. CHI ($24): If we’re operating under the presumption that Crawford is the best goalie playing on Friday – and the numbers indicate he is – that means Neal and the Predators have the toughest matchup on the day. Neal is the highest-valued Predator and the fourth-priciest wing Friday, which makes him a questionable choice in terms of bang for your buck. He’s very good but not matchup-proof.

Matthew Tkachuk, CGY vs. EDM ($17): Tkachuk was drafted sixth overall in 2016, so clearly the Flames think he has potential. However, he’s also an 18-year-old rookie just beginning his career who’s only played in one NHL game. Tkachuk is too much of a gamble at $17. He’s not Auston Matthews, after all, and he’s not his father, Keith Tkachuk, yet either.

DEFENSEMEN

Dougie Hamilton, CGY vs. EDM ($19): Hamilton didn’t notch a point in Calgary’s opener, but he did put four shots on net, which is impressive for a defenseman. He also enjoyed 2:57 of power-play time and would have likely had more ice time if not for four penalty minutes. Edmonton is still a good matchup, so maybe one of his shots gets past the goalie this time.

Shayne Gostisbehere, PHI at LAK ($20): Gostisbehere was so impressive and surprising as a rookie – 46 points in 64 games, incredible production for a defenseman – that we all took the time to learn how to pronounce and spell his name. He doesn’t have to be as good as he was last year have a really good season again in 2016-17. Of the big-time offensive defenseman available Friday, Gostisbehere is the cheapest, and that gives him extra value.

DEFENSEMEN TO AVOID

Ryan Ellis, NAS vs. CHI ($17): Ellis is a good defenseman, but the problem is that he’s surrounded by better ones. P.K. Subban and Roman Josi are going to both get a ton of playing time, especially with the extra man, and Mattias Ekholm is also there jostling for minutes. Ellis isn’t a terrible value at $17, but the Blackhawks are a tough matchup and the opportunity might not be there for him.

Deryk Engelland, CGY vs. EDM ($17): Engelland has never had more than four goals, 17 points or 86 shots on goal in a season. All of those highs came with Pittsburgh in 2011-12. He basically never plays on the power play. Even on a day with only three games, $17 seems pricey for Engelland.