This article is part of our Yahoo DFS Hockey series.
Welcome to November! The first month of the NHL season, so to speak, is over. It feels like we still have a lot to learn. Each game is a chance to collect more information on the season. There will be eight of those games Friday, and here are the players I would recommend targeting, and avoiding, for daily fantasy hockey purposes.
GOALIE
Petr Mrazek, CAR vs. DET ($36): Mrazek's performances have been up and down this year, but he'll likely get the chance to start against his old team from Detroit. Plus, thanks to Carolina's ability to suppress shots, the Czech goalie has posted a 2.24 GAA. The Wings are scuffling offensively, as they've only managed 2.31 goals per game.
GOALIE TO AVOID
Carter Hutton, BUF at WAS ($35): Hutton has pulled a 180 from his performance last year when he struggled with a 3.00 GAA and .908 save percentage. However, that abrupt turnaround makes me wonder if there is going to be some regression. Even if Hutton does end up having a solid season, he's still on the road against a Capitals' team that has scored 3.79 goals per contest, and features a guy named Alex Ovechkin you may have heard of.
CENTER
Sean Couturier, PHI at NJD ($17): Couturier is off to a bit of a slow start, but his 6.3 shooting percentage is likely to improve. After all, he scored over 30 goals in each of his last two seasons. A fair amount of shots against the Devils have been going in this year, as they've managed a staggering .856 team save percentage.
CENTER TO AVOID
Ryan Getzlaf, ANA vs. VAN ($18): Getzlaf has netted six goals through 14 games, but I expect things to drop off as the season goes on. The veteran center hasn't registered more than 15 goals in any of his last four campaigns. Also, the 34-year-old is only playing 17:39 per game - an almost two-minute drop from last season. His power-play time is also down at 2:08 per contest, and the Canucks also own the fourth-ranked penalty kill.
WING
Kevin Labanc, SAN vs. WPG ($16): Labanc has been a power-play specialist the last couple of years, with 20 points with the extra man last season. This year, his minutes are way up across the board, including 3:07 in power-play time. That bodes well here, as the Jets come in with the league's worst penalty kill.
Sammy Blais, STL vs. CLM ($10): Blais has started 60.8 percent of his shifts in the offensive zone, second highest on the Blues. Also, with Vladimir Tarasenko out with an injury, Blais has been moved to St. Louis' top line. Meanwhile, the Blue Jackets have been really feeling the absence of Sergei Bobrovsky, as they have slumped to a 3.58 team GAA.
WINGS TO AVOID
Cam Atkinson, CLM at STL ($20): Atkinson has found himself without some of his more-talented teammates from last season, but he's still doing his best to keep Columbus's offense going. It can be hard to be a one-man gang, and facing Jordan Binnington will be tough. While his overall numbers - 2.52 GAA, .918 save percentage - are OK, Binnington has looked awesome at home with a 1.96 GAA and .935 save percentage.
Tyler Johnson, TAM at NYI ($19): Johnson has recorded nine points in 12 games, though three of those came in his last outing against New Jersey's porous defense. Facing the Islanders poses a trickier proposition. After posting the league's lowest GAA last year, the Islanders are back in the top-five with a 2.45 GAA.
DEFENSE
Dougie Hamilton, CAR vs. DET ($23): Hamilton has been unleashed by the Hurricanes this year, as he's gone off for 13 points in 12 games and has only been held without a point in two contests. The 26-year-old has also chipped in with six power-play points. In addition to their 3.54 GAA, the Red Wings rank 27th in penalty-kill percentage.
Shayne Gostisbehere, PHI at NJD ($16): Gostisbehere is finally starting to turn it around, with four points in his last five contests. Ghost has played 3:07 with the extra man, and has served as a power-play weapon for years at the point. Now he gets to try and keep up his current run of play against a Devils' team sporting a 4.10 GAA.
DEFENSE TO AVOID
Cale Makar, COL vs. DAL ($19): Makar has racked up 10 points in 12 games, which is great for a rookie. However, six of those points have come with the extra man. Colorado's top power-play unit is now missing both Mikko Rantanen and Gabriel Landeskog due to injury, so it may not be as strong as it has been. Furthermore, the Stars have only allowed 28.4 shots on net per game, and Ben Bishop enters with a 2.48 GAA.
Sami Vatanen, NJD vs. PHI ($17): Like Gostisbehere, Vatanen has picked up his play after a slow start by tallying five points over his last five contests. However, he also has an 18.8 shooting percentage, and his previous career high is 9.8. Also, the Flyers have only allowed 28.3 shots on net per contest - which is the fewest in the NHL - while also boasting a top-five penalty kill.
