This article is part of our Yahoo DFS Hockey series.
The NHL is taking it easy on Veteran's Day/Remembrance Day, as there are only two games on the schedule. If you aren't taking the day off from daily fantasy hockey, though, here are my recommendations for players to target and avoid...
GOALIE
Petr Mrazek, CAR vs. OTT ($34): Though he only has a .904 save percentage, Mrazek has a 2.56 GAA. The reason for that? Carolina has only allowed 28.6 shots on net per contest. I really like chances of Mrazek getting the win at home against the lowly Senators, and also the Sens are in the bottom half of the league offensively as well.
GOALIE TO AVOID
Darcy Kuemper, ARI at WAS ($34): Kuemper has been stellar the last two seasons for the Coyotes, and this year he has a 2.00 GAA and .930 save percentage. However, there's still reason for skepticism about him in this matchup. The Capitals have scored 4.06 goals per game, highest in the NHL.
CENTER
Sebastian Aho, CAR vs. OTT ($27): Aho got off to a slow start after breaking out with 83 points last year, but he's rounded into form recently. The Finn has seven points and 22 shots on net in his last seven contests. Meanwhile, the Senators have a 3.13 GAA and have given up 34.4 shots on goal per game.
CENTER TO AVOID
Nick Schmaltz, ARI at WAS ($18): Schmaltz has 15 points in 17 games, but he's mostly been relying on setting up teammates. The center has only put 24 shots on net, which is partially why he only has one goal in his last 12 outings. Braden Holtby got off to a slow start, but he has a .920 save percentage over his last eight games.
WING
Andrei Svechnikov, CAR vs. OTT ($22): After scoring 20 goals as an 18-year-old rookie, Svechnikov is ready to take his game to the next level. He's been moved to Carolina's top line, and he has 16 points and 50 shots on goal through 17 contests. As previously noted, the Senators have a 3.13 GAA.
T.J. Oshie, WAS vs. ARI ($21): Oshie has been getting a lot of opportunity on the power play, as per usual. He's averaged 4:03 per game with the extra man, and four of his eight goals have come on the power play. The Coyotes have been stellar defensively, but they do have the 22nd-ranked penalty kill. With only four teams in action, that's enough to give me a little enticement for considering Oshie.
WINGS TO AVOID
Brady Tkachuk, OTT at CAR ($20): Tkachuk is getting more minutes and responsibility in his second season, and he's largely been up to it. However, after having a 10.3 shooting percentage last year his shooting percentage is down to 8.5 this season. The Hurricanes have only given up 28.6 shots on net per game, which is fewest in the NHL, so the young forward may be kept in check Monday.
Phil Kessel, ARI at WAS ($19): The goals just aren't coming for Kessel in the desert. He has only three on the season, and two of those have come on the power play. Kessel has traditionally been a force with the extra man, but the Capitals have a top-10 penalty kill, so he may not turn his luck around here.
DEFENSE
Dougie Hamilton, CAR vs. OTT ($25): Hamilton is crushing it in his expanded role for the Hurricanes. He's started 55.8 percent of his shifts in the offensive zone, second most on the team, and he's averaged 2:56 per game with the extra man. All this has helped him tally 18 points through 17 games to lead the Canes. Now he will try to add to that against a Senators team with a 3.13 GAA.
Jaccob Slavin, CAR vs. OTT ($18): As Hamilton's partner on the blue line, Slavin has started 55.7 percent of his shifts in the offensive zone. He's not been quite as productive as his teammate, but he still has 11 points on the year. In addition to their 3.13 GAA, the Senators have a .909 save percentage.
DEFENSE TO AVOID
Michal Kempny, WAS vs. ARI ($19): By dint of playing alongside John Carlson, Kempny has 10 points in 10 games on the year. However, he also has a 25.0 shooting percentage that is bound to regress. On top of that, he doesn't play on the power play, so there isn't a chance for him to take advantage of Arizona's unexpectedly-poor penalty kill.
Oliver Ekman-Larsson, ARI at WAS ($16): Ekman-Larsson got a point in his last game, but that was after a five-game streak without a point. He's also been struggling on the power play, as he only has one point with the extra man. The Swede is catching Holtby at a tough time, as the netminder has a .920 save percentage over his last eight outings. Don't bet on Ekman-Larsson turning it around here.
