This article is part of our Yahoo DFS Hockey series.
We have four games firing up this evening and two have major playoff implications. The Flyers have made a surge and could come within one point of the Metropolitan lead with a regulation win, and with the same result, the Coyotes could tie the Canucks in the wild-card race. Things are heating up, so get in on the DFS action with the tips and tricks laid out ahead.
GOALIE
Braden Holtby, WAS vs. PHI ($21): Holtby has strung together three straight wins, and although he's allowed at least three goals in each contest, he has a respectable .917 save percentage in that stretch. The Flyers are heating up and are surprisingly in contention in the Metro, but they still rank 23rd over the last month with just 2.22 xGF/60 at even strength, per Natural Stat Trick. Holtby is a major bargain.
GOALIE TO AVOID
Joonas Korpisalo, CLS at CGY ($28): Korpisalo has been up and down since returning from injury, rounding out at an .884 save percentage over three games. He's gotten enough offensive support to secure two wins in that span, but he'll be a high-risk play, as the Flames led the league over the last four weeks with 2.76 xGF/60.
CENTER
Mikael Backlund, CGY vs. CLS ($18): Backlund is heating up at the right time, as he's posted 19 of his 42 points this season over the last month. He draws a favorable matchup, too, as the Blue Jackets rank 25th since the start of February with 9.29 GA/60 on the penalty kill.
CENTER TO AVOID
Ryan Getzlaf, ANH at COL ($17): Getzlaf is still logging top-six minutes, but his production is down and he'll struggle to hit the 20-goal mark this year. The 34-year-old pivot has just five points in 14 games while averaging less than two shots per contest.
WINGS
Taylor Hall, ARI at VAN ($23): Hall's been capitalizing sparingly with four points over six games, but he has an intriguing floor with 21 shots in that span. Vancouver has opened the doors in 2020, too, allowing 2.52 xG/60 -- the seventh-most in the league -- and Thatcher Demko hasn't been able to bail it out. Look for Hall to come in clutch in the divisional matchup.
Matthew Tkachuk, CGY vs. CLS ($21): Backlund's sidekick has been with him every step of the way with Tkachuk accruing 15 points in as many games. The duo is a fantastic stack with the way Columbus is playing, and the duo both gets consistent power-play time.
WINGS TO AVOID
Rickard Rakell, ANH at COL ($17): We're still looking for the Swedish winger that posted back-to-back, 30-goal seasons, as he'll struggle to just hit 20 this year. He's notched two points and a minus-7 rating over the past 11 games, and it's a tough task with the Avalanche letting up just nine goals during their seven-game win streak.
Tanner Pearson, VAN vs. ARI ($15): A matchup against perhaps the best goaltending tandem in the league is tough for anyone, and Pearson hasn't capitalized enough lately to be depended on. Pearson has lit the lamp just twice in eight games despite a top-six role. He's recorded below 4.0 fantasy points in each outing without a goal.
DEFENSE
Alexander Edler, VAN vs. ARI ($19): Quinn Hughes is considered day-to-day and missed Tuesday's practice, and if he sits out, Edler could push 25 minutes. With the way he's playing, that bodes well, as the veteran blueliner has registered six assists in as many games, adding a goal and a ton of blocked shots in that time.
Oliver Ekman-Larsson, ARI at VAN ($15): Ekman-Larsson is having a down campaign, but it's been a solid run with five points in nine games. He works on a star-studded power play, too, so look for him to leverage those opportunities against Vancouver's penalty kill that ranks 27th at 79.9 percent.
DEFENSE TO AVOID
Erik Johnson, COL vs. ANH ($18): Johnson has three points in three games, but that isn't sustainable output. The 2006 first-overall pick recorded just one point over the previous 22 games, and a matchup against Ryan Miller is no easy task, as the veteran has held his own in net this season.
Zach Werenski, CLS at CGY ($20): Werenski is a star in the making, but he may not have his power-play prowess to lean on tonight. The Flames rank fifth over the last month with just 4.3 GA/60 on the penalty kill, and they've let up just six even-strength goals in five contests.
