The NHL playoffs are closer than you might realize. Every team has fewer than 20 games left in their season. With 10 games on the slate Tuesday, 20 teams are going to get another step closer to Game 82. Here are my players to target, and to avoid, for your DFS lineups.
GOALIE
Petr Mrazek, CHI vs. ANA ($26): Chicago is last in goals per game, but the Ducks are 30th at 2.59, and I expect that number to dip further in the wake of the trade deadline. Mrazek hasn’t been great under the strain of playing behind a punchless offense and porous defense, but he has a 2.62 GAA at home. Getting the Ducks at home is good for the Czech netminder.
GOALIE TO AVOID
Jacob Markstrom, CGY vs. COL ($25): Markstrom had been one of the best goalies in the NHL this season. I say “had been,” because over his last four starts he has a 3.78 GAA and .867 save percentage. Facing the Avalanche, even at home, is not a beneficial matchup for getting on track. Colorado has averaged 3.62 goals per game, highest in the NHL.
CENTER
Nick Suzuki, MON vs. CLM ($25): You can mark Suzuki down for his third season in a row with 20 goals and 60 points, but he’s only through 64 games, so career highs across the board are likely. His 28 points with the extra man already marks a personal best. The Jackets have the 25th-ranked penalty kill, but they rank 31st in GAA, so Suzuki will have plenty of opportunity at even strength as well.
CENTER TO AVOID
Mika Zibanejad, NYR at CAR ($30): Zibanejad’s production has slowed down, mostly because he’s really fallen off with the man advantage. He has only two power-play points in his last 20 games, and now the Rangers are on the road for the second leg of a back-to-back. Carolina has the third-ranked penalty kill, so don’t expect Zibanejad to get on track on the power play, and the Canes have also held opponents to a league-low 25.5 shots on net per game.
WING
Travis Konecny, PHI vs. SAN ($23): Konecny had 31 goals in 60 games last year. This season, though 59 games, he has 27 goals to go with 27 assists. It will be hard for Konecny to match his 31 goals in 60 games from last season, but the Sharks have a 3.89 GAA and have allowed 35.4 shots on net per game, so he may get closer to that.
Johnny Gaudreau, CLM at MON ($20): Pucks haven’t really been going into the net for Gaudreau, as his 7.9 percent shooting indicates. Even so, he has 45 points in 64 games, which is impressive for a player having issues with puck luck, especially given the roster around him. Cayden…