This article is part of our Yahoo DFS Hockey series.
The four-game Monday slate presents a multitude of challenges across all different types of matchups. Here's a look at some players to target and avoid...
Goalie
Carey Price, MTL vs. DET ($30)
This one will obviously depend on whether or not Price suits up considering he was ruled out for Saturday's contest with flu-like symptoms. But assuming he goes, the 2015 Vezina Trophy winner could be due for a great game against the struggling Red Wings: Price has faced three elite offenses and come away with a win and a .909 save percentage despite a team in front of him that has low expectations for the season. Great value.
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Goalie to Avoid
Ben Bishop, DAL @ OTT ($34)
Bishop started the season strong, holding Arizona and Winnipeg to one goal over 62 combined shots for two wins, but he cracked against the explosive Toronto offense machine. A lot of people will look at this as a potential bounce-back game for the 10-year vet, but the Senators have been surprisingly solid offensively to start the year, especially at home. Bishop could get the win, but it might not be pretty.
Center
Ryan Johansen, NSH vs. MIN ($19)
It hasn't been flashy, but Johansen has still managed a point per game over the last four to go with a plus-1 rating over that span for a first-place Nashville team. The 26-year-old hasn't broken through on the power play yet, but he is averaging over three minutes per game there with an effective group, so you have to figure he's due soon. This is a good price to bet on him doing it at home against the Wild.
Center to Avoid
Eric Staal, MIN @ NSH ($22)
Lining up across from Johansen will be Staal and he's not an option you'll likely want to move forward with considering his inconsistent production. All three of Staal's points this season have come in one game and outside of that contest, he has mostly been a liability, racking up a minus-4 rating and six penalty minutes. Playing in the raucous Bridgestone Arena will make a bounce back game all the more difficult.
Wings
Alexander Radulov, DAL @ OTT ($23)
This Dallas offense has been running wild to start the season and Radulov has been a huge part of it, amassing a goal in each of his last four games and adding five apples during that span. Ottawa's offense has been better than expected but the defense has looked vulnerable at times, so expect the Russian winger to take it to them early and often Monday night.
Kasperi Kapanen, TOR vs. LA ($14)
The Maple Leafs have had a prolific offense to say the least, so having any piece of it is going to wonders for your fantasy lineup. Well, here's a piece that has notched two goals and four assists over the last four contests and just so happens to be skating on the top line with Patrick Marleau and some guy named Auston Matthews. The price tag is shockingly cheap, so take advantage.
Wings to Avoid
Ilya Kovalchuk, LA @ TOR ($21)
Although the Kings attack will probably find its way through Frederik Anderson to try and keep up with Toronto in this likely offensive showdown, Kovalchuk may not be the primary beneficiary of it -- the 35-year hasn't looked very effective outside of the two games where he's accumulated points and the goals just aren't falling for him right now when you consider his 17 shots on goal. Look at linemate Alex Iafallo for a good Kings option instead.
Mark Stone, OTT vs. DAL ($19)
Stone's production has been alright for the surprising Senators, but his poor play in his own end of the ice is dragging him down statistically, as he has already sustained two games of minus-2 or greater this season. The Stars are prone to dropping tons of points on teams, so this could dig the Winnipeg native into a deeper hole in that regard, especially if he can't be involved in a scoring play.
Defensemen
Ryan Ellis, NSH vs. MIN ($21)
Like his teammate Johansen, Ellis is heavily involved in the offensive schemes for the Predators, both at even strength and on the powerplay -- the veteran blueliner has three assists on the young season and seven shots on goal over the last three games. Additionally, his reliability in his own end of the ice gives him a nice floor to work with. Expect he and Ryan Josi to dominate ice time and potentially the Wild on Monday.
Jake Gardiner, TOR vs. LA ($13)
Again, Maple Leafs any way you can get them, and this one just so happens to be at a price even cheaper than Kaspanen's. Gardiner has managed four assists in the first six games, one of which came with the man advantage and he has also blocked the puck seven times. He doesn't shoot much so don't count on him for goals, but another solid game out of the Maple Leafs should elevate the Minnesota native to valuable production.
Defensemen to Avoid
Drew Doughty, LA @ TOR ($23)
It's always going to be tough to succeed against this surging Toronto team if you're a defenseman, and while Doughty has actually been great at minimizing damage in his own end this season, he hasn't been enough of an offensive threat to offset it yet -- he has just two assists and five shots on goal thus far. Peter Budaj's presence in net isn't going to do the 28-year-old any favors either.
Ryan Suter, MIN @ NSH ($19)
The Predators have been tough on opposing defensemen this season, holding them to 0.4 points per game, the second lowest mark in the league next to the Devils. Suter is on a nice streak now, but he managed those solid games against mediocre defenses in Chicago and Carolina, so Nashville's elite corps may be able bring him back down to earth on home ice.
