This article is part of our Yahoo DFS Hockey series.
Goalie
Sergei Bobrovsky, CLS vs. VGK ($27)
It hasn't been an ideal start to the season for Bobrovsky, but Monday's matchup provides an opportunity to put up some good fantasy production. The Golden Knights are playing their second game in as many nights after claiming a hard-fought overtime win against the Rangers. Add in that the two-time Vezina winner has allowed just three goals over his last two starts, and you've got a great value.
Goalie to Avoid
Jaroslav Halak, BOS @ MON ($36)
Halak's daily pricing is riding high off his hot start to the year when he posted a .952 save percentage and 1.45 GAA in his first eight contests. Since then, the veteran shows a .908 save percentage and has allowed three goals or more in each of his last four starts. The hostile territory in Montreal will not make this any easier, so don't jump for him at this elevated price.
Center
Mathew Barzal, NYI @ COL ($18)
A dismal season through the beginning of December caused Barzal's daily price to plummet, but over the last four games, he has six points and a plus-3 rating to go with 15 shots on goal. We all know that the talent is there for the 2018 Calder Trophy winner, and it would appear that he is finding that form right now. Additionally, projected Colorado starter Semyon Varlamov has been terrible lately, so take advantage while the price is still low.
Center to Avoid
Evgeni Malkin, PIT vs. ANH ($30)
Malkin has struggled mightily over the last 10 contests, putting up just five points (one goal), 22 shots and a hideous minus-12 rating over that time. John Gibson and the visiting Ducks defense have been very stout in road games, allowing just 2.93 goals per game when away from home, so this doesn't appear to be the most ideal time for Geno to break out of his slump.
Wings
Cam Atkinson, CLS vs. VGK ($26)
Though he didn't score in his last outing, Atkinson has been firing on all cylinders lately, compiling an astounding 23 points over the last 16 games. That point total has included 13 goals that have come as a result of the 4.19 shots on goal per game he has racked up over that span. If Vegas starts the struggling Malcolm Subban in goal as expected, Atkinson and his teammates could be in for a scoring frenzy.
Ondrej Kase, ANH @ PIT ($18)
Kase has been on an offensive tear of late, racking up eight goals, six assists and a plus-9 rating while averaging over three shots on goal per game in the last 13 contests. The 23-year-old has the benefit of skating on the top line with Ryan Getzlaf and Pontus Aberg, who is scoring at a point-per-game pace over the last nine. Expect them to dig in against a Pittsburgh squad with a 3.47 team GAA at home.
Wings to Avoid
Artemi Panarin, CLS vs. VGK ($25)
He carries a similar price tag to Atkinson, but Panarin lacks a lot of the upside that makes his linemate more valuable. For starters, though the Russian winger is on a point-per-game pace over the last seven contests, only two tallies have come from goals -- and those came in the same game. Additionally, Panarin's plus-minus over that span is minus-5.
Brendan Gallagher, MON vs. BOS ($20)
Gallagher's numbers aren't terrible, but they're not at the level you'd expect from someone at this price tag. What makes the Edmonton native attractive to some fantasy players is his penchant for goal scoring, but the problem is that it comes too inconsistently and without very much assist production in between, as he has just one apple in the last 13 games. He's too boom-or-bust to trust Monday.
Defensemen
Seth Jones, CLS vs. VGK ($22)
As mentioned, the Golden Knights could be vulnerable defensively if they start Subban in net, so taking any piece of the Columbus offense would be advisable. Jones has been doing damage from the blue line in recent weeks, establishing a point-per-game pace over the last nine games while finding the back of the net four times. The fact that he is unafraid to shoot the puck or block shots just adds to the allure.
Mattias Ekholm, NSH @ OTT ($17)
Ekholm is riding a four-game assist streak and is now on pace for a career-high 52 points by season's end. The 28-year-old is seeing looks with the second power-play unit and his plus-13 rating, along with his tendency for garnering assists, gives him a nice floor. Monday's matchup with the lowly Senators should also give him a pretty high ceiling, so give him a look at this low price.
Defensemen to Avoid
Thomas Chabot, OTT vs. NSH ($23)
Chabot is another player whose daily price benefitted from a hot start to the season but isn't worth it now -- the 21-year-old blueliner began the campaign with 22 points in 16 games, but he has just four points in the last seven and has a minus-5 rating over that span. This Nashville team that is elite on both ends of the ice could very well make him pay, so don't take your chances here.
Tyson Barrie, COL vs. NYI ($21)
Barrie has looked rocky since returning from an undisclosed injury, showing just three points and a minus-6 rating in those six contests, so perhaps the ailment is sticking with him to some extent. This is all despite averaging over five minutes per game with the power play, which signals that something may be off with him right now. The Canadian defenseman will be a risky play against a surprisingly defensively-sound Islanders team.
