This article is part of our Yahoo DFS Hockey series.
A Monday holiday slate features four games, including two afternoon contests. Here are some of the best values for your daily lineup:
Goalie
Jordan Binnington, STL @ LA ($30)
Since he began seeing regular action starting on Dec. 29, Binnington has put forward a 4-0-1 record and a .944 save percentage in six appearances. Clearly, that's a small sample size, but the fact of the matter is that the Blues have won four of their last six and their 25-year-old goalie has been a big part of it. There's no reason he can't come away with another win against a pitiful Kings team.
Goalie to Avoid
Jonathan Quick, LA vs. STL ($35)
At the other end of the ice for Monday afternoon's contest, you'll find Quick in the midst of a frustrating season and recent stretch of play. The 2012 Conn Smythe Trophy winner is coming off a five-goal shellacking at the hands of the Avalanche on Saturday and shows a .899 save percentage over his last six starts. The defense in front of him is doing Quick absolutely no favors, so pass at this price point.
Center
Paul Stastny, VGK vs. MIN ($19)
The Vegas second line of Stastny, Max Pacioretty and Alex Tuch has been heating up of late and it's in no small part due to Stastny's efforts -- the 33-year-old shows five points, including a goal, in the last three games, leading to three goals for his line over that time. Stastny is also seeing elevated time with the power play, so look for him to take advantage against a Minnesota team that struggles to kill penalties on the road.
Center to Avoid
Aleksander Barkov, FLA vs. SJ ($25)
Even as those around him thrive, Barkov continues to struggle recently and its his defensive woes that have been causing him the most problems -- over the last eight contests, the Finnish pivot shows just three points and a hideous minus-10 rating. This Sharks defensive corps, while sometimes porous, can make a player in Barkov's situation pay with its scoring ability, which could put him in a deeper plus-minus hole.
Wings
Max Pacioretty, VGK vs. MIN ($19)
When he began the season poorly with his new team, many wondered when Pacioretty would be able to start putting it all together for the Golden Knights. That time appears to be now, as the former Canadien has seven points in as many games since returning from an undisclosed injury at the beginning of 2019. Pacioretty has also fired 30 shots on goal over that period and is seeing considerable power-play time.
Frank Vatrano, FLA vs. SJ ($17)
It's generally wise to stay away from a player who averages this little ice time, but Vatrano is very hot right now and could make for a cheap, effective, low-percentage play against a Sharks team that sometimes struggles defensively, considering their 3.68 away goals allowed per game. The Massachusetts native has strung together four goals on 22 shots in his last six contests, and is gaining confidence in his linemates Barkov and Evgenii Dadonov.
Wings to Avoid
Joe Pavelski, SJ @ FLA ($22)
It's difficult to recommend Pavelski in this spot because of his noted inconsistency -- the University of Wisconsin product has recorded just two points in the last seven games, but what's perhaps more troubling is the fact that he has taken one shot or fewer in over half of those contests. The Sharks' captain is reliant on goals and if he can't find the back of the net, that could spell disaster for your virtual squad.
Mikael Granlund, MIN @ VGK ($19)
Granlund is riding a seven-game point drought despite taking 19 shots on goal and averaging 2:34 of power-play ice time over that span. Clearly, something is wrong with the Finn's game right now and it matches the general trend of the Wild offense playing poorly on the road, as it averages just 2.52 away goals per game. Don't expect Granlund or his offense to get anything going against Marc-Andre Fleury, who plays well at home.
Defensemen
Tyson Barrie, COL vs. NSH ($21)
Barrie has put up an astounding 13 points in his last 10 games, but what's perhaps more intriguing about that is the fact that seven of those points were attained with the man advantage. This is also not to mention the 33 shots on goal over that time period. Nashville is certainly a tough customer, but the British Columbia native has played quite well at home this season, posting nearly a goal per game in Denver.
Alex Pietrangelo, STL @ LA ($17)
When a goalie like Binnington gets on a hot streak, it's generally a good idea to grab the defensemen who play in front him as a sort of double down. Enter Pietrangelo, the former Norris Trophy candidate who struggled early on and whose daily fantasy pricing has suffered for his poor play. The 28-year-old has recorded six points and 27 shots on goal in the last 10 contests and could be primed for more against Los Angeles.
Defensemen to Avoid
Keith Yandle, FLA vs. SJ ($20)
Yandle has been having a nice season but what's killed his effectiveness in some cases is his penchant for getting burned in the defensive end -- the native Bostonian has a minus-15 rating on the season and has racked up minus-10 of that in the last 15 games. He blocks and takes shots, but not on a consistent basis, making him a risky play against a highly effective Sharks team.
Drew Doughty, LA vs. STL ($18)
Like many of his Los Angeles teammates, Doughty has seen better days -- the 2016 Norris Trophy winner has two points in the last six contests and shows a minus-15 rating on the campaign, which if it stands would be his worst mark since his rookie season when he posted minus-17. The matchup against the Blues may be tempting, but that's a team that has been hot lately, so steer clear.
