This article is part of our Yahoo DFS Hockey series.
President's Day in America offers up an all-day slate beginning at 4pm EST, giving us many options to choose from. Here are some of the best values you can get Monday:
Goalie
Mike Smith, CGY vs. ARI ($31)
While it hasn't been a standout season for the veteran goalkeeper, Smith holds the distinction of being very stout against his former team -- the 36-year-old shows a 3-1-0 record and .953 save percentage against the Coyotes since being traded to the Flames. Arizona has also dropped four of its last five road games, so now would be as good a time as any to go for value on Smith.
Goalie to Avoid
Tuukka Rask, BOS @ SJ ($34)
Rask has played better recently after some struggles early in the season, but choosing him for Monday's slate carries a lot of inherent risk. For one, he doesn't see many shots, -- less than 29 in each game over the last five -- which limits his upside in games he doesn't win. The Sharks have proven to be a tough customer for opposing goalies this season, as they rank third in the league with 3.63 goals per game.
Center
Anze Kopitar, LA vs. WSH ($19)
Recommending any Kings player this season is difficult given their mediocrity, but Kopitar presents an excellent value Monday given his price and matchup situation. The veteran pivot has recorded 12 points, including four goals, in his last 10 contests, and will get to face a Washington team Monday that is on the second half of a tough West coast back-to-back that saw them lose to the Ducks on Sunday night.
Center to Avoid
Evgeny Kuznetsov, WSH @ LA ($24)
Across the face off dot from Kopitar in Los Angeles will be Kuznetsov, who has struggled mightily in road games this season -- the Russian has posted just 16 of his 54 points, including only one goal, in games away from Washington. The facts that he also shows a negative plus-minus in away games and that he will be playing his second game in as many nights make him even less appealing.
Wings
Matthew Tkachuk, CGY vs. ARI ($23)
Tkachuk has been largely ineffective in the month of February, but there is good reason to believe that he can turn it around Monday. The 21-year-old posted his first point in eight games when he nabbed an apple in Pittsburgh on Saturday, and he's still seeing significant ice time with an effective power play. More encouraging though is the fact that Tkachuk has recorded 39 of his 58 points this season while on the home ice in Calgary.
Ondrej Palat, TB @ CLS ($17)
What Palat lacks in overall ice time, he makes up for in droves with the man advantage -- the Czech national runs on the first power-play unit with the likes of Nikita Kucherov and even-strength linemate Steven Stamkos, where he is averaging about three minutes of power-play ice time per game over the last 10. Palat can be a streaky scorer and he's riding a three-game point streak at the moment, so take advantage.
Wings to Avoid
Mikko Rantanen, COL vs. VGK ($31)
The Avalanche's epic collapse has dragged down many of its star players with it, including Rantanen, who was leading the league in points for a notable period of time. Monday's situation in particular does not bode well for the 22-year-old, as he shows 10 fewer points and a minus-2 rating this season in home games and will likely have to face Marc-Andre Fleury, who has been tremendous this campaign, in the opposing goal.
Jonathan Marchessault, VGK @ COL ($21)
Marchessault's inconsistency in finding the back of the net makes him a risky play in this slate, especially at this asking price -- over the last 14 contests, the Canadian winger has recorded five goals, but those scores have come in only two games. It's also worth noting that he shows a minus-12 rating over that span, making him too volatile for use until he proves he can turn it around.
Defensemen
Nate Schmidt, VGK @ COL ($18)
While Schmidt's scoring has not been entirely prolific, he provides a really nice fantasy floor to work with, which makes him an especially good value with high upside against a struggling Colorado squad. The Minnesota native is averaging 3.43 shots on goal and 1.86 blocks per game over his last seven contests, adding two goals and an assist over that period. The fact that he averages over 22 minutes of ice time per game adds to his allure.
Erik Gustafsson, CHI vs. OTT ($17)
Gustafsson is enjoying a point-per-game pace over the last eight contests, taking 21 shots on goal and scoring at a 19 percent clip over that span. What's perhaps more encouraging, however, is that the Swede is seeing loads of minutes with a revitalized Chicago first power-play unit that has converted on an impressive 34.5 percent of its chances since the calendar turned to 2019. Look for Gustafsson and company to capitalize against a weak Senators team.
Defensemen to Avoid
Thomas Chabot, OTT @ CHI ($22)
Chabot has been one of the bright spots on this pitiful Ottawa team, but he'll be tough to justify using against the red-hot Blackhawks -- over its last 10 contests, Chicago is averaging 4.70 goals per game. Meanwhile, the 22-year-old blueliner has sometimes struggled with bouts of inconsistency, and could find himself on the wrong end of a negative fantasy point outing if the Hawks can get it going again.
Seth Jones, CLS vs. TB ($21)
Jones has not found the back of the net since Jan. 5, and in the 16 games since then, the young defenseman shows 11 assists and minus-4 rating. That last bit in particular could really come back to haunt him, as this Tampa Bay offense is scoring at a historic pace, leading the league with 3.86 goals per game. Jones could make a good value later on, but don't try him in this slate.
