This article is part of our Yahoo DFS Hockey series.
A full seven-game slate gives you plenty of options to choose from Monday, but the landscape is filled with lots of landmines in terms of pricing. Here are some tips on finding your way around them.
Goalie
Mikko Koskinen, EDM vs. NYR ($26)
Prior to sitting out his last start due to illness, Koskinen was one of the hottest goalies in the league, winning six of his last eight starts with a .933 save percentage and 2.27 GAA over that span. The Finnish goalie has put up better splits on home ice this season, and will get to face a Rangers team that has lost three straight road games and averages just 2.79 goals per game.
Goalie to Avoid
Thomas Greiss, NYI vs. CLS ($41)
It's not that Greiss has been so bad, it's just that he's not even close to worth his asking price Monday. The German national padded his stats by making late substitution appearances in recent games, but his last start saw him concede five goals at home against the Flyers, which led to a shortened start. Columbus is slumping but is still a dangerous offensive team, so don't believe this pricing.
Center
Dylan Strome, CHI vs. ARI ($19)
On Monday, Strome will face his former team for the first time since being traded in November, and while that's not a definite indication that he's going to have a good game, you can't deny that it could act as some form of motivation. The 22-year-old has carved out a nice role for himself in Chicago as a linemate to sniper Alex DeBrincat, both at even strength and on the power play, which gives him upside appeal every night.
Center to Avoid
Auston Matthews, TOR vs. TB ($32)
Matthews has been in an undeniable funk of late, going goalless since Feb. 25, and putting up just two assists and a minus-3 rating in the six contests since then. The 2016 first overall draft pick will likely bounce back, but asking him to do so against the Lightning is a tall order -- they're one of the most solid defenses in the league and Matthews does not have a point in two games against them this season.
Wings
Travis Konecny, PHI vs. OTT ($17)
Konecny has done a lot with the relatively small amount of ice time he's received this season, recording new career highs in power-play goals and assists, as well as posting seven goals, ten points and a plus-5 rating in his last 11 games. The Ontario native represents an efficient way to free up some space for the rest of your budget, especially considering he'll face a Senators team that allows a league-high 4.34 goals per game.
Brady Tkachuk, OTT @ PHI ($17)
For another sensible budget reliever, look across the ice in Philadelphia at Tkachuk. The rookie winger is on a three-game point streak at the moment and is averaging 3.36 shots on goal per game over his last 14. Tkachuk is already becoming the focal point in this rebuilding offense, and his daily pricing warrants giving him a chance against a very mediocre Philly defense.
Wings to Avoid
Artemi Panarin, CLS @ NYI ($27)
Panarin's scoring has been relatively sparse of late -- he has a goal and six points in his last 10 games -- but what's really starting to hurt him in fantasy slates is the defensive ineptitude of the team around him -- over that same time period, the Bread Man shows a concerning minus-7 rating. The scoring will not come easy against an Islanders squad that allows a league-low 2.40 goals per game.
Andreas Johnsson, TOR vs. TB ($20)
Another day, another daily fantasy slate where Johnsson is priced too high. The lefty Swede saw his daily price soar after he put together 14 points in 11 games in February, but it's important to note that that stretch made up 39 percent of all the points he has produced this season, meaning it may have been something of a fluke. Don't overpay in a situation where he'll have to face an elite Tampa defense.
Defensemen
Morgan Rielly, TOR vs. TB ($25)
Rielly has made himself indispensable to the Toronto offense, as he now shows new career highs in goals (18) and assists (47) on the campaign, including three scores in the last five games. The Vancouver native is on a point-per-game pace over his last five home contests, so keep him rolling again here even against a tough customer in the Lightning.
Tyson Barrie, COL vs. CAR ($19)
It hasn't been the most prolific scoring season of his career, but Barrie is still an important cog in this Colorado offense, as he quarterbacks the first power-play unit and is averaging four shots on goal per game over his last five. The Canadian blue liner is beginning to block shots on a more consistent basis, which is helpful when going up against a Hurricanes squad that averages a league-high 34.7 shots on goal per game.
Defensemen to Avoid
Seth Jones, CLS @ NYI ($19)
Similarly to his teammate Panarin, Jones' play has suffered down the stretch as his team continues to struggle -- the Texas native shows four points and a minus-5 rating to go with a 6.3 shooting percentage in his last 11 games. As mentioned, this New York defense is tough to score on, which will make Jones' life more difficult if the Islanders are able to get on the board while he's on the ice.
Thomas Chabot, OTT @ PHI ($19)
Here is yet another case of a player being dragged down by the bad play around him. Chabot was strong out of the gates this season, but his production lately has been underwhelming, as he shows just two assists with 22 shots on goal in his last 10 contests. Owing partially to his team, the 22-year-old has also earned a hideous minus-15 rating over that span. Don't consider him on the road in hostile Philly.
