This article is part of our Yahoo DFS Hockey series.
Tuesday's nine-game slate sees several teams jockeying for playoff position, while others are just looking to make some noise for the future. Here are the best values for both situations.
Goalie
Jake Allen, STL vs. SJ ($21)
In terms of potential value, it doesn't get much better than Allen and his basement-level price tag Tuesday. Sure, the Sharks have been the most prodigious scoring team in the league in March, but the Blues' goalie has been stupendous himself lately, racking up five wins in a row and allowing one goal or fewer in each of his last three starts. His one-goal-allowed performance against San Jose on Mar. 8 is also an argument in his favor.
Goalie to Avoid
Kari Lehtonen, DAL vs. PHI ($31)
Despite a miserable string of play lately, Lehtonen continues to see pricing over $30 and Tuesday's matchup isn't enough to make that worth it. The Finnish keeper has not won a game since March 9 and in the seven starts since then, he shows a very poor .881 save percentage and 3.54 GAA. It won't help his case that he'll face off with a Philadelphia squad that ranks third in the NHL with 3.05 goals per away game.
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Center
Mathew Barzal, NYI @ OTT ($20)
Prior to a fruitless game against the Blackhawks on Thursday, Barzal had recorded points in five consecutive contests, amassing seven total, including four on the power play. That last tidbit in particular is nice to know considering the Senators kill off just 75.5 percent of their penalties this season. In addition, the team from Ottawa gives up 3.09 goals per game to centers, the highest mark in the league.
Center to Avoid
Patrice Bergeron, BOS @ WPG ($31)
Bergeron was one of the most reliable options at center prior to getting hurt, so while it makes sense that his price would reflect that, his Tuesday matchup could cause him problems that won't make him worth the coin. The Jets have looked outstanding defensively in the last month, allowing 2.17 goals per game overall and 0.62 goals per game to centers, both of which are league lows. The veteran Bruin's goal drought could very well continue.
Wings
Anders Lee, NYI @ OTT ($20)
Considering his incredible proficiency with the man advantage lately and Ottawa's previously-noted deficiency on the penalty kill, Lee makes for an attractive stack option with power-play linemate Barzal on Tuesday. The Minnesota native bagged four power-play goals in a three-game span recently, adding an even strength one for good measure. The fact that Ottawa allows 0.91 goals per game to left wings makes this extra juicy.
Thomas Vanek, CLS @ EDM ($17)
Vanek has found his groove with the Blue Jackets since being dealt at the trade deadline, maintaining a point-per-game pace in the last nine contests to go with 28 shots on goal and a staggering plus-11 rating. With Nick Foligno (lower body) being ruled out multiple weeks, the scoring burden and subsequent ice time will fall to Vanek, a role which he should gladly accept against the pitiful Oilers and with Columbus in the thick of the playoff hunt.
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Wings to Avoid
Filip Forsberg, NSH vs. MIN ($25)
Forsberg's inconsistency in attacking the net could make him a fantasy liability in Tuesday's tough game. In his last seven games, the 23-year-old has scored goals in the two games in which he's taken three shots or more. In the other five games, where he took two shots or fewer, he has zero goals and just three assists. Minnesota's tough defense could make it tough for the young swede to get space in a physical matchup.
Mikael Granlund, MIN @ NSH ($22)
As alluded to, this showdown in Nashville could very well be a heavily defensive one, and if so, that won't bode well for the slumping Granlund -- over the last seven contests, the Finnish winger has recorded just two assists, a minus-1 rating, and 10 shots on goal. When facing Pekka Rinne, getting multiple opportunities is paramount, so don't expect Granlund to do much if he can't get more aggressive.
Defensemen
Ryan Pulock, NYI @ OTT ($19)
Pulock has been getting heavily involved in the offensive end of the ice lately, as he shows three goals, eight points, and a whopping 31 shots on goal over the last seven contests. This is an especially nice development considering the Senators allow 2.32 points per game to blueliners this season. Combined with Pulock's position on the power play against a weak penalty kill, this is a nice value.
Sami Vatanen, NJ vs. CAR ($17)
Some fantasy players may be scared off by his recent lack of production against solid defensive teams, but Vatanen's pedigree for power-play production should propel him to success against a more inferior opponent. From the Feb. 18 through March 6, the 26-year-old posted seven power-play points in nine games, an astounding rate for a defenseman. Against a Carolina penalty kill that's been successful just 69 percent of the time in March, this has a lot of appeal.
Defensemen to Avoid
Nick Leddy, NYI @ OTT ($19)
Unlike his teammate Pulock, Leddy is providing basically no return for your fantasy investment on either end of the ice -- in the last seven games, the veteran d-man has just one assist and seven shots on goal to go with a horrific minus-12 rating, piling on to his league-worst minus-40 mark. Ottawa is by no means the cream of the crop, but at this price, you really can't trust Leddy to pull through for you.
Ryan Suter, MIN @ NSH ($19)
Suter has not scored a goal since Jan. 13, a span of 31 games. That metric speaks for itself, but in addition, the Wisconsin native's peripheral stats are bad too -- over the aforementioned span, he is averaging 1.61 shots per game and 1.68 blocked shots per game. This Nashville team, which has looked like the team to beat both on offense and defense, could give Suter fits and keep him off the scoresheet again.
