This article is part of our Cap Compliance series.
It's a quiet three-game night in the NHL on Monday with Toronto and Washington huge favorites on home ice over the Kings and Sabres, respectively. The additional game is a toss-up tilt between the Rangers and Panthers. Here's a quick-hit peek at the fantasy landscape for the daily contests at Yahoo ahead of Monday's action.
All statistics from Natural Stat Trick and Hockey Reference.
GOALIE
Jack Campbell, TOR vs. LA ($34): The Toronto No. 1 has won four straight with just five goals against on 124 shots to improve to a 6-2-1 record, .936 save percentage and 1.88 GAA for the campaign. The Kings have also gone 0-3-1 on the road this season and have just 19 goals at five-on-five through 11 games overall.
GOALIE TO AVOID
Sergei Bobrovsky/Spencer Knight, FLA at NYR ($36/$34): While it will probably be popular to target the starters for Toronto and Washington on Monday, there might not be enough contrarian appeal to pivot to Florida's starter. There's no salary discount, and the Rangers return to home ice coming off three consecutive losses. Additionally, No. 1 center Aleksander Barkov ($33) isn't guaranteed to play because of a lower-body injury.
CENTER
Evgeny Kuznetsov, WAS vs. BUF ($23): The Sabres have lost four consecutive games with 17 goals against and rank ninth worst in high-danger scoring chances allowed per 60 minutes in the league. So, after starting the season with five tallies and eight helpers through the first nine games of the campaign, look for Kuznetsov to return to form after missing the scoresheet the past two outings. He's currently playing career-high minutes at even strength and with the man advantage, too.
CENTER TO AVOID
Tage Thompson, BUF at WAS ($18): With Washington allowing the seventh fewest goals and fewest expected goals per 60 minutes so far, this sets up as a tough draw for the 24-year-old forward. Even with Thompson finding the scoresheet in three consecutive outings, this is a daunting matchup to target him.
WING
Alex Kerfoot, TOR vs. LA ($14): The third-year Maple Leaf has found the scoresheet in three of the past four games skating in a cushy five-on-five gig alongside John Tavares ($27) and Mitch Marner ($32). His recent form appears sustainable, too. Kerfoot has 11 shot attempts, four individual high-danger scoring chances and has been on the ice for 11 HDCF during the noted stretch.
Ondrej Kase, TOR vs. LA ($10): A high-volume shooter, Kase has 44 shot attempts and 10 individual high-danger scoring chances at five-on-five this season, which have resulted in just a single goal. At minimum salary, Kase is a candidate for puck luck to turn in his favor Monday.
WINGS TO AVOID
Jonathan Huberdeau, FLA at NYR ($30): Until Huberdeau proves he can provide high-end fantasy numbers in this scoring setting, he's an automatic fade. After all, he's only reached double-digit points three times through 11 games, which is far from frequent enough at his huge salary hit.
Michael Bunting, TOR vs. LA ($17): Skating with Auston Matthews ($34) and William Nylander ($26) at five-on-five is a great opportunity, but Bunting hasn't cashed in offensively. He's registered just a single goal, two assists and 15 shots through the past eight games and has only reached double-digit fantasy points in one of 12 contests this season.
DEFENSE
Morgan Rielly, TOR vs. LA ($19): This is a reasonable salary to hone in on Rielly. He continues to quarterback the No. 1 power-play unit and has found the scoresheet in four of the past five games. Los Angeles also ranks 27th in penalty-kill percentage to start the year.
Martin Fehervary, WAS vs. BUF ($10): The rookie has settled in on the top defense pairing with John Carlson ($21), and what he lacks in upside, could be made up through his cap relief and peripheral contributions. He's registered a respectable two points, 12 shots and 20 blocks with a plus-2 rating through 11 contests this season.
DEFENSE TO AVOID
Adam Fox, NYR vs. FLA ($26): While you could be fading the reigning Norris Trophy winner at your own risk Monday, Fox carries a position-high salary and lands in a tough matchup. The Panthers have surrendered the third fewest goals per game.
MacKenzie Weegar, FLA at NYR ($19): Another Panther with a salary that doesn't match his fantasy profile in these scoring settings, Weegar has only reached double-digit points once through the past nine games. He also doesn't receive consistent power-play time, and this could prove to be a tough matchup with the Rangers looking to kick a four-game losing streak.
