This article is part of our Yahoo DFS Hockey series.
Monday's six-game NHL slate should be an exciting one, with a Dallas-Detroit battle between two likely playoff-bound squads highlighting an intense night of action. You only get the opportunity to win DFS contests on this day once every four years, so make your lineups count. The players listed below should all help you do just that by outperforming their valuations.
GOALIE
Marc-Andre Fleury, PIT vs. ARI ($32) - Fleury makes for an enticing play after winning three of his last four starts, considering the Coyotes team he's facing has lost five straight. At just $32, you won't find a better combination of upside and affordability.
Goalie to Avoid:
Petr Mrazek, DET at DAL ($37) - Mrazek is averaging only 8.7 points per game over his last six appearances, falling well below the standards for a player with a $37 price tag. Facing the NHL's second-most potent offense likely won't help him get back on track.
CENTER
Steven Stamkos, TB at TOR ($24) - Stamkos is riding a season-high five-game goal streak, and it'd be wise to take advantage of the talented center's scoring ability while he's hot. He's more than capable of maintaining a high level of play for an extended period, and is feeling comfortable again after being assured that he's off the trade block. The Maple Leafs own the NHL's seventh-worst defense, so don't expect them to be able to slow Stamkos in his current form.
Center to Avoid:
Dylan Larkin, DET at DAL ($18) - Larkin has hit a rookie wall, totaling just 21.0 fantasy points over his last eight games. He has been dropped to the third line as a result, and should be avoided until he shows signs of breaking out of his slump.
WING
Chris Kreider, NYR vs. CLS ($17) - Kreider has goals in consecutive games for the Rangers, which means he's heating up just in time to take advantage of facing the fourth-worst defense in the NHL. The speedy power forward is starting to show chemistry with Derek Stepan and Mats Zuccarello on New York's top line, and adding a bonafide scorer in Eric Staal to the mix will only open up more space for the likes of Kreider to skate into.
Johnny Gaudreau, CGY at PHI ($24) - Gaudreau's three-point outing against the Senators on Saturday extended his point streak to seven games. He's still worth only $24 despite his three goals and eight assists in that span, and a Philadelphia team that has given up at least three goals in five of its last seven games is unlikely to slow the young phenom down. Keep rolling Gaudreau out as long as he's getting on the scoresheet on a nightly basis.
Wings to Avoid:
Patrick Sharp, DAL vs. DET ($20) - Don't be overly impressed by Sharp's uptick in assists the last few games, as he still has just one goal and nine helpers in his last 19 games. The stacked Stars lineup has many enticing DFS options, but Sharp isn't one of them.
Cam Atkinson, CLS at NYR ($21) - Atkinson has struggled the last two weeks, averaging just 4.2 fantasy points per game in six appearances over that span. His chances of rebounding against the Rangers is unlikely considering they'll probably be icing the night's most expensive goaltender coming off consecutive wins.
DEFENSEMEN
Kris Letang, PIT vs. ARI ($28) - Letang's recent offensive contributions have been enough to make most forwards jealous, as his six points in the last five games have allowed the blueliner to reach double-digit fantasy points four times in that span. The Coyotes rank as the second-worst defensive team in the league and have lost five consecutive games, making them the perfect opponent for the offensive-minded defenseman to exploit. Look for Letang to easily live up to if not exceed his $28 price.
Ryan McDonagh, NYR vs. CLS ($20) - The oft-injured defenseman has played well since returning from his most recent ailment on Feb. 25, accruing 17.0 combined fantasy points in two subsequent games. McDonagh has played at least 23 minutes in both of those contests, indicating that he is immediately being leaned on to play his usual highly involved role. Expect the Rangers captain to keep up his high level of play against a defensively-challenged Columbus team that he has burned for a plus-4 rating in two meetings this season.
Defenseman to Avoid:
Keith Yandle, NYR vs. CLS ($19) - While his matchup with the Blue Jackets is enticing, Yandle's chances of delivering a productive game are much lower with Ryan McDonagh back in the lineup for the Rangers. The former Coyote has skated less than 17 minutes in both games since McDonagh's return, and it's hard to play at a consistently high level when receiving so few minutes as a defenseman.
