This article is part of our Yahoo DFS Hockey series.
The National Hockey League features nine games Tuesday night, including a potential Stanley Cup Finals preview when the Wild and Capitals hook up in the nation's capital, assuming the arena in D.C. isn't snowed in. Snow is also a big concern for the Jets-Devils game in Newark, an area expecting up to 20 inches of the white stuff. It would be wise to avoid that contest completely in the event of a cancellation by the league.
Let's get started.
GOALIE
Martin Jones, SAN vs. BUF ($29): Jones is expected to be in the crease to face the Sabres, and San Jose is the biggest favorite on the board. Rightly so, as the Sabres have dropped eight of their past 10 games overall, and they're 16-43 in their past 59 road outings against a team with a home winning percentage greater than .600. The Sharks are an impressive 6-1 in their past seven against a team with a losing record which makes Jones an attractive play, especially as the 12th-most expensive goaltender on the board.
GOALIE TO AVOID
Braden Holtby, WAS vs. MIN ($38): Holtby will cost you a pretty penny, and most nights he is totally worth the price. However, he enters this game facing the league's eighth-best power-play unit and a club with the second-best goal-differential (plus-60) in the NHL. Holtby has dropped his past three starts, allowing a total of 12 goals while totaling just 3.5 fantasy points. He isn't performing like the best goaltender in the league right now, and there is no justification for spending 19 percent of your budget on a struggling netminder facing a high-octane offense.
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CENTER
Jason Spezza, DAL at EDM ($16): Spezza has been running hot lately, posting four goals and seven points over the past six games. He has logged a power-play goal and assist over the past five games and he'll look to add to that total against an Oilers team checking in 23rd in the league on the penalty kill. Edmonton has been skidding lately, dropping three in a row, and a big part of their struggles have been their inability to kill off penalties. Spezza and his linemates will look to add to their woes.
CENTER TO AVOID
Jonathan Toews, CHI at MON ($24): Toews has been having uncharacteristic struggles as he enters this contest scoreless over the past three games. He'll face a tough nut to crack in Carey Price, especially in a game at Bell Centre. The Canadiens rank middle of the pack against the penalty kill, but they're even better at home. Eventually Toews will break through with a big game, piling up points in bunches. However, it will not be in this one in Montreal.
WING
Mike Hoffman, OTT vs. TAM ($23): Hoffman has been on a roll lately for the surging Senators, posting two goals and nine points over the past eight outings. A lot of his success has come on the power play, striking for a goal and two assists over the past four games on the man advantage. Tampa ranks 15th in the NHL on the penalty kill, so Hoffman has a good chance of doing damage. Seven of Hoffman's 12 power-play goals have come on home ice and he has a plus-11 rating across 31 games in Ottawa as opposed to just plus-3 in 29 road contests. At this price level Hoffman represents a huge points-per-dollar value.
Jeff Skinner, CAR vs. NYI ($21): Skinner is skating with a lot of confidence lately, sailing along at a point-per-game clip over the past five. The high point of that five-game run was Monday's game on the Island, as Skinner lit the lamp twice on six shots on goal. He also recorded a plus-1 rating and a blocked shot for 21 fantasy points, his best total since Jan. 13. The Islanders are 19th in the league on the penalty kill, so the opportunity is there for Skinny to stay hot.
WINGS TO AVOID
Alex Ovechkin, WAS vs. MIN ($35): Normally it's money well spent when picking Ovie, but he isn't worth using against the league leader in save percentage, Wild goalie Devan Dubnyk. Ovechkin has not scored a goal in 10 games while posting just two assists and a minus-3 rating over his past nine outings. It's hard to envision Ovechkin's scoring woes ending against Dubnyk, who owns a 2.07 GAA which is good for second in the NHL.
James van Riemsdyk, TOR at FLA ($21): Van Riemsdyk and the Maple Leafs have enjoyed a lot of success on the power play this season, and JVR scored on the man advantage three games ago against the Red Wings. However, do not expect the Maple Leafs offense to be very prolific against the league's best penalty kill in Florida. Van Riemsdyk takes plenty of shots, but do not expect any of them to find the back of the net in Tuesday's game.
DEFENSE
Alec Martinez, LOS vs. ARI ($22): Martinez has been on fire over the past couple of weeks, picking up a goal with five assists over the past five games, including two points on the power play. In addition, he has stepped in front of 11 shots to give him 137 blocks through 68 games, tied for 14th-most in the NHL. He does a little bit of everything, but his plus-minus rating can be a concern. However, he should even excel in that category against the lowly Coyotes, a team ranking 29th in the league in goal differential.
Nikita Zaitsev, TOR at FLA ($18): Zaitsev leads the Maple Leafs with 117 blocked shots through 67 games and he is certain to add to his total against the Panthers in Sunrise. Florida ranks fourth in the NHL with 32.5 shots per game, so Zaitsev and his fellow rearguards will be asked to sacrifice their bodies early and often. Unlike some of his fellow defenseman in Toronto, Zaitsev also holds his own at the offensive end with 26 assists.
DEFENSEMEN TO AVOID
John Carlson, WAS vs. MIN ($22): The Capitals have had a power outage on the offensive end lately, and Carlson is struggling with the rest of his teammates. He has just one power-play goal to show for the past five games while turning in an even or negative plus-minus rating in each of his past nine outings. The only thing that helps him stay out of the negative in fantasy points is his ability to block shots, but he won't block nearly enough against the Wild to justify such a high DFS salary.
Jake Gardiner, TOR at FLA ($18): Gardiner hasn't lit the lamp in eight games dating back to Feb. 21 and he has just two helpers over his past six outings. While blocked shots is one of his specialties, he doesn't take nearly enough shots to help him on the offensive end and make him a DFS value. Gardiner has also had a penchant lately for plenty of misplays in his own end, resulting in careless turnovers and goals going the other way.
