This article is part of our Yahoo DFS Hockey series.
With 11 games on Tuesday's NHL slate, there are nearly endless lineup options from which to choose. The Predators, Blackhawks and Stars are heavy favorites against inferior opponents at home, but some of the night's top individual performances are just as likely to come from members of the multitude of other teams in action. While there are many strategies for building a lineup with so many choices available, it's hard to go wrong with any of the guys listed below.
GOALIE
Dustin Tokarski, MON vs. SJ ($24) - While there are plenty of solid goaltending options, Tokarski's miniscule price makes him a tremendous choice against a reeling Sharks team that is just 3-6-1 in its last 10. Even though he's priced below plenty of wings, centers and even defensemen, Tokarski has a great chance of bringing home a victory considering Montreal's 11-4-2 record at the Bell Centre. Getting a quality performance for such a small investment will allow you to fill the rest of your lineup with high-flying scoring options on a night where plenty find themselves in promising situations.
Goalie to Avoid:
Connor Hellebuyck, WPG vs. STL ($36) - Hellebuyck's career is off to a strong start, as his 4-1-0 record and 1.79 GAA have ballooned the rookie's price all the way to $36. While a five-game sample may be enough for some people to trust him against a talented Blues team, it may be more prudent to go with a cheaper and/or more established option on a night teeming with them.
CENTER
Artem Anisimov, CHI vs. COL ($14) - Linemate Patrick Kane has managed to extend his point streak to a tremendous 26 games despite getting zero help on the scoresheet from his center the last five games, but Anisimov played an active role in Kane's success with five goals and four assists of his own in the 10 contests before that. Tuesday's home date with an atrocious Avalanche defense is an excellent opportunity for the Russian to get back on the scoresheet, and his diminished price due to this recent slump makes Anisimov a marvelous value play.
Center to Avoid:
Steven Stamkos, TBL at TOR ($22) - Stamkos hasn't scored on the road since Nov. 5 against Buffalo, while the Leafs have held four of their last five opponents to two goals or less. Avoid the Lightning captain outside of Amalie Arena until he figures out his road woes.
WING
Valeri Nichushkin, DAL vs. CLS ($14) - Nichushkin has seen top-line minutes alongside Jamie Benn and Tyler Seguin recently, which means playing him allows you to gain access to their playmaking capabilities and plus/minus upside without having to invest upwards of $30. Stars players will be in plentiful use against goaltender Curtis McElhinney and his career 2.96 GAA, but Nichushkin quite possibly offers the best bang for the buck on the whole roster.
Rick Nash, NYR vs. EDM ($24) - Nash had a goal and two assists against this same team Friday in Edmonton, as the burly winger once again demonstrated his ability to exploit underwhelming defenses. The veteran has racked up 15 of his 21 points against teams currently outside the playoff picture, and is a prime candidate to build on that mark in New York's rematch with the Oilers at Madison Square Garden. Edmonton's top defensive pairing of Darnell Nurse and Andrej Sekera stands little chance against an offensively engaged Nash.
Wings to Avoid:
Mike Cammalleri, NJ at BUF ($29) - Cammalleri has no points in his last three games since catching fire to begin December, yet he's still priced in the elite range above the likes of Daniel Sedin and Vladimir Tarasenko. The 33-year-old winger simply doesn't have the pedigree to consistently live up to such a high price, considering he last topped 50 points in a season in 2008-09.
Evander Kane, BUF vs. NJ ($19) - Some thought Kane had turned things around after scoring four goals in his first two games in December, but he has been held pointless since. It seems the NHL just isn't big enough for two successful Kanes, and Evander is unlikely to change that perception against New Jersey's top-10 defense.
DEFENSE
John Klingberg, DAL vs. CLS ($21) - Klingberg has seen his price drop to $21 while recording just three helpers over the last six contests, but the Swedish defenseman is still playing at a point-per-game pace 30 games into his second NHL season. He has been extra impressive at home, with 18 of his 30 points coming in 14 appearances at the American Airlines Center. Look for the budding star to once again take flight against a goaltender who is 0-5-2 with a 3.11 GAA in Curtis McElhinney.
Justin Faulk, CAR at PHI ($26) - Offensive-minded defensemen are generally preferable to the stay-at-home variety in DFS due to the higher upside, and Faulk's offensive capabilities make him a premier option despite his large cap hit. Faulk has been as hot as any player in the NHL with four goals and three assists over his last four games, and the plus/minus downside he carries due to playing for a subpar Hurricanes team is mitigated by facing a Flyers squad with the worst goal differential in the Eastern Conference. Don't be surprised if last week's NHL Third Star of the Week maintains his strong recent play in Philly.
Defensemen to Avoid:
Brent Burns, SJ at MON ($27) - Burns' recent performance in the plus/minus department is reflective of San Jose's struggles as a team -- the blueliner is an unsightly minus-10 in six December games, and things don't figure to get any better with a trip to the Bell Centre on tap. The veteran defenseman's scoring prowess fails to cover for his defensive deficiencies, especially at an exorbitant $27.
Ryan McDonagh, NYR vs. EDM ($20) - McDonagh finished with an embarrassing minus-4 rating against this Oilers team Friday, as he repeatedly demonstrated an inability to contain Edmonton's top forwards. New York's struggling captain has topped 3.0 fantasy points just once in his last eight contests.
