This article is part of our Yahoo DFS Hockey series.
Tuesday night's slate features 24 teams, offering a near endless supply of lineup possibilities. With a few potentially lopsided contests on tap, the Lightning, Stars, Kings and Rangers figure to feature prominently in some of the night's most popular lineups.
While each of the aforementioned teams offers a number of enticing options for both balanced lineups and stars-and-studs plays, it's important not to forget about players on less-talented rosters when searching for the optimal lineup. That's why we're here to highlight some of the best candidates to deliver strong individual performances, irrespective of their team's success.
GOALIE
Jonathan Quick, LAK vs. ARI ($33) - Quick is 7-2-0 in his last nine starts and will be hungry to avenge an early season loss to a mediocre Coyotes team. In a format that puts a premium on wins, finding a heavily favored goaltender for a middle-of-the-road price is a great way to get off to a quick start against the competition.
Goalie to Avoid:
Ryan Miller, VAN at CBJ ($35) - Miller has accrued just five wins in 14 appearances this season, so it's far from a guarantee that he'll come away with a victory despite having an excellent matchup on paper. The Blue Jackets are a respectable 4-4-0 since former Canucks head coach John Tortorella took over, and Miller already has a disappointing road reunion performance on his ledger after losing in Buffalo on Saturday.
CENTER
Nick Bjugstad, Fla vs. CGY ($19) - Bjugstad has seen moderate success centering Florida's first line this season, but at just $19 he makes for an intriguing play against the team that has given up the most goals in the NHL. The Panthers sport a healthy plus-2 goal differential despite being one point under .500, meaning Bjugstad also has a good shot of contributing in the plus/minus category in a game his team should be favored to win.
Center to Avoid:
Brandon Pirri, Fla vs. CGY ($18) - The matchup is appealing, but it doesn't make sense to draft Florida's third-line center for $18 when the team's top option only costs a dollar more, and second-liner Vincent Trocheck can be had for just $14. Even if you want to stack the Panthers in a GPP format, Pirri's price is unappealing compared to his teammates.
WING
Nikolay Kulemin, NYI at SJS ($13) - Kulemin has played minutes on the top line recently, and it's only a matter of time before the former 30-goal scorer takes advantage of the opportunity. First-line center John Tavares finished second in the league in points last season, and skating alongside him instantly makes any decent NHL player dangerous. As Kulemin's healthy plus-6 rating shows, the 29-year-old Russian has played very well despite posting a pedestrian 2-5-7 line through 15 games, making him an enticing option at just $1 over the minimum.
Rick Nash, NYR vs. CAR ($22) - Nash is available at a discount due to the combination of his slow start and a recent back injury, making him a can't-miss value play against a Carolina team that ranks in the bottom third of the NHL in goals allowed per game. The burly winger specializes in pouring it on against overmatched opponents, and he'll get an opportunity to do just that in his return to the Rangers lineup.
Wings to Avoid:
Tommy Wingels, SJS vs. NYI ($16) - Nothing about Wingels' unimpressive resume justifies his respectable $16 price. He doesn't play a lot of minutes, struggles in the plus/minus department and is on pace for just 23 points this season. There are much better investments.
James van Riemsdyk, TOR at DAL ($20) - Van Riemsdyk's plus/minus downside is scary, as he figures to spend a lot of time matched up against the seemingly unstoppable duo of Jamie Benn and Tyler Seguin. The red-hot Stars are a nightmare opponent for anyone, so it's not likely van Riemsdyk and the Maple Leafs will do much in Dallas on Tuesday.
DEFENSEMEN
Ryan Murray, CBJ vs. VAN ($12) - Murray is still going for the minimum price despite posting seven points in his first 15 games this season. The second overall pick in the 2012 draft has the offensive upside to maintain his current pace, and his performance in recent games proves he's capable of putting up productive fantasy lines despite Columbus' struggles. Prior to a quiet performance against the Ducks on Friday, Murray had posted a more-than-serviceable plus-4 rating while scoring a goal and adding two assists in his previous three games.
Mike Green, DET vs. WSH ($17) - Green is off to a slow start, but facing the team that he spent the first 10 seasons of his career with could motivate the 30-year-old defenseman to kick it into another gear. His depressed price following a slow start makes him doubly worth it.
Defensemen to Avoid:
Dion Phaneuf, TOR at DAL ($19) - As with James van Riemsdyk, stopping the Stars' top line is a tall task at which the Maple Leafs might not be capable of succeeding. A healthy Phaneuf would already have a lot of red flags against a dangerous opponent like Dallas, but add the fact that he's fighting the flu and leaving the blueliner on the bench for the night becomes a no-brainer.
