This article is part of our Yahoo DFS Hockey series.
Ten of the 12 teams in action Monday are trying to curb losing stretches, and the Islanders and Panthers only boast mere one-game streaks. There are also interesting West-East splits with Anaheim, Arizona and Vancouver visiting the Hurricnaes, Islanders and Canadiens, respectively.
There is some low-hanging fruit to pluck, which will provide the savings to splurge elsewhere Monday.
GOALIE
Jake Allen, STL vs. WPG ($33) - Two starts removed from a dominant seven-game stretch (6-1 record, .971 save percentage and three shutouts), Allen's cap hit is too affordable to ignore Monday. His raw talent has been all over the highlight reels lately, and while those appearances don't pay the fantasy bills, they do highlight his ability to win games on his own. St. Louis allows just 2.0 goals per game at home, and the Jets enter without a win in their last five outings, averaging just 1.6 goals per game.
Goalie to Avoid:
Craig Anderson, OTT vs. DET ($31) - Ottawa has allowed too many goals (2.94 goals against per game and 3.0 in its last five), and Anderson's 2.92 goals-against average doesn't inspire confidence. There is upside, though, as Anderson has faced north of 30 shots in each of his last four games, which could help pad his point total if he makes enough saves. Still, the Detroit offense welcomed back Pavel Datsyuk on Friday, and it should present a tough task for Ottawa.
CENTER
Rickard Rakell, ANH at CAR ($15) - Riding shotgun with Corey Perry and Ryan Getzlaf is a cushy spot for Rakell, who has a goal and four helpers over his last four outings. Rakell opens cap space to spend elsewhere and is in fine form. All signs point to Rakell sticking with the No. 1 line, which makes him an excellent play in the daily racket Monday.
Center to Avoid:
Victor Rask, CAR vs. ANH ($18) - Rask is emerging as a solid offensive contributor, and he has a point in three of his past lour games. There are two problems Monday, though. First, Rask owns a minus-5 rating over his last three games with just four shots on net, and he was been relegated to third-line duty in practice Sunday. His offensive upside is mitigated by his weak peripheral stats, and the new role is discouraging.
WING
Tomas Tatar, DET at OTT ($18) - While he has been a solid secondary scorer this season, Tatar hasn't produced at the pace he returned last season. His 97.8 PDO is due for positive regression, and he is skating with Pavel Datsyuk ($21) and Darren Helm ($12) at even strength, which makes Tatar the clear triggerman. As mentioned, the Senators are serving up plenty of shots, scoring chances and goals, too.
Corey Perry, ANH at CAR ($23) - Still underpriced, Perry has rattled off five goals, five helpers, 15 penalty minutes and 21 shots on goal over his last nine games. He is a top-tier winger, and after a slow start, Perry is ripe for profit and plays all the top offensive minutes. Carolina has also allowed 3.25 goals per game at home this season, giving up 3.0 goals over the last five games.
Wing to Avoid:
Dale Weise, MON vs. VAN ($18) - Over the last two games, Weise's ice time is down, and he is three games removed from his nice stretch where he saw top-six looks. Weise doesn't project to see power-play time, and at his cap hit, you need to hone in on more reliable options who play more offensively tilted minutes.
DEFENSEMEN
Kevin Shattenkirk, STL vs. WPG ($18) - After registering his first point since returning from a groin injury, look for Shattenkirk to kickstart an offensive outburst. He is a high-end offensive rearguard who logs time on the No. 1 power-play unit. Shattenkirk also played a season-high 23:53 minutes last time out. Build your lineups around Shattenkirk on Monday.
Nick Leddy, NYI vs. ARI ($12) - At minimum price, Leddy should be an easy play Monday. However, there is some risk/reward. Leddy has one shot in his last three games and just five helpers through 18 games with a minus-3 rating. He is also starting only 44.6 percent of his shifts in the offensive zone. Still, he is too talented pass up given the wiggle room he creates to spend up elsewhere.
Defenseman to avoid:
Erik Karlsson, OTT vs. DET ($29) - There are strong reasons to turn to Karlsson, including his three-game goal streak and point-per-game pace through 17 games this season. However, he is also the highest-priced skater in the play pool. You're going to need to sacrifice throughout the rest of your lineup to start him, especially if you spend for reliable goalies. Given the affordable blue line options, Karlsson creates unnecessary lineup complications.
