This article is part of our Yahoo DFS Hockey series.
Tuesday's busy NHL slate features 10 games, including six division matchups that offer teams the elusive opportunity to gain a guaranteed two points against their most important competitors. The heavily favored Stars and Islanders should receive plenty of love, but lineup possibilities are nearly endless with a lot of fantasy-friendly teams on the docket. This list of players should provide a guideline for how to stay ahead of the competition without feeling cash-strapped heading into your final few picks.
GOALIE
Keith Kinkaid, NJ vs. CAR ($31) - Kinkaid has been solid in a small sample size, accruing a .901 save percentage while giving up just 16 goals in seven games this season. A home date against a subpar Hurricanes team that averages just 2.36 goals per game offers an opportunity for him to improve on those already impressive stats. At just $31, playing the backup netminder lets you spend big elsewhere while limiting downside against a poor offensive team.
Goalie to Avoid:
Jhonas Enroth, LA at EDM ($32) - Enroth has combined for just 21.5 fantasy points while going 0-3-0 in his last four starts. It would be unwise to expect a sudden turnaround from Los Angeles' backup against an Oilers team that is 7-4-1 in December.
CENTER
Ryan Spooner, BOS vs. OTT ($16) - Spooner has three goals and seven assists in his last 10 games despite being held pointless in his last four, and he has a chance to build even further on those stats due to his ascension to the second line following David Krejci's upper-body injury. Projected Ottawa starter Craig Anderson has allowed the most goals in the NHL, so Spooner couldn't have picked a much better time to debut in a top-six role for the high-powered Bruins offense.
Center to Avoid:
Ryan Johansen, CLS vs. DAL ($18) - Johansen is a talented scorer, yet he somehow still hasn't found the back of the net through 12 games in December. Considering he owns a minus-6 rating this season, things could get ugly for the slumping Johansen against the top team in the NHL.
WING
Michael Grabner, TOR vs. NYI ($16) - Grabner exacted some revenge on his former team with a goal in Sunday's meeting at Barclays Center and should once again be motivated to deliver during their rematch in Toronto. The speedy winger has begun to atone for an excruciatingly slow start to the season with four goals, two assists and a plus-5 rating in his last five games, so get him in your lineups before his price jumps due to his recent production.
Corey Perry, ANH at CGY ($21) - Despite having a pedestrian season by his own lofty standards, Perry managed two goals and an assist in his only previous meeting with Calgary, and has three goals in his last two contests overall. While the former Rocket Richard Trophy winner may not be what he once was, it's hard to ignore a streaking Perry when he can be had for just $21 in a cupcake matchup. Even though the Flames have been better lately, they still rank comfortably last in the NHL with 3.29 goals allowed per game.
Wings to Avoid:
Milan Lucic, LA at EDM ($16) - Lucic's move to a line with Anze Kopitar was supposed to spark the Slovenian center, but instead it cooled the previously hot winger. The former Bruin has combined for -3.0 fantasy points in his last three games and should probably be avoided until he proves he can produce without Jeff Carter.
Andrew Ladd, WPG at DET ($19) - Ladd did not take kindly to a temporary demotion to the third line for an unsportsmanlike conduct penalty against the Rangers on Dec. 18, as he has averaged just 2.0 fantasy points per game in three contests since reclaiming his usual spot in the lineup. Considering he preceded that game with a four-game pointless streak, Winnipeg's slumping captain is best left on the bench.
DEFENSEMEN
Kevin Shattenkirk, STL vs. NSH ($22) - Shattenkirk is on pace to outproduce all but a handful of defensemen with his power-play production alone, as he already has 13 points with the man advantage in just 28 games. Nashville's surprisingly ineffective penalty kill has sunk all the way to 29th in the NHL, so it would almost be surprising if Shattenkirk didn't pad his impressive power-play point total in this contest. The talented blue-liner's 15 shots on goal over the past four games indicate he has been looking for his offense even more than usual recently, and there's a good chance he'll be rewarded for his efforts against a familiar divisional foe.
P.K. Subban, MON at FLA ($19) - Montreal's top defensemen should be expected to bring his best effort with the division lead on the line, and he will have plenty of opportunities to accrue fantasy points considering coach Michel Therrien has given him more than 29 minutes of playing time in each of the Canadiens' last two games heading into this pivotal contest. It doesn't hurt that Subban has owned the Panthers to the tune of 12 points and a plus-5 rating in 19 career games against Florida.
Defensemen to Avoid:
Kris Russell, CGY vs. ANH ($22) - Russell is pointless since Dec. 17 and makes for a head-scratching play considering his more productive defense partner, Dougie Hamilton ($21), is cheaper, while red-hot teammate Mark Giordano ($26) can be had for just $4 more. Thus, Russell is redundant even if you're a big believer in the Flames on Tuesday.
Jacob Trouba, WPG vs. DET ($16) - Trouba isn't a sexy fantasy play, as his value stems primarily from blocked shots. That type of resume leads to consistent production (Trouba has 2.0 to 6.o fantasy points in seven of the last eight games), but his upside ultimately isn't high enough to warrant consideration in daily formats outside of the most extenuating of circumstances.
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