This article is part of our Yahoo DFS Hockey series.
Tuesday's nine-game NHL slate offers plenty of diverse options for fantasy owners. Teams in favorable matchups like Florida (vs. Toronto) and Montreal (vs. Columbus) will draw plenty of interest, but it's important not to forget about potential value plays coming from less appealing situations. The players listed below have a strong chance of outperforming their prices and should earn lineup consideration regardless of strategy.
GOALIE
Ben Scrivens, MON vs. CBS ($23) - Scrivens has struggled in limited action this season, but he has a dream matchup at home against the dreadful Blue Jackets. Even if he doesn't play well, Montreal's clearly superior skaters should still earn the backup a win, and the valuable 6.0 fantasy points that come with it. Spending just $23 on your No. 2 goaltender opens up endless possibilities for the rest of your lineup, and there will never be a better time to use Scrivens.
Goalie to Avoid:
Ryan Miller, VAN vs. NSH ($34) - Miller seems like a sensible play at home against a poor road team, but his 2-4-1 record in his last eight appearances indicates the veteran can't be trusted regardless of the opposition. The Predators also seem to be rounding into form after winning the first two games of their road trip, providing yet another reason to stay away from Miller.
CENTER
Ryan Johansen, NSH at VAN ($23) - Johansen has nine points in eight games with the Predators, reminding owners of the motivated center who put up 71 points in 2014-15. A player of that caliber is worth well more than $23, and Johansen's slow start with the lowly Blue Jackets is the only thing still supressing his value. Scoop him up against the league's 24th-ranked defense before his Nashville surge increases his price even further.
Center to Avoid:
Nathan MacKinnon, COL at SJ ($26) - MacKinnon has slumped in January, with only three goals and three assists in 12 games entering this week. While that production isn't terrible, it's far below expectations for a $26 forward. Leave him off your roster until he either picks up the pace or sees a decrease in price.
WING
Jaromir Jagr, FLA vs. TOR ($16) - Jagr should have plenty of energy in his last appearance before the 2016 NHL All-Star game. The 43-year-old has looked a bit tired in recent games, but his $16 price and likelihood of a strong push before a week off from competitive hockey make him too enticing to pass up, especially with a great chance of building on his 33 points and plus-10 rating against Toronto's 21st-ranked defense.
Tomas Hertl, SJ vs. COL ($21) - Hertl has earned his spot on San Jose's top line with nine points in his last nine games. The flashy forward's plus-11 rating in that span and matchup against a below-average defense Tuesday only add to his appeal. Hertl already has a goal and an assist in two prior meetings with the Avalanche, and this time he's in an even better position to get on the scoresheet.
Wings to Avoid:
Patric Hornqvist, PIT vs. NJ ($28) - Hornqvist's 25 points and minus-5 rating through 48 games aren't befitting a $28 player. His recent hot streak is the reason for the high price, but the Swede's two negative-fantasy-point performances in his last three games indicate he's starting to cool.
James Neal, NSH at VAN ($26) - Neal's atrocious road splits this season suggest that those who choose to pay his exorbitant price will be left disappointed. The supposed sniper hasn't recorded a road point against anyone except the Jets since Nov. 27, and his 10 points in 25 games away from Bridgestone Arena this season don't inspire much confidence in a turnaround.
DEFENSE
Oliver Ekman-Larsson, ARI at WPG ($25) - Ekman-Larsson leads NHL defensemen with 26 power-play goals since the start of 2013-14 season. The Swedish blueliner makes his living with the man advantage, so he should have a field day against the NHL's fourth-worst penalty kill. Considering the struggling Jets have dropped three straight, and Ekman-Larsson scored a power-play goal against them in their last meeting, paying up the $25 necessary to get him in your lineup should be well worth it.
Erik Karlsson, OTT vs. BUF ($28) - Karlsson's 21 career points against the Sabres trail only his 25 against Montreal, and he has a great chance of adding to that total Tuesday considering he's playing at above a point-per-game pace this season. With 15 shots on goal and 44.0 fantasy points in his last three games, the NHL's fourth-leading scorer has easily justified his high price lately and is, frankly, underpriced compared to expensive forwards, considering they don't bring much, if any, more scoring to the table while lacking his shot-blocking ability.
Defensemen to Avoid:
Marc-Edouard Vlasic, SJ vs. COL ($23) - Vlasic is pointless in his last three games after a brief hot streak raised his price to $23, illustrating his offensive deficiencies compared to other players in his price range. The veteran defenseman's 24 points are the fewest of any player priced at $21 or higher, and there's no point on spending so highly on a defenseman unless he's able to provide the top-notch offensive production required to win in DFS.
Sami Vatanen, ANH at BOS ($19) - Vatanen's offensive contributions this season have been pretty modest, as the Finnish blueliner has just six goals and 16 assists in 46 games for the toothless Ducks offense. Tuesday's road game against the team with the NHL's fifth-best goal differential has a lot of downside, and Vatanen's ceiling isn't high enough to warrant overlooking that factor.
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