This article is part of our Yahoo DFS Hockey series.
Yahoo is offering a combined Monday-Tuesday slate consisting of three games. Here are some players to consider…
GOALIE
Jimmy Howard, DET vs. VAN ($32): Howard was outstanding last season before getting injured, posting a 2.10 GAA and a .927 save percentage. This year, he's been almost as good, as his save percentage is a strong .923. The Canucks, meanwhile, only scored 2.17 goals per game last year, second fewest in the NHL.
GOALIE TO AVOID
Jonathan Quick, LOS at TOR ($37): This is no knock on Quick, who has been great this season. However, the Maple Leafs have been outstanding offensively, as they lead the league with 4.63 goals per contest. Quick, who's the most expensive goalie on the board, is in a very difficult situation on the road against an offensive juggernaut.
CENTER
Logan Couture, SAN at NYR ($18): Couture already has six goals in seven games, and he's tallied four power-play points, as well. His pace will likely slow, but it may not be against the Rangers. The once great Henrik Lundqvist has a 2.99 GAA and a .907 save percentage this year after posting a .910 save percentage last season.
CENTER TO AVOID
Mika Zibanejad, NYR vs. NYR ($20): The Sharks have only allowed 28.3 shots on net per contest, which is tied for the fewest in the NHL. Last season they allowed only 27.7, so San Jose has proven they excel at shot suppression. Zibanejad got off to a hot start, but he has only one point, an assist, in his last five games.
WING
Henrik Zetterberg, DET vs. VAN ($18): There's life left in Zetterberg, who has nine points through eight games after tallying 68 last season. He's averaged 20:46 per game, which is his highest total in 10 seasons. The Canucks, meanwhile, allowed 2.94 goals and 31.8 shots on net per tilt last year, and their penalty kill ranked 28th.
Kevin Labanc, SAN at NYR ($12): Labanc has started a whopping 71.1 percent of his shifts in the offensive zone, the most of any Sharks forward. He also has three power-play points already. As previously mentioned, the Rangers have issues in goal. Labanc is quite cheap, and with so few options available he's definitely worth a shot.
WINGS TO AVOID
James van Riemsdyk, TOR vs. LOS ($24): JVR is the most expensive wing by $3 and faces a tough test in Quick, despite the rest of the firepower in Toronto's lineup.
Chris Kreider, NYR vs. SAN ($19):Kreider scored a goal in his last game, but it was his first goal of the season. That's partially why he's only averaged 4.3 fantasy points per game thus far. Given how well the Sharks have done at suppressing shots, it seems like this may not be the game where Kreider gets it going.
DEFENSEMEN
Mike Green, DET vs. VAN ($17): Green has 10 points this season, and he's also put 18 shots on goal through eight games. As previously mentioned, the Canucks had the 28th-ranked penalty kill last year, and Green has had double-digit power-play points in his last five campaigns. He's well on his way to that mark again, as he has four points with the extra man this season.
Alec Martinez, LOS at TOR ($17): The Maple Leafs may have the league's most potent offense, but their defense isn't quite on the same level. Toronto has allowed 3.50 goals per game after allowing 2.85 last season. Martinez has averaged 11.5 fantasy points per game this year, thanks in part to his defensive prowess. Though he's only played in four games, he also has 16 blocked shots.
DEFENSMEN TO AVOID
Marc-Edouard Vlasic, SAN at NYR ($17): Vlasic is a strong defensive force, but his offensive numbers have never wowed. He's never had double-digit goals in a season and only crossed the 30-point plateau twice. "Pickles" has only averaged 4.3 fantasy points per game this year, after all.
Ryan McDonagh, NYR vs. SAN ($17): McDonagh has come out the gate slowly for the Rangers, as he's averaged only 4.0 fantasy points per contest. His power-play minutes are down, he only has 16 shots through nine games, and the presence of Kevin Shattenkirk may have shaken things up for him. Since the Sharks have only allowed 28.3 shots on net per game, it seems unlikely that McDonagh will break out here.
