This article is part of our Yahoo DFS Hockey series.
There are five games in the NHL on Monday with three being the second matchup of a mini series. Tampa Bay, Washington and Pittsburgh all won Game 1 on Saturday. The two North Division contests have Montreal hosting Vancouver, and Calgary visiting Winnipeg. Tampa Bay and Montreal are the largest favorites on the docket with the other three games projected to be close.
GOALIE
Carey Price, MON vs. VAN ($27): The salary is reasonable, and Price has turned away 46 of 50 shots through his past two starts -- both wins. The veteran has yet to lose in regulation, and Montreal is in a bounce-back spot after losing 2-0 to Calgary on Saturday. Additionally, the Canadiens own the fourth best Corsi For percentage while also surrendering the fifth fewest high-danger scoring chances per 60 minutes at five-on-five.
GOALIE TO AVOID
Andrei Vasilevskiy, TB vs, NSH ($39): With a contest-high salary, locking in Vasilevskiy limits lineup flexibility and requires your value options to hit. The Russian's play doesn't warrant the fade recommendation. He's off to a 4-1-1 start with a .925 save percentage and 2.15 GAA. There's just no room for error. Nashville scored three times in Saturday's game, and Vasilevskiy only recorded 11.6 fantasy points.
CENTER
Sean Monahan, CGY at WPG ($18): In the midst of a two-game point drought, look for Monahan to find the scoresheet Monday. He opened the season with two tallies and five helpers through the first five games of the year, and Winnipeg has surrendered 15 goals through its past four contests. The Jets have also surrendered the sixth most high-danger scoring chances at five-on-five this season, and their 72.7 penalty-kill percentage ranks 25th in the league.
CENTER TO AVOID
Nicklas Backstrom, WAS at BOS ($24): Scorching hot with two goals, six assists and three multi-point showings through his past four games, Backstrom is a candidate to cool down sooner than later. Boston has allowed two goals or fewer in six of its eight games and just 1.94 per 60 minutes at five-on-five for the campaign. There's also negative regression ahead of Backstrom's 21.7 shooting percentage.
WING
Brad Marchand, BOS at WAS ($29): The nine-time, 20-goal scorer has found the scoresheet in seven of eight games to start the year and attempted 37 shots. Marchand also has long-time linemate David Pastrnak ($33) on his opposite flank again, and the two wingers have combined with center Patrice Bergeron ($30) for an elite 5.83 goals and 15.1 high-danger scoring chances per hour over the past three years while also dominating five-on-five possession with a 57.9 Corsi For percentage.
Jason Zucker, PIT at NYR ($16): There's nothing scary about a matchup with the Rangers. New York has surrendered a healthy 2.57 goals per 60 minutes at five-on-five and owns a 23rd-ranked 75.0 penalty-kill percentage. Zucker posted a two-point showing last time out and has been a streaky producer throughout his career. His underlying statistics are encouraging, too. He's attempted 32 shots and had 10 individual high-danger scoring chances through nine games this season, so having just two goals and two assists for the year is a touch unlucky for an established scorer.
WINGS TO AVOID
Filip Forsberg, NSH at TB ($23): Tampa Bay has surrendered the fewest five-on-five goals per 60 minutes in the league this season, so it projects to be a tough matchup for Forsberg and the Predators on Monday. The Swedish winger did collect a pair of assists and six shots against the Lightning on Saturday, and he is a high-volume shooter, but there's also a plus-minus risk in a road game against an elite team.
Brock Boeser, Van at MON ($21): Bank on Boeser's puck luck running out Monday. The winger has scored four goals on nine shots through his past two games and is up to a 26.7 shooting percentage for the campaign. As noted, Montreal has been playing solid defense this season, too.
DEFENSE
Rasmus Andersson, CGY at WPG ($18): The 24-year-old defenseman continues to quarterback the No. 1 power-play unit and already has three points with the man advantage this season. Andersson has also chipped in with 14 shots and 14 blocked shots through seven games, and this isn't a daunting matchup against the Jets.
Dylan DeMelo, WPG vs. CGY ($10): An option at a contest-minimum salary, DeMelo has collected an assist, six shots and eight blocks through four games while logging 19:59 of ice time. He's started 55.1 percent of his five-on-five shifts in the offensive zone and offers a modest fantasy floor and cap relief.
DEFENSE TO AVOID
Roman Josi, NSH at TB ($25): A road matchup against the reigning champions probably isn't the best spot to target Josi at this salary. He's failed to record double-digit fantasy points in six of eight games and has been held to a single goal and two assists for the year.
Ryan McDonagh, TB vs. NSH ($18): The veteran isn't receiving power-play time and has started 65.4 percent of his five-on-five shifts in the defensive zone this season. Additionally, McDonagh primarily matched up against Nashville's top players during Saturday's win, so he's firmly established in a defensive role.
