This article is part of our Yahoo DFS Hockey series.
There are eight games in the NHL on Monday, and interestingly, there are eight home favorites on the docket. The Blues and Hurricanes are the two largest favorites with Toronto also receiving big chalk. Also note the Stars are returning from a long layoff due to COVID-19 protocols. Here's a quick-hit primer to help with your lineup decisions.
GOALIE
Jordan Binnington, STL vs. LA ($32): After allowing five goals in his last start, look for a bounce-back showing from Binnington. After all, he owns a high-end .930 save percentage and 1.80 GAA through 56 home appearances over the last three years. The Kings have also generated the third fewest high-danger scoring chances per 60 minutes (7.53) this season,
GOALIE TO AVOID
Anton Khudobin, DAL at FLA ($33): Dallas hasn't played in nine days and have lost five straight games, so this probably isn't an ideal set up for Khudobin and the Stars. The veteran Russian also hasn't played well this year with a .902 save percentage and 2.75 GAA, whereas Florida has scored the sixth most goals per 60 minutes in the league.
CENTER
Auston Matthews, TOR vs. CGY ($36): While unlikely to pile up 30-plus fantasy points for the third consecutive game, and targeting the most expensive skater in the player pool often isn't advantageous, it's probably worth looking about how your lineups look with Matthews as the building block. The matchup-proof pivot is sporting a 16-game point streak consisting of 18 tallies, 10 helpers, nine power-play points and 65 shots, after all.
CENTER TO AVOID
John Tavares, TOR vs. CGY ($29): This salary doesn't align with Tavares' recent form, as the Toronto captain has only reached double-digit fantasy points once through the past eight games. Plus, Tavares is no longer skating with the No. 1 power-play unit and has averaged just 1:18 of ice time per game with the man advantage over the past five contests.
WINGS
Kirill Kaprizov, MIN at SJ ($18): With San Jose allowing the fourth most five-on-five goals in the league this season and owning an underwhelming 76.7 penalty-kill percentage, this should prove to be a solid matchup for Kaprizov and the Wild. The Russian rookie has attempted 56 shots and generated 19 individual high-danger scoring chances, so there might even be positive regression ahead of his respectable three tallies and eight helpers.
Anthony Beauvillier, NYI vs. BUF ($12): A low-salary target skating in an offensive role, Beauvillier collected an assist last time out. He recorded 1.99 points per 60 minutes last season, so blame his slow start on the lower-body injury that caused him to miss nine games more than anything else. Additionally, Buffalo has lost five of its past seven games while allowing 22 total goals.
WINGS TO AVOID
Mark Stone, VGK at COL ($27): The Avalanche have the best Corsi For percentage in the league and surrender just 1.97 goals per 60 minutes at five-on-five, so this probably isn't an ideal matchup to target Stone's upcoming statistical correction. He's recorded just three points -- one goal -- through the past seven games.
William Nylander, TOR vs. CGY ($22): Until there's more consistency from Nylander, he's a hard player to target from his salary range. The 24-year-old winger has only found the scoresheet in one of his past eight games, and like centerman John Tavares ($29), Nylander is no longer skating with the No. 1 power-play unit.
DEFENSE
Keith Yandle, FLA vs. DAL ($18): The veteran sports an elite 2.05 points per 60 minutes over the past three years and continues to quarterback the No. 1 power-play unit. Additionally, Yandle is beginning 65.5 percent of his five-on-five shifts in the offensive zone. As noted, Dallas isn't an intimidating matchup.
Noah Dobson, NYI vs. BUF ($12): A low-salary flier, Dobson has collected just two assists through the past 10 games despite skating with the No. 1 power-play unit and averaging 2:18 of ice time per game with the man advantage during the stretch. As noted, Buffalo doesn't check out as an opponent to avoid, either.
DEFENSEMEN TO AVOID
Alex Pietrangelo, VGK at COL ($24): Expect Pietrangelo to spend most of his night playing against Colorado's No. 1 line, so it will probably be tough for him to produce to his salary Monday. The veteran also hasn't had the strongest stretch since returning from the COVID-19 protocol list with just a single assist and a minus-5 rating through five games.
Brent Burns, SJ vs. MIN ($21): There's still a lot to like about Burns' potential because he's a high-volume shooter who also blocks shots, but he's rarely approached his fantasy ceiling over the past month. Burns has only recorded double-digit fantasy points twice through the past 10 games while also positing a minus-5 rating. Additionally, the Wild allow the third fewest high-danger scoring chances at five-on-five per 60 minutes in the league.
