This article is part of our Yahoo DFS Hockey series.
There are seven games in the NHL on Monday with Colorado the largest favorite on the docket by a considerable margin. The Flames are also receiving notable chalk. Once again, the highest over/under totals are in the three North Division matchups, and the Hurricanes-Panther and Avalanche-Sharks matchups could also be high scoring. Here are some leans and fades to consider when assembling your lineups.
GOALIE
Jordan Binnington, STL at ANH ($34): The Ducks have scored the fewest goals per game this season, and Binnington is in a bounce-back spot after being pulled in Saturday's win over San Jose. A peek at the 27-year-old netminder's game log shows he's allowed two goals or fewer in nine of 17 starts this season, so he's a strong lean against the offensively challenged Ducks.
GOALIE TO AVOID
Jack Campbell, TOR at EDM ($30): Expect a significant push back from Edmonton on Monday. The Oilers failed to score a goal in Saturday's loss despite registering 58 shot attempts and 14 high-danger scoring chances, so it wasn't like the opportunities weren't there, either. Plus, Edmonton has scored the fifth most goals per game in the league this season.
CENTER
Nathan MacKinnon, COL at SJ ($34): A potential foundation piece for lineups, MacKinnon has gone four games without a multi-point showing and recorded just a single goal and assist during the stretch. He lands in a breakout matchup Monday, though. San Jose has surrendered 3.89 goals per 60 minutes this season with a 21st-ranked 76.9 penalty-kill percentage.
CENTER TO AVOID
Auston Matthews, TOR at EDM ($35): With a playoff berth already all but wrapped up, the Maple Leafs aren't going to take any chances with their franchise center. Matthews is close to returning from a hand/wrist injury that's been nagging him, but if he does suit up against Edmonton on Monday, he might not be at 100 percent. More importantly, his shooting arsenal might not be fully intact.
WING
Nikolaj Ehlers, WPG vs. VAN ($23): Vancouver has surrendered the third most goals per 60 minutes at five-on-five with the third worst team save percentage, so this is a favorable matchup for Ehlers to continue his strong start to the season. The 25-year-old winger has found the scoresheet in seven of the past nine games for five goals, five assists and 31 shots, and the four-time, 20-goal scorer is well on his way to a career year offensively.
Vladimir Tarasenko, STL at ANH ($10): The Russian winger is expected to return from a shoulder injury during St. Louis' current six-game road trip. It might not be Monday, but consider this a standing recommendation because Tarasenko's currently sporting a contest-low salary. He'll likely immediately return to a top-six role and be the focal point of the No. 1 power-play unit, so there's significant value.
WINGS TO AVOID
Mark Stone, VGK vs. MIN ($27): Typically, when a player with Stone's track record goes into a scoring funk, it's a time to bank on statistical correction. However, there are some clear concerns. He's only registered seven shots through the past seven games and is skating on a new-look line with Chandler Stephenson ($13) and Alex Tuch ($17), and the trio has only generated 7.87 high-danger scoring chances per 60 minutes at five-on-five this season. To put it in perspective, Minnesota has allowed 7.79 high-danger scoring chances per 60 minutes at five-on-five -- second fewest in the league.
Brock Boeser, VAN at WPG ($20): With just a single assist, five shots and a minus-4 rating through the past four games, Boeser is a fade candidate Monday. Winnipeg has won four straight and is 8-3-1 on home ice, and the Canucks have only won twice in the past 13 games and are 3-8 on the road, so there's additional plus-minus risk with Boeser.
DEFENSE
Tyson Barrie, EDM vs. TOR ($20): The first-year Oiler missed the scoresheet for just the third time through the past 15 games Saturday, so look for a rebound showing. Barrie's still in solid form with three tallies, 13 helpers, eight power-play points and 45 shots while logging a hefty 23:10 with 4:19 with the man advantage during the noted stretch.
Juuso Valimaki, CGY at OTT ($10): At minimum salary, Valimaki is worth a look because of his cross-category coverage. The rookie has been contributing more of late with six points, 26 shots and 12 blocks through the past 15 games, and he's started 57.2 percent of his five-on-five shifts in the offensive zone this season. It's also a plus-matchup with Ottawa allowing the most goals per game in the league.
DEFENSEMEN TO AVOID
Morgan Rielly, TOR at EDM ($22): Another Maple Leaf to be careful of, Rielly had a 44.2 Corsi For percentage in Saturday's win and spent 9:43 of his five-on-five ice time playing against Connor McDavid ($35) and another 8:49 against Leon Draisaitl ($34). It will be another tough night of on-ice matchups for Rielly on Monday, too.
Brent Burns, SJ vs. COL ($21): The veteran defenseman definitely has the potential to reward on this salary, but he's also failed to post double-digit fantasy points in nine of his past 12 outings. Colorado enters with the league's best Corsi For percentage and penalty-kill percentage, so the matchup isn't favorable for Burns, either.
