This article is part of our Yahoo DFS Hockey series.
Normally on this Monday you would have just finished four days of college hoops. However, this year the men's basketball tournament is running from Friday through Monday, so there's still hoops on the schedule. There are also 10 NHL games, though, and don't forget about those.
Here are some players to target, and to avoid, for your daily fantasy lineup...
GOALIE
Alexandar Georgiev, NYR vs. BUF ($25): I can't say for certain who will be in net for the Rangers on Monday, but this is a vote of confidence for any of them. Really, I am just recommending the guy who is in net at home getting a visit from the woeful Sabres. They are a franchise in disarray, and also a team that ranks last in goals per game. If you can get any goalie on a reasonable salary in a matchup against Buffalo you take it.
GOALIE TO AVOID
Mike Smith, EDM at MON ($35): Smith is a great story, but is he a sustainable one? I see a 38-year-old man with a .922 save percentage one season after posting a save percentage of .902. Sure, it'd be awesome if he could keep this up, but I think eventually reality (or regression) will set in. The Canadiens have put 33.2 shots on net per contest, so they should make Smith earn his numbers one way or another.
CENTER
Mikael Backlund, CGY at OTT ($): Recently, Backlund had a four-game point streak. Just as important to me is the fact he's put 81 shots on net in 31 games, and he has a 7.4 shooting percentage after posting a 10.2 shooting percentage in each of his last two campaigns. Some regression could be coming, and now he gets to face a Senators team with a 3.91 GAA.
CENTER TO AVOID
Sean Couturier, PHI vs. NYI ($23): Couturier is dealing with a lower-body injury, which is probably enough of a reason for concern. Even if he was the healthiest he's ever been, though, I'd skip him in this matchup. The Islanders have a 2.22 GAA, which is lowest in the NHL. Wait until Couturier is healthier and not facing a brick wall of a defense.
WING
Timo Meier, SAN vs. LOS ($17): Meier was hot before missing a couple games, but fortunately that stop down didn't hinder his form. Over his last 11 games the Swiss winger has tallied 13 points. The Kings plays last night, which means they are on the second leg of a back-to-back. They also started Cal Petersen on Sunday, which means Jonathan Quick and his .897 save percentage will be in net.
Oliver Wahlstrom, NYI at PHI ($): There are nights Wahlstrom doesn't even get 10 minutes of ice team, and yet over his last 15 games he's notched 12 points. He's also on a three-game point streak, including points in back-to-back games against the Flyers. Philly has been absolutely reeling defensively recently, and it actually now has a 3.55 GAA, second highest in the NHL.
WINGS TO AVOID
Nikolaj Ehlers, WPG at VAN ($24): Thatcher Demko tends to be a busy goalie. The Canucks don't exactly keep shots off net. Fortunately, Demko has been more than up to the task recently. Over his last 14 starts the Vancouver netminder has a 1.98 GAA and .938 save percentage. Well, that's fortunate for the Canucks. It's not fortunate for Ehlers.
Clayton Keller, ARI vs. COL ($17): Sure, Keller has a goal in back-to-back games, but those games were against Anaheim. The Avalanche are a different story. They also a measly 24.9 shots on net per contest, fewest in the NHL. That definitely plays a part in Philipp Grubauer's 1.74 GAA, but his .929 save percentage definitely helps too.
DEFENSE
Adam Fox, NYR vs. BUF ($18): After a brief brush with COVID-19 protocol, Fox has returned with a point in three-straight games. That gives him 18 points on the season, including 10 with the extra man. The Sabres are surprisingly middle of the pack in penalty-kill percentage, but when you average over four minutes per game with the extra man like Fox does you get plenty of opportunities. Besides, the Sabres still have a 3.41 GAA overall.
Thomas Chabot, OTT vs. CGY ($15): Chabot's salary, I feel, is a product of his team as much as his individual play. The 24-year-old has averaged 26:11 in ice time and a career-high 3:47 per game on the power play. He's tallied 20 points in 30 games and put 70 shots on net. In short, he's getting his numbers, which is not something you can say about Jacob Markstrom recently. Calgary's goaltender has a 2.98 GAA and .887 save percentage over his last seven starts.
DEFENSE TO AVOID
Zach Werenski, CLM vs. CAR ($18): Werenski recently had a five-game point streak, but even then he only has 13 points in 25 games. His power-play production is also down, as he's only tallied four points with the extra man. The Hurricanes have been consistently rotating starts between James Reimer and Alex Nedeljkovic, and it's Nedeljkovic's turn. He's been the better of the two, posting a 2.16 GAA and .926 save percentage.
Jakob Chychrun, ARI vs. COL ($18): Chychrun has 21 points this season, including seven with the extra man, but only two of those power-play points have come in his last 19 games. He's not likely to fix that Monday, as the Avalanche have the second-ranked penalty kill in the league. Through in Colorado's impressive shot suppression, and Chychrun could be an afterthought.
