This article is part of our Yahoo DFS Hockey series.
There are three bouts in the NHL on Monday with Boston visiting Washington for Game 2 of their series, and the Predators-Hurricanes and Blues-Avalanche hitting the ice for the first meeting of their respective serieses. Colorado is the largest favorite on the docket with Carolina also receiving notable chalk on home ice. It will be important to look at Washington's goaltending situation after Vitek Vanecek left Saturday's contest with an undisclosed injury. Here are picks and pans for each position for the featured contests at Yahoo.
All statistics from Natural Stat Trick and Hockey Reference.
GOALIE
Philipp Grubauer, COL vs. STL ($28): The Colorado starter finished the season with a 5-1 record, .935 save percentage and 1.68 GAA to post a 30-9-1, .922 and 1.95 line for the campaign. It's surprising to see his salary so low considering his year-long dominance, and especially with Colorado such a significant favorite. The only knock is Grubauer will likely be extremely popular.
GOALIE TO AVOID
Juuse Saros, NSH at CAR ($37): It was an amazing stretch run for Saros, as the 26-year-old netminder won 16 of his final 23 appearances of the campaign with an elite .941 save percentage and 1.90 GAA. However, statistical correction looms, and Carolina went 20-3-5 on home ice during the regular season. Saros is also tied for the highest salary at the position.
CENTER
Nathan MacKinnon, COL vs. STL ($34): This salary probably isn't prohibitive enough to look past MacKinnon on Monday. St. Louis allowed more goals per game during the regular season than any other playoff team, and MacKinnon has 20 goals and 34 assists through 40 career postseason contests.
CENTER TO AVOID
Patrice Bergeron, BOS at WAS ($30): The perennial Selke Trophy candidate didn't register a shot in Game 1 against Washington and spent the majority of his five-on-five ice time matched up against Washington's No. 1 defense pairing of John Carlson ($22) and Dmitry Orlov ($17). Bergeron is going to make an impact in this series, but he's also the second most expensive center in the player pool, so he also carries extra risk.
WING
Anthony Mantha, WAS vs. BOS ($18): Skating on the No. 1 line with Nicklas Backstrom ($) and Alex Ovechkin ($), Mantha is a strong option Monday. The trio attempted 17 shots at five-on-five in Game 1, and Mantha picked up an assist. He's also now gone 11 games without a goal dating back to the regular season, so puck luck turning in his favor shouldn't surprise, either.
Tom Wilson, WAS vs, BOS ($14): The imposing winger recorded two points and four shots during Saturday's win, and with a manageable salary, Wilson is worth a look again Monday. He's also skating on a sneaky line with T.J. Oshie ($23) and Daniel Sprong ($15) and shouldn't see much ice time opposite Boston's top players.
WINGS TO AVOID
Filip Forsberg, NSH at CAR ($21): This is a tough matchup for Forsberg with Carolina allowing the fifth fewest goals per game in the league during the regular season. He also recorded just a single goal and two assists through six games against the Hurricanes this year. Forsberg only found the scoresheet in two of the final five games of the regular season after returning from an upper-body injury, too.
Craig Smith, BOS at WAS ($19): The veteran is positioned favorably in a top-six role skating alongside David Krejci ($21) and Taylor Hall ($20). However, Smith's salary is probably a little steep considering he's only found the scoresheet three times through the past 15 games. He also registered just a single shot and finished Game 1 with a minus-2 rating.
DEFENSE
Dougie Hamilton, CAR vs. NSH ($27): While the power-play quarterback missed the scoresheet in six of the final eight regular season contests, Hamilton still finished the season ranked seventh in points and second in shot attempts per 60 minutes among regular blueliners. His hefty salary could help keep his popularity in check, too. It's also worth highlighting that Hamilton's posted a plus-50 rating over the past two seasons to add to his already high fantasy floor.
Samuel Girard, COL vs. STL ($13): The 23-year-old defenseman quietly finished 15th in points per 60 minutes among regular defensemen, so his salary should probably be viewed as a bargain. Girard receives power-play time with the No. 2 unit, and he also begins 61.2 percent of his five-on-five shifts in the offensive zone.
DEFENSE TO AVOID
Roman Josi, NSH at CAR ($22): As noted, this isn't an ideal matchup for Josi or the Predators, and the Nashville captain was held to just a single goal and minus-3 rating through five regular-season games against Carolina. Josi also projects to spend most of his time matched up against Carolina's top line centered by Sebastian Aho ($29), and the Finish center drove possession with a 56.5 Corsi For percentage this year.
Torey Krug, STL at COL ($18): Colorado allowed the third fewest goals per game this season and ranked eighth in penalty-kill percentage, so this isn't a favorable matchup for Krug. Additionally, he never fully acclimatized in St. Louis and had his worst points per 60 minutes mark of the past five years.
