This article is part of our Yahoo DFS Hockey series.
There are five games in the NHL on Monday, and Toronto is the largest favorite on the docket followed by Florida and Edmonton. Columbus is the lone team playing in the second leg of a back-to-back set, whereas Florida, Vancouver and Ottawa all play Tuesday, too. Additionally, the Maple Leafs and Devils have a home-and-home series Monday and Tuesday. Here's a peek at the fantasy landscape ahead of the action.
All statistics from Natural Stat Trick and Hockey Reference.
GOALIE
Mikko Koskinen, EDM at OTT ($23): The Finn has won three straight with a .933 save percentage and 2.22 GAA, and Ottawa has only scored three goals through two games since leading scorer Drake Batherson ($19) hit injured reserve with an ankle injury. Top center Josh Norris ($18) is also out indefinitely with a shoulder injury. This salary is a deal sealer, too.
GOALIE TO AVOID
Alex Nedeljkovic, DET vs. ANH ($32): With an .841 save percentage and 5.12 GAA through his past four appearances, Nedeljkovic's current form isn't reflected in his salary. Anaheim has also won four of its past five with 20 total goals, so it could prove to be a tough matchup.
CENTER
Auston Matthews, TOR vs. NJ ($34): The Devils have surrendered the third most goals per 60 minutes since the holiday break, and Matthews is eyeing statistical correction in the goals column. He hasn't found the back of the net in four straight despite registering 31 shot attempts and 19 scoring chances.
CENTER TO AVOID
Tim Stutzle, OTT vs. EDM ($18): There will be times when Stutzle's promotion up the lineup will be a fantasy boon, but Monday might not be the right spot to target him. The Oilers have won four straight, and Stutzle poses a significant plus-minus risk given his current minus-16 mark for the campaign.
WING
Jonathan Huberdeau, FLA at CLS ($31): Not only are the Blue Jackets playing for the second consecutive night, they've also allowed the second most goals per 60 minutes in the league since the holiday break. Huberdeau, meanwhile, has racked up 29 points – seven goals – through 16 games during the same timeframe. This salary probably isn't prohibitive enough, as a result.
Kailer Yamamoto, EDM at OTT ($11): An upside source of cap relief, Yamamoto is skating on the No. 1 line with Connor McDavid ($38) and Evander Kane ($26). So, with Ottawa allowing a healthy 3.39 goals per game, this is a good spot to target Yamamoto. He's also recorded a respectable two assists, 11 shots, 14 scoring chances and eight individual high-danger scoring chances during Edmonton's noted four-game winning streak.
WINGS TO AVOID
Ryan Nugent-Hopkins, EDM at OTT ($20): The Oilers have moved Nugent-Hopkins down the lineup to center the third line, so he's not skating with Connor McDavid ($37) or Leon Draisaitl ($35) at five-on-five consistently. It's not a fantasy crippler entirely, but it does cut into some of his upside.
Brock Boeser, VAN at CHI ($19): It's been a cold stretch out of the holiday break for Boeser, as the winger has missed the scoresheet in seven of 10 games and only registered double-digit fantasy points twice. In a deep winger pool, it could be wise to target a scorer in better form. Albeit, this is a soft matchup with Chicago allowing 22 goals through its past five games.
DEFENSE
Morgan Rielly, TOR vs. NJ ($21): This is a manageable salary considering the noted soft matchup, and Rielly's high-end numbers. After all, he's recorded 22 points, 43 shots and 21 blocks through 17 games dating back to Dec. 1.
Evan Bouchard, EDM at OTT ($19): Until Bouchard's salary catches up to his elevated role and current form, he's an option whenever Edmonton hits the ice, and especially when facing a soft opponent. Bouchard has four points, 11 shots and six blocks while averaging 24:28 of ice time (3:13 with the man advantage) through the past four games.
DEFENSE TO AVOID
Damon Severson, NJ at TOR ($18): The power-play quarterback was held off the scoresheet last time out and recorded just 3.8 fantasy points against Edmonton. Severson lands in another tough matchup Monday, as Toronto ranks fourth in expected goals against per 60 minutes since the holiday break and sixth in penalty-kill percentage for the campaign.
Zach Werenski, CLS vs. FLA ($17): This is a daunting matchup, and Werenski is also a plus-minus risk with Florida scoring the most goals per 60 minutes in the league out of the holiday break. He's also failed to reach double-digit fantasy points in 14 of the past 16 games.
