This article is part of our Yahoo DFS Hockey series.
It's not a busy Monday, as there are only two games on the NHL docket. Maybe you can look past this relatively barren slate and spend a little extra time preparing for Valentine's Day. Or, conversely, you can just play daily fantasy hockey anyway. If you opt for the latter, this list of players to target and avoid is here for you.
GOALIE
Chad Johnson, CGY vs. ARI ($30): Arizona has been bad in a lot of ways, but their 6-15-4 record on the road is a particularly striking example of their failures. Additionally, the Coyotes have scored a mere 2.25 goals per game. Johnson hasn't been great, as he has a .914 save percentage, but that should suffice for this matchup. There are only two games, after all, and Johnson's chance of picking up a win is the best of any of the four netminders in line to start Monday.
GOALIE TO AVOID
Sergei Bobrovsky, CLM vs. NYR ($33): This is a battle of two potent offenses, but the Rangers have been better, as they've scored 3.40 goals per game. On top of that, the Rangers are 8-2-0 in their last 10 games, and New York has won five in a row. Bobrovsky has had an excellent season, but over his last seven games he has a 3.22 GAA and a .892 save percentage. In a tossup matchup like this against a hot team, it's hard to justify paying for Bobrovsky, the most expensive goalie in action.
[Join a Yahoo Daily Fantasy Hockey contest now]
CENTER
Sean Monahan, CGY vs. ARI ($16): Arizona's offensive struggles were mentioned earlier, but defensively they haven't been any better. The Coyotes have allowed 3.17 GAA and a whopping 33.5 shots on net per game, and their penalty kill ranks 26th. Monahan has an offensive zone starting percentage of 41.25, and he's averaged 3:12 a game on the power play. Over his last 13 games, he's tallied 12 points and 46 shots on net, so clearly he's been quite busy, and successful, in that end of the ice.
CENTER TO AVOID
Mika Zibanejad, NYR at CLM ($19): After scoring two goals in his return from injury, Zibanejad has zero goals in his last 10 games. He only registered 10 shots on net in those contests, so it's not like he's suffered from bad puck luck. Despite Bobrovsky's recent struggles, the Jackets have only allowed 2.44 goals per game, so in the bigger picture this isn't a favorable matchup for Zibanejad.
WING
Johnny Gaudreau, CGY vs. ARI ($22): If you think Monahan's offensive zone starting percent is significant, get a load of Gaudreau's. He's started in the offensive zone 46.21 percent of the time. His goal scoring has been curtailed recently, but he has an 8.7 shooting percentage. He's never finished with a worse shooting percentage than 13.8 for a full season, so it seems likely his puck luck will turn around. Considering the Coyotes have allowed 3.17 goals per game, this could be the time for him to break out.
Tobias Rieder, ARI at CGY ($13): Rieder has only averaged 4.5 fantasy points per game, which isn't great, but it is a notable average for a player who will only cost you $13. Beyond that, Rieder has been performing better recently, as he's tallied four goals and two assists in his last eight games. Calgary hasn't been as porous defensively as Rieder's Coyotes, but the Flames have still allowed 2.80 goals per game, and their team save percentage is a mere .901.
WINGS TO AVOID
Mats Zuccarello, NYR at CLM ($22): Zuccarello is having a good season, although he only has 11 goals in 55 games. In fact, earlier this year he had a 15-game stretch where he scored zero goals. Bobrovsky, despite his recent struggles, does have a 2.17 GAA and a .926 save percentage. Additionally, the one place Columbus has been less than stellar, their 15th-ranked penalty kill, may not be relevant for Zuccarello's production, as he only has eight power-play points.
Brandon Saad, CLM vs. NYR ($22): Henrik Lundqvist has been inconsistent this season, but over his last 10 games he has a 2.01 GAA and a .939 save percentage. Saad, for his part, has been going through some struggles of his own, as he only has five points in his last 18 games. If Lundqvist keeps playing like he has recently, you can't expect Saad to turn it around. He can't rely on getting healthy on the power play either, as he only has two points with the extra man.
DEFENSE
Dougie Hamilton, CGY vs. ARI ($19): Hamilton takes a significant number of shots for a defenseman, as he's registered 159 in 55 games. This includes 22 shots over his last six games. That sort of prolific shooting meshes well with a matchup against the Coyotes, who, of course, give up a ton of shots. Hamilton also has 11 power-play points, including four in his last 12 games.
Brady Skjei, NYR at CLM ($16): Skjei has the highest offensive zone starting percentage of any Rangers defenseman at 32.73 percentage. While he's only notched two goals all season, he's dished out 23 assists. Columbus has allowed 30.1 shots on goal per game, which isn't bad, but it is the second most of any of these four teams. Skjei is reasonably priced, and with so few teams in action, he's looking like a good value Monday.
DEFENSEMEN TO AVOID
Zach Werenski, CLM vs. NYR ($21): While it would be unfair to say that Werenski has hit a rookie wall, he's failed to register a point in his last five games. Additionally, in his last eight games he was held to one or fewer shots in six of those tilts. If you want a high-priced Columbus blueliner, and in this matchup that wouldn't be ideal, Seth Jones has been better recently, and is also $1 cheaper.
Michael Stone, ARI at CGY ($16): Stone has averaged 4.3 fantasy points per game. To find somebody averaging less, you have to get down to Ryan Murray, who will cost you only $13. Stone is still stuck in the single digits in points, and he's only managed one goal. Based on his fantasy performance so far, it's hard to justify his price here.
