This article is part of our Yahoo DFS Hockey series.
GOALIE
Jonathan Quick, LA vs. CLS ($25): Quick remains extremely affordable at $25 despite a recent uptick in form. He's allowed just 11 goals over his past six starts while posting a .942 save percentage over that span. Another strong effort should be expected at home against a Blue Jackets team that's scoring just 2.57 goals per game -- fourth-fewest in the league.
GOALIE TO AVOID
Cam Ward, CAR at PHI ($31): Ward has allowed 11 goals over his three-game losing streak, and getting back in the win column is going to be a major challenge against the soaring Flyers. Philadelphia's 10-0-1 with 37 goals scored in its last 11 games.
CENTER
Eric Staal, MIN at ARI ($21): Staal's name has appeared in this column a lot recently and for good reason. The decorated veteran has lit the lamp 11 times in the past 13 games while also dishing out seven helpers over that span, and if you shorten the scope to just the past three games, Staal has a whopping six goals and 10 points. While Coyotes netminder Antti Raanta has been on fire himself, Staal's floor and ceiling are both too high to pass up against a Coyotes club that's still getting outscored 3.23 to 2.37 in the average game.
CENTER TO AVOID
Sidney Crosby, PIT at BOS ($30): While name recognition keeps Crosby's price astronomical, he hasn't exactly lived up to a $30 valuation this season. His average of 8.8 fantasy points is the lowest in this slate among centers that cost at least $24, and improving that number won't be easy against a Bruins club that's outscoring opponents 3.21 to 2.48 on average this season and got noticeably better at the trade deadline.
WINGS
Filip Forsberg, NSH at EDM ($27): This is the ideal matchup in which to pay up for Forsberg. He's been dynamite with the extra man, as he leads Nashville with 10 power-play goals and is only two power-play points behind P.K. Subban's team-leading total of 20 despite suiting up for 14 fewer games. No team has been more susceptible to power-play production than the Oilers, who rank dead last in penalty killing at just 73.2 percent.
Kyle Palmieri, NJ at FLA ($19): Palmieri's been on fire over the past three games, totaling three goals, an assist and 20 shots on net. While owners will be tempted to play with their new toys and put in some of New Jersey's trade deadline acquisitions, paying a few extra dollars for an established presence on the first line and top power-play unit should be worth it, especially with Palmieri benefitting from the open ice created by the attention linemate Taylor Hall and his 22-game point streak are earning from defenses. Florida gives up the sixth-most goals per game (3.20), so the matchup is favorable here for Palmieri.
WINGS TO AVOID
Michael Cammalleri, EDM vs. NSH ($17): Cammalleri is clearly overpriced at $17, as the 35-year-old veteran's average of 4.3 fantasy points per game is tied for lowest among wingers that cost at least $16. Don't expect that average to rise against a Predators team that's allowing a mere 2.50 goals per game -- third-fewest in the league.
Jamie Benn, DAL vs. TB ($26): Benn's mired in a 10-game goal drought, and now has fewer goals and points than teammate Alexander Radulov, who plays the same position and costs $4 less. Even with the Lightning playing for the second time in as many nights, neither of those Dallas wingers are particularly appealing considering Tampa Bay allows the sixth-fewest goals per game and presents a serious rating risk with the NHL's best offense.
DEFENSEMEN
Sami Vatanen, NJ at FLA ($16): Vatanen is finally flashing the offensive upside that's already netted him a pair of 37-point campaigns with the Ducks, as the early-season trade acquisition finally looks comfortable jumping up into the play in New Jersey. That increased aggressiveness coupled with a move to the top power-play unit have helped Vatanen accrue eight points in his past nine games. Given Florida's aforementioned defensive struggles and 79.0 percent penalty kill (10th-worst in the league), Vatanen's primed to continue his recent hot streak.
Alec Martinez, LA vs. CLS ($18): Martinez's floor is high against Columbus' sputtering offense, but his heavy reliance on the power play also gives him a high ceiling in this matchup. The Blue Jackets own the league's fifth-worst penalty kill at 76.5 percent, which is music to Martinez's ears considering 11 of his 19 points have come with the man advantage.
DEFENSEMEN TO AVOID
Zdeno Chara, BOS vs. PIT ($18): Chara's average of 5.6 fantasy points per game is second-lowest among blueliners that cost at least $18, and his role as the defensive stopper makes the hulking defenseman a poor choice in this matchup. Last change at home should allow Boston to consistently trot Chara out against the top-heavy Penguins' most dangerous scorers, but that strategy is much more beneficial to the Bruins' chances of winning than it is for Chara's fantasy value.
Justin Braun, SJ vs. CHI ($18): The only expensive defenseman averaging fewer fantasy points than Chara is Braun, who is contributing just 5.3 per game and still doesn't have a five-goal campaign to his name in eight NHL seasons. If you're looking for a Sharks blueliner in this price range, it makes sense to pay the extra $1 to grab Marc-Edouard Vlasic, who is outproducing Braun in every single category scored in this format.
