This article is part of our Yahoo DFS Hockey series.
There's no shortage of options available during Tuesday's 11-game slate. While matchups and injuries both play major roles in determining daily production, a slate this large also inevitably offers a number of players that are simply underpriced compared to their usual output. Finding the right mix of these indicators is key to maximizing value.
GOALIE
Cam Ward, CAR at FLA ($24): Ward has been trending down lately, but his corresponding drop in price creates an opportunity to buy low in this favorable matchup. The veteran owns a stellar 1.26 GAA in his past four meetings with the Panthers, and that success isn't surprising considering Florida's 24th-ranked offense has managed just 2.46 goals per game this season. Ward should be able to approach the production of upper-echelon alternatives at a fraction of the cost.
Goalie to Avoid
Devan Dubnyk, MIN vs. SJ ($33): In eight appearances since beating the Sharks on Mar. 5, Dubnyk has managed just 4.9 fantasy points per game while being held to one victory. While the excellent form he has displayed for most of this campaign suggests Dubnyk will get things back on track at some point, it's best to wait for him to regain some confidence before rolling him out against one of the six other teams on the slate over the 90-point threshold.
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CENTER
Bryan Little, WPG vs. PHI ($15): Little's average of 6.8 fantasy points per contest is better than that of 37 centers priced at $15 or above, and he's showing no signs of slowing down with two goals and three assists in his past three games. That combination of season-long output and momentum would make Little a strong option against any opponent, but his value is magnified even further in this matchup with a Flyers team that has surrendered 2.94 goals per game. All signs point to another strong performance from the underpriced pivot here.
Center to Avoid
Nick Bonino, PIT at BUF ($18): While Bonino is projected to handle second line duties in the absence of Evgeni Malkin (shoulder), he's going to have a difficult time living up to his increased $18 valuation. With Scott Wilson and Chris Kunitz projected to flank him, Bonino isn't surrounded by enough skill to expect an improvement on his pedestrian season rate of 0.43 points per game.
WING
J.T. Miller, NYR at NJ ($17): Miller is another perennially undervalued player primed to take advantage of an inferior opponent. The 2011 first rounder's best campaign to date has earned him a dangerous second-line role alongside Mika Zibanejad and Rick Nash, and he should have no problem capitalizing on that role against a Devils team that has dropped 12 of its past 13 games while allowing 17 goals in the past four. Ponying up $19 for Nash is also a good idea, as the power forward's 25 shots over the past six games suggest it won't be long until he ends his nine-game goal drought.
Ondrej Palat, TB vs. ARI ($16): Palat's role continues to increase as his team looks to make a late playoff push. He has skated north of 20 minutes in 11 of his last 12 games, including a season-high 26:16 in Saturday's regulation loss to the Capitals. The winger's heavy usage on the first line and top power-play unit is likely to pay off against a Coyotes team that ranks 27th in both goals allowed per game and penalty killing at 3.17 and 77.6 percent, respectively.
Wings to Avoid
Teuvo Teravainen, CAR at FLA ($17): A third of Teravainen's 36 points have come on the power play, but he's unlikely to find success with the extra man against a Panthers team that boasts a league-best 86.3 success rate on the penalty kill. With the Finnish winger already struggling to justify his $17 valuation due to modest offensive output, this matchup makes avoiding him even more of a no-brainer.
Zach Parise, MIN vs. SJ ($21): Parise's poor play has contributed to the Wild dropping seven of their past eight games. The 32-year-old veteran has been showing his age with just four points and a minus-2 rating over that stretch, but he still costs a hefty $21. Expect him to once again fall well short of living up to that value against a Sharks team that ranks second with just 2.29 goals allowed per game.
DEFENSE
Alex Pietrangelo, STL at COL ($20): Pietrangelo has been among the top producers at his position since Kevin Shattenkirk was dealt to Washington, and there's little reason for that to change against the worst team in the NHL. Shattenkirk's absence has allowed Pietrangelo to flourish on the power play, where the St. Louis blueliner has racked up two goals and four assists in 11 games. The rest of his across-the-board contributions have featured another three helpers at even strength, suggesting the two-time 51-point scorer will be dangerous in all situations against an Avalanche squad that has allowed a league-high 3.28 goals per game.
Justin Schultz, PIT at BUF ($25): Schultz has done a terrific job on the top power-play unit with Kris Letang (upper body) unavailable, notching five of his eight points over the past nine games with the extra man. His 28 shots in that span suggest Schultz's production is sustainable, especially against a Sabres team that ranks 28th on the penalty kill and allows the most shots on goal. Malkin's absence will make some think twice about using other top-end Penguins, but the team still possesses more than enough high-skill weapons to take advantage of Buffalo's penalty killing woes.
Defensemen to Avoid
Matt Niskanen, WAS vs. CGY ($18): Niskanen has struggled over the past nine games, managing just two assists with 16 shots, 10 blocks and an even rating. Your $18 can go much further than this low-upside option facing an opponent that has won 12 of its past 13 games.
Jakob Chychrun, ARI at TB ($17): Chychrun's Coyotes are outclassed by a Tampa Bay team that will be desperate for a win to bolster its playoff hopes, which doesn't bode well for his minus-10 rating. While the 18-year-old rookie has displayed some decent offensive instincts, his 19 points are the fewest among all blueliners priced at $17 or above except Trevor van Riemsdyk. Chychrun likely has a bright future, but he's overpriced at the moment.
