This article is part of our Yahoo DFS Hockey series.
There is only one game Monday, Tampa Bay at Detroit, which means Monday's slate includes Tuesday's games. Well, most of Tuesday's games. Since the Lightning also play Tuesday, that matchup is not included for Monday's daily fantasy purposes. Sorry if you wanted to stock up on Devils. Here are some players to target, and to avoid, from these 11 contests.
GOALIE
Craig Anderson, OTT vs. VAN ($29): Anderson is off to a stellar start to the season, posting a 1.65 GAA and a .937 save percentage. It's early, but he did have a .926 save percentage last year, so it's not like this is a total fluke. Vancouver's offense has really struggled so far, to nobody's surprise. Last season, the Canucks scored the second fewest goals per game at 2.17. Throw in a trip across country for a road game and things look good for Anderson.
GOALIE TO AVOID
Matt Murray, PIT at NYR ($38): Murray has struggled to start the year, as he currently sports a 3.29 GAA and a .899 save percentage. He hasn't been helped by his defense, as the Penguins have given up 34.3 shots on net per contest. That follows last season's 32.6 shots on goal per game average. Murray is the third most expensive goalie, plus he's on the road, and with so many other options you can grab somebody less risky.
CENTER
Ryan Johansen, NAS vs. COL ($19): Johansen doesn't have a goal yet, but he does have four assists, including two on the power play. He's also still centering Nashville's top line, which means he gets the dynamic duo of Filip Forsberg and Viktor Arvidsson as his linemates. The Avalanche gave up a league-high 3.37 goals per game last year, so it would not be surprising to see Johansen light the lamp in this one.
CENTER TO AVOID
Joe Pavelski, SAN vs. MON ($25): While it is certainly early, Pavelski has only averaged 3.2 fantasy points per game thus far. This isn't so much about that, though, as it is about the competition. Carey Price is off to a slow start as well, but last year he had a .923 save percentage, and that was his lowest in four years. Price is one of the league's best goalies, if not the best, and slow start or not that should discourage you from selecting Pavelski.
WING
Artemi Panarin, CLM at WPG ($25): Panarin's role with Columbus is quite similar to his role with Chicago, as he's started 58.0 percent of his shifts in the offensive zone. He's also played a career-high 20:24 per game thus far, and he's tallied seven points in five games. The Jets allowed 3.11 goals per tilt last season, and this year that number is up to 3.60.
Jakub Voracek, PHI vs. FLA ($20): Voracek's shooting percentage has been down the last couple of years, and so far he has zero goals this season. That doesn't really matter though, because he has nine assists through five games, and five of those have come with the extra man. Voracek has had at least 23 power-play points in his last four seasons, so you know he can get it done on that front. Florida has allowed 3.75 goals per contest this year, in part because their goalies have a collective .882 save percentage.
WINGS TO AVOID
Patrik Laine, WPG vs. CLM ($29): Laine was impressive as a rookie, but it remains to be seen if his 17.6 shooting percentage is sustainable. However, this is less about doubting Laine and more about the matchup. Sergei Bobrovsky won the Vezina last season with a 2.06 GAA and a .931 save percentage. This year he has a 1.48 GAA and a .952 save percentage. It's hard to get excited about anybody going up against Bob.
James van Riemsdyk, TOR at WAS ($24): The Capitals haven't been locking it down defensively this year, but last season they allowed 27.8 shots on net per game and a league low 2.16 goals per contest. It doesn't make sense to give up on Braden Holtby. Washington also had the seventh-ranked penalty kill last year, and van Riemsdyk does a lot of his damage on the power play.
DEFENSE
John Klingberg, DAL vs. ARI ($19): The Coyotes allowed 3.15 goals and 34.1 shots on net per game last season. They have not tamped down on that front this year, as they have averaged a league-high 4.40 goals allowed per game to go with 34.6 shots on net per tilt. Klingberg has four power-play points in five games, and on top of everything else Arizona had the 27th-ranked penalty kill last year.
Seth Jones, CLM at WPG ($18): Jones isn't quite Zach Werenski offensively, but don't knock him because of that. He has four points and 13 shots on goal in five games, and he's played 24:06 a night. The 22-year-old still has room to grow, and he's coming off a season where he set career highs in goals, assists, points, shots on net, and even blocked shots. As previously noted, Winnipeg's defensive woes from last year have bled into the new season.
DEFENSEMEN TO AVOID
Shea Weber, MON at SAN ($24): Weber only has one point, an assist, this season, and now he has to face a Sharks team on the road that was stingy last year. San Jose only allowed 2.44 goals and a mere 27.7 shots on net per tilt. Montreal's offense has only averaged 1.40 goals per game this year, so it'd be nice to see them pick it up before investing your fantasy dollar in the Habs.
Erik Johnson, COL at NAS ($18): Johnson has never been a huge scorer, and this year he is currently pointless. Pekka Rinne has been a little slow out of the gate, but his last two starts have been much better than his first two, and nobody has forgotten what he did in the playoffs last season. Colorado's offense has been terrible the last couple of seasons, and it seems unlikely Johnson will rise above that in this matchup.
