This article is part of our Yahoo DFS Hockey series.
The holidays are over, and the turkey is gone. The work week begins again. However, there is a silver lining in that cloud, and it's Monday's five NHL games. With that in mind, here are some players to target, and to avoid, from Monday's docket.
GOALIE
Corey Crawford, CHI vs ANA ($35): The Ducks have struggled a bit offensively this year, scoring 2.61 goals per game and managing 29.8 shots on net per contest. Part of the problem for them is that Anaheim is missing their top two centers. Crawford has been a really good goalie for a long time, but he's been playing particularly excellent hockey this year (2.16 GAA, .935 save percentage). The Ducks have also lost three games in a row, another minor point in Crawford's favor.
GOALIE TO AVOID
Brian Elliott, PHI at PIT ($31): Speaking of teams that have been losing a lot recently, the Flyers have dropped seven games in a row. In fact, Elliott has only won one game in his last 10 outings. Pittsburgh has only scored 2.76 goals per game, but they've put 35.0 shots on net per contest. They are likely going to start scoring more, and Elliott only has a .905 save percentage.
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CENTER
Claude Giroux, PHI at PIT ($21): Don't write off Philly's offense, though. The Penguins have a team GAA of 3.40, and a team save percentage of .892. Giroux has averaged 9.0 fantasy points per game, second most of any player in action Monday. He has 25 points through 23 games, including six on the power play. Giroux has had at least 27 points with the extra man in each of his last four seasons, so we know that his power-play success should continue.
CENTER TO AVOID
Mikko Koivu, MIN at WPG ($18):Connor Hellebuyck has a 2.33 GAA and a .929 save percentage this season. He's been even better recently, posting a 2.11 GAA and a .934 save percentage in his last six games. He's made things quite difficult for his opponents. Koivu is playing fine, but he has averaged 6.7 fantasy points per game. There are similarly priced players available who have had better years. In fact, Koivu's teammate Eric Staal costs $18 as well, but has averaged 8.2 fantasy points per contest.
WING
Jonathan Huberdeau, FLA at NJD ($22): Huberdeau's scoring has slipped a bit recently, but he still has 22 points in 22 games, and he's put 67 shots on net as well. The Devils have given up 34.2 shots on goal per contest, so Huberdeau should register a few more of those in this one. He's also averaged 3:56 per game on the power play, tallying six points in the process.
Jesper Bratt, NJD vs. FLA ($13): Bratt is an interesting option on the cheaper end, because this is a tremendous matchup. The Panthers have a team GAA of 3.45, which is second worst in the NHL. They have also given up 35.9 shots on net per contest, which is also second from the bottom. They are not second worst on the penalty kill, because there they are dead last. Bratt has 14 points skating on New Jersey's top line, and he's tallied seven points with the extra man through 23 games.
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WINGS TO AVOID
Max Pacioretty, MTL vs. CLM ($25): Pacioretty hasn't quite been up to his usual standards, and he's been held without a point in his last six games. It doesn't get any easier here. Sergei Bobrovsky has a 1.91 GAA and a .936 save percentage, and it is probably not surprising to find out that the Blue Jackets rank in the top five in penalty-kill percentage.
Jason Zucker, MIN at WPG ($18): Yes, Zucker has 12 goals, but that's with a 21.4 shooting percentage. That's bound to drop, and he's been held to two shots on net or fewer in six of his last seven games. As previously mentioned, Hellebuyck has a 2.11 GAA and a .934 save percentage. If Zucker doesn't have luck on his side, it could be a long night.
DEFENSE
Duncan Keith, CHI vs. ANA ($17): Keith doesn't have a goal yet, but with 52 shots on net he's been incredibly unlucky on that front. He's still been a fine fantasy contributor, though, as he's tallied 12 assists, three on the power play. The Ducks have allowed a whopping 36.6 shots on net per game, most in the league. Keith will have his opportunities, and perhaps luck will be on his side this time.
Aaron Ekblad, FLA at NJD ($16): Ekblad isn't shooting at the same rate he did last season, but he has 56 shots on net through 22 contests. He's averaged a career high in ice time (23:46), and he's played 2:40 a night on the power play. New Jersey has a 3.00 team GAA and has given up 34.2 shots on net per tilt. Ekblad is also blocking shots at a higher rate than ever, with 36 thus far.
DEFENSEMEN TO AVOID
Tyler Myers, WPG vs. MIN ($18): Myers has averaged 5.8 fantasy points per game, which is fine, but there are several players in action who have better averages available at a cheaper price. He also owes his production to the fact that six of his 11 points have come on the power play. Myers hasn't typically been a big power-play producer, so he may not sustain this. It will be hard to do against the Wild, who rank eighth in penalty-kill percentage.
Justin Schultz, PIT vs. PHI ($17): Schultz had a surprise breakout season last year, but so far this year it seems like he may be regressing to the mean. He's averaged 5.5 fantasy points per game, with two goals on 33 shots through 19 contests. In five of his last seven games Schultz has only registered one shot on net. The Flyers have been middling defensively, but they've given up a mere 30.5 shots on net per tilt.
