This article is part of our Yahoo DFS Hockey series.
There are seven games in the NHL on Monday with the Avalanche, Golden Knights and Flyers the three largest favorites on the docket. It's also worth noting that Anaheim is the only team playing for the second consecutive night. The highest over/under total is in the Toronto-Edmonton bout. Here are some picks and pans for Monday's DFS action.
All statistics from Natural Stat Trick and Hockey Reference.
GOALIE
Brian Elliott, PHI at BUF ($28): The Sabres have scored the fewest five-on-five goals per 60 minutes (1.49) in the league this season and sport a 17-game losing streak. With that in mind, Elliott stands out as a cost-effective choice, and he's coming off a tidy 24-save win. If Carter Hart ($23) receives the starting nod, he's also a strong option. Just note, whoever starts for Philadelphia will likely be a popular choice in goal.
GOALIE TO AVOID
Jack Campbell, TOR vs. EDM ($38): Despite registering just 6.2 fantasy points in Saturday's 4-3 overtime win against Edmonton, Campbell's salary still went up. He's undefeated through six starts and boasts an unsustainable .945 save percentage and 1.48 GAA. Additionally, he allowed three goals to the Oilers on just 20 shots Saturday, and Edmonton only generated two high-danger scoring chances all game. If you're spending up in nets, it's probably wise to look at Philipp Grubauer ($39) in a layup matchup against Anaheim.
CENTER
Chandler Stephenson, VGK vs. LA ($16): Aside from having the third best penalty-kill percentage in the league, there's not a lot to be worried about with a matchup against the Kings, and Vegas has beat them in three of four meetings this season and totaled a healthy 14 goals. The draw for Stephenson is skating with Vegas' two best wingers, Mark Stone ($30) and Max Pacioretty ($33), and the trio has clicked for an elite 5.53 goals per 60 minutes at five-on-five while driving possession with a 55.0 Corsi For percentage. Plus, the 26-year-old center doesn't break the bank.
CENTER TO AVOID
Anze Kopitar, LA at VGK ($24): The veteran center is having a throwback season with eight tallies, 29 helpers and 21 power-play points through 32 games, and he's also picked up five points over four meetings with Vegas this year. Still, Kopitar should be in tough against the Golden Knights on Monday. Vegas has surrendered the second fewest goals per game and sport the sixth best penalty-kill percentage in the league.
WING
Joel Farabee, PHI at BUF ($16): The second-year winger has cooled off a touch with just three points through his past seven games, but his salary has also dipped as a result. With a cushy matchup against Buffalo, Farabee should be able to build on his breakout campaign. The Sabres have surrendered the third most goals per game in the league, and Farabee's 3.03 points per 60 minutes at five-on-five rank eighth among NHL regulars, after all.
Alex Galchenyuk, TOR vs. EDM ($10): It's surprising to see Galchenyuk remain at minimum salary after registering two assists during Saturday's 4-3 overtime win against Edmonton. His return to playing alongside John Tavares ($26) and William Nylander ($22) was critical for Saturday's comeback victory, too. The trio has scored a rock-solid 3.99 goals and generated 17.97 high-danger scoring chances at five-on-five per 60 minutes and drove possession with a 65.3 Corsi For percentage.
WINGS TO AVOID
Matthew Tkachuk, CGY vs. WPG ($20): The fantasy results have lagged behind Tkachuk's play for most of the season, and he's been limited to just two tallies and three assists through the past 10 games since Darryl Sutter took over as head coach. Perhaps more concerning, though, is that he's only averaging 15:52 of ice time during the stretch.
Zach Hyman, TOR vs. EDM ($20): It's hard to lock in Hyman because he's consistently sliding up and down the lineup. During Saturday's overtime win, he skated with 10 different linemates at five-on-five. Additionally, he's missed the scoresheet in six of the past 10 games. It's definitely encouraging that Hyman spent the bulk of his ice time with Auston Matthews ($35) and Mitch Marner ($34) on Saturday, but there's no guarantee that will be the case again Monday.
DEFENSE
Cale Makar, COL vs. ANH ($24): With the Ducks allowing the sixth most goals per 60 minutes at five-on-five and sporting a 25th-ranked 75.7 penalty-kill percentage, this projects as a soft matchup for Makar and the Avalanche on home ice. Makar has averaged 24:50 of ice time with 4:08 on the power play over the past three games, and he's also recorded a second-ranked 2.43 points per 60 minutes among regular defensemen over the past two years.
Rasmus Dahlin, BUF vs. PHI ($10): There's an obvious plus-minus risk with Dahlin, but he's also at minimum salary. After recording 2.11 points per 60 minutes last year, he's recorded just 1.04 in 2021, so there's potential for positive offensive regression. Additionally, Philadelphia has been a mess defensively with the second most goals against per game and a 30th-ranked 72.8 penalty-kill percentage.
DEFENSEMEN TO AVOID
Samuel Girard, COL vs. ANH ($20): While Girard has continued to produce -- five assists through six games -- since Cale Makar has returned to the lineup, Girard's no longer skating on the No. 1 power-play unit, which cuts into his upside. He's definitely still in play because of the noted soft matchup against Anaheim, but view Girard as more of a salary fit than lineup building block.
Drew Doughty, LA at VGK ($18): In the highlighted tough matchup, Doughty should be viewed as a plus-minus risk with capped upside. The veteran has also missed the scoresheet in four of the past seven games with a minus-2 rating, so his current form isn't encouraging, either.
