This article is part of our Yahoo DFS Hockey series.
GOALIE
Jordan Binnington, STL at NYI ($27): The Blues have been riding the hot hand with Binnington to great success of late, and DFS owners are advised to do the same. While he ceded the crease to Jake Allen on Monday for the first leg of St. Louis' back-to-back, Binnington has quickly overtaken Allen as the team's top option in net by allowing a total of two goals in winning each of his first three NHL starts. Still available for just $27, Binnington should get serious consideration regardless of opponent until he shows signs of slowing down or his price climbs.
GOALIE TO AVOID
Petr Mrazek, CAR at NYR ($33): Mrazek's won three of his past four starts, but it's tough to put too much trust into a goalie who has given up at least three goals in seven of his last 10 starts. While the Rangers are in the midst of a cold spell, they're still likely to present a hefty challenge given their 11-6-5 record at Madison Square Garden.
CENTER
Mikko Koivu, MIN vs. LA ($13): Koivu can still get it done at the advanced age of 35. His average of 5.5 fantasy points per game is tied for third-highest among all centers priced at $16 or less, and Minnesota's captain is in a scoring groove with two goals and four assists in his past eight games. Koivu is still quite dangerous with the extra man -- 12 of his 27 points have come on the power play -- so he's primed to capitalize on a favorable matchup against a Kings team that finds itself at the bottom of the league standings due in large part to a penalty kill that ranks second-worst in the league at 74.3 percent.
CENTER TO AVOID
Evgeny Kuznetsov, WAS at NSH ($26): Kuznetsov has just one goal in his past 19 games, and he's had trouble living up to his $26 valuation recently with 7.0 or more fantasy points in just three of his past 13 appearances. Expect his recent struggles to continue against a Nashville team that's holding opponents to a league-low 2.57 goals per game.
WINGS
Artemi Panarin, CLS vs. NJ ($24): Panarin has only been held off the scoresheet once in his past 11 games, racking up eight goals, eight assists and a plus-10 rating over that span. A Devils team that's only a few points clear of the league cellar in the standings is unlikely to cool down Columbus' red-hot star, especially with New Jersey playing its second game in as many nights.
Jake Guentzel, PIT at SJ ($23): Guentzel's been terrific of late, with seven goals and three helpers during his active six-game point streak. While both teams have been red hot of late, this could easily turn into a high-scoring affair considering Sharks netminder Martin Jones is barely keeping his save percentage above .900 at .903. Those who aren't afraid to pick against San Jose are primed to reap the benefits should the top-line winger and member of the first power-play unit continue his scoring binge.
WINGS TO AVOID
Patrik Laine, WPG vs. VGK ($26): Laine lit the lamp Sunday, but that was just his second goal in the past 13 games. He hasn't been doing much to make up for the lack of scoring, averaging only 3.4 fantasy points over these last 13 contests. Stretching his goal streak to two games won't be easy against Golden Knights netminder Marc-Andre Fleury, who has lowered his GAA to 2.49 by allowing just 12 goals over his past seven starts, winning six.
Kevin Fiala, NSH vs. WAS ($18): While Fiala's started to make a greater impact on the scoresheet recently, he still hasn't earned the trust of coach Peter Laviolette. The 22-year-old winger has eclipsed his season ice time average of 15:28 just once in the past six games while being held under 12:30twice in that span. Between Fiala's lack of playing time and his minus-8 rating this season, his floor is very low for an $18 player, especially with the defending champs coming to town.
DEFENSEMEN
John Klingberg, DAL vs. TB ($22): Like Guentzel, Klingberg doesn't have the easiest matchup here but has been so productive lately that it likely won't matter. The Swedish blueliner has eight points in his past seven games, averaging 11.4 fantasy points over that span while never dipping below 6.6. He could be catching the Lightning at the right time, as Tampa Bay may be without the services of Norris Trophy winner Victor Hedman (upper body), which should open up more opportunities for Dallas offensively.
Mike Green, DET vs. ANH ($16): It took Green one game to shake off the rust from a month-long, injury-related layoff, but he was back to his old self in his second game back Saturday with an assist and 8.0 fantasy points. The veteran defenseman's still available at a discount after all that missed time -- his average of 7.0 fantasy points per game ranks third among all sub-$20 blueliners. Take advantage of this bargain against a Ducks team that owns a minus-24 goal differential this season.
DEFENSEMEN TO AVOID
Keith Yandle, FLA at MON ($20): Yandle's home/road splits continue to grow more extreme, to the point where it's tough to trust him in any away match, even against a Canadiens team that will likely roll with underwhelming backup Antti Niemi in the second leg of a back-to-back. He has 21 points and a plus-3 rating in 19 home games, compared to 15 points and an awful minus-17 mark in 25 road contests. Don't be surprised to see Yandle throw away any potential scoring gains due to poor defensive play.
Vince Dunn, STL at NYI ($18): While Dunn produced a goal and an assist Monday, he did so in just 12:36 of ice time, giving him an average of 11:28 over his past three appearances. A blueliner who sees the ice so sparingly is going to have a tough time living up to an $18 valuation, especially against a defensively sound Islanders team that's allowing the third-fewest goals per game in the league at 2.59.
