This article is part of our Yahoo DFS Hockey series.
Tuesday's NHL slate is another small one, as the league slowly ramps up action coming out of the All-Star break. Three games are scheduled after 7:00 PM Eastern time, with all but one of the teams in action hailing from the Eastern Conference. Read on to see which players stand out as the top value plays in this slate and which ones should be avoided.
GOALIE
Sergei Bobrovsky, CLS vs. BUF ($34): Bobrovsky will get a nice opportunity to kick off the second half of the season on a high note after a tumultuous first half. He'll be at home against a Sabres team that came into the All-Star break in a tailspin, having posted a 3-7-1 record in its last 11 games.
GOALIE TO AVOID
Jaroslav Halak, BOS vs. WPG ($33): Living up to his $33 valuation will be a tall order for Halak against a Jets team that boasts one of the league's six most potent offenses. It doesn't help that the Bruins' backup has hit the skids recently, winning just once in his last five appearances while letting by 17 of 122 shots for an .861 save percentage over that span.
CENTER
Mika Zibanejad, NYR vs. PHI ($20): Zibanejad was on a tear heading into the All-Star break, recording five goals and two assists in his past three games. He also brings a five-game point streak into this contest and has drastic home/road splits working in his favor. Zibanejad has 11 goals, 26 points and a plus-8 rating in 24 home matches compared to six goals, 18 points and a minus-18 mark in just as many road tilts. The Rangers' leader in power-play points (16) should also capitalize on a bottom-five Flyers penalty kill, especially with Anthony Stolarz (3.90 GAA, .880 save percentage) in net for the visitors.
CENTER TO AVOID
David Krejci, BOS vs. WPG ($19): Krejci is easily the least productive center in his price range -- his average of 6.0 fantasy points is at least 1.0 lower than that of every other center in this slate that costs at least $19. Don't expect Krejci to pick up the pace, as he's already on pace for his best season since 2013-14.
WINGS
Artemi Panarin, CLS vs. BUF ($25): Panarin was on a roll heading into the break, posting double-digit fantasy points in five of his past six games. He should pick up right where he left off against the struggling Sabres, who have surrendered 23 goals in their past five games.
Filip Chytil, NYR vs. PHI ($14): Chytil has a high ceiling relative to his $14 valuation. A defensively challenged Flyers team that's playing its second game in as many nights is likely to give up plenty of opportunities, and Chytil's role on both the second line and No. 2 power-play unit puts him in position to turn those opportunities into production. The Czech teenager has been capitalizing on that prominent usage with three goals and two assists in the past six games.
WINGS TO AVOID
Kyle Okposo, BUF at CLS ($18): Okposo has had trouble living up to his $18 valuation all season, averaging just 4.0 fantasy points per game. Things haven't been getting any better lately, as Okposo has just three goals and one assist over his past 23 appearances.
Kyle Connor, WPG at BOS ($21): Connor came out of the All-Star break flat, posting just 1.8 fantasy points while getting kept off the scoresheet Monday in Philadelphia. That performance was par for the course as far as Connor's road production is concerned -- he's totaled just one goal and two assists in his past 13 away matches. Don't expect him to turn things around against a Bruins team that's dominant in its own building (more on that below).
DEFENSEMEN
Rasmus Dahlin, BUF at CLS ($18): Dahlin isn't to blame for his team's recent struggles, as he's stuffed the stat sheet over the past six games. During this recent stretch, the first overall selection in the 2018 draft is playing at a point-per-game pace while adding 19 shots, eight blocks and a plus-4 rating. Dahlin's price should continue to climb as he spreads his wings further, so lock him in at $18 while you still can.
Torey Krug, BOS vs. WPG ($21): Krug has played at a point-per-game pace at home this season (four goals, 16 assists in 20 games), easily eclipsing his road production (one goal, 11 assists in 18 games). In addition to benefiting from home cooking, the diminutive defenseman is catching the Jets at the right time, as Winnipeg's playing its second road game in as many nights. If you don't have the funds to pay up for the elite forwards in Boston's top-heavy lineup, Krug's a nice defensive alternative on a team that's 17-7-1 in its own building and just 10-10-4 on the road.
DEFENSEMEN TO AVOID
Radko Gudas, PHI at NYR ($16): Gudas has little offensive upside, as the physical blueliner has chipped in only two goals and 11 assists this season. With plenty of offensively gifted alternatives available in this price range, even in this small slate, it doesn't make much sense to turn to a guy who has never eclipsed 23 points in seven NHL seasons.
Kevin Shattenkirk, NYR vs. PHI ($18): Shattenkirk has been turning the corner recently, but he's still not worth paying $18 for at this stage. His average of 4.6 fantasy points is still the lowest among all defensemen that cost at least $16, so the bang for the buck just isn't there until Shattenkirk puts together an extended productive stretch or his price drops.
