This article is part of our Yahoo DFS Hockey series.
Four games on the Monday slate will test your ability to find the best values. Here are some players to look out for when trying to maintain your budget.
Goalie
Scott Darling, CAR vs. CHI ($21)
After a disappointing first season as the Canes' starting goalie, many have been quick to call Darling a bust, hence his Monday basement pricing. The Virginia native missed the first 11 games of the season with a lower-body injury, and while he hasn't been spectacular since returning, he's been at the very least serviceable. Seems like a good time to grab a bargain in a home matchup against his former team, the nosediving Blackhawks.
Goalie to Avoid
Sergei Bobrovsky, CLS @ DAL ($31)
The home-away splits do not favor Bobrovsky in what very well could become a high-scoring affair. For starters, the Russian keeper has only appeared in four road games this season, but got absolutely shellacked in two of them, allowing 12 goals over the pair of games. Additionally, the Stars' offense has been excellent on home ice, averaging 3.89 goals per game at American Airlines Center. Don't count on Bob getting it together in this situation.
Center
Pierre-Luc Dubois, CLS @ DAL ($17)
Dubois is still playing at a pace under a point per game, but his aggressiveness attacking the net makes one think that he won't be held under that threshold for long. The 20-year-old pivot has five goals and three assists in the last eight contests, racking up 24 shots on goal over that pace. Dubois has found a home with the first power-play unit, and his even strength line has recorded the ninth-most goals in the league.
Center to Avoid
Jonathan Toews, CHI @ CAR ($24)
The departure of Joel Quenneville cannot be underrated in how much it could affect this Chicago squad going forward. The Blackhawks have now lost seven games in a row and Toews' ineffectiveness goes back even longer than that -- ever since starting the season on a six-game point streak, the Hawks' captain has scored just three goals with no assists and a minus-3 rating in the last 11 games.
Wings
Viktor Arvidsson, NSH @ ANH ($23)
Really either Arvidsson or linemate Filip Forsberg would make for a good pick here -- and possibly as a stack if your budget allows. The Nashville offense has been on a tear lately and Arvidsson has been a big part of that, notching eight points and 20 shots on target in the last six games. It's worth noting that the Swede is just getting back from a lower-body injury, but it did not seem to faze his effectiveness in his first game back.
Nikolay Goldobin, VAN @ NYR ($14)
While he's unlikely to blow you away with gaudy scoring numbers, Goldobin does provide a decently reliable floor to work with at a very affordable price. The 23-year-old Russian has the immense advantage of running with sensational rookie Elias Pettersson at even strength and on the power play, which has in part led to him accruing six assists, including two with the man advantage, and a plus-5 rating in the last six contests.
Wings to Avoid
Alex DeBrincat, CHI @ CAR ($24)
With so much chaos happening around the Blackhawks franchise amidst a seven-game losing streak, there is just no way I am going to get near one of their players right now, especially one with such questionable value like DeBrincat. During the current losing skid, the 20-year-old has posted just one assist and a hideous minus-8 rating, suggesting poor defensive effort. That could be an issue against a potent Carolina front.
Rickard Rakell, ANH vs. NSH ($22)
Aside from a bad five-game stretch in mid-October, Rakell has actually been very solid this season, but his Monday matchup will be a tough one and probably will not justify using this kind of money to acquire him -- the Predators are allowing just 2.19 goals per game, by far the lowest mark in the league. The winger is not enough of a scoring threat right now either, as he is on pace for his lowest-goal total in the last four seasons.
Defensemen
Roman Josi, NSH @ ANH ($21)
Josi plays defense but his recent strong offensive numbers are more indicative of someone who plays forward -- the Preds' captain shows seven points, 20 shots on goal and a plus-5 rating over a five game span. Josi is receiving loads of power-play ice time and his aggressiveness attacking the net makes him a good bet to score in any given night, as shown by his 10-shot explosion against Boston on Nov. 3.
Miro Heiskanen, DAL vs. CLS ($14)
Considering the immense opportunity in front of him Monday, grabbing Heiskanen at this price could be a great value. The Finnish rookie quarterbacks the explosive first power-play unit in the absence of John Klingberg (hand) and he has been effective of late in general, racking up three points and eight shots on goal in the last four. It's also worth noting that he has been more effective on home ice this season, racking up four points and a plus-3 rating there.
Defensemen to Avoid
Zach Werenski, CLS @ DAL ($19)
Werenski had a nice stretch of games during October but has since regressed mightily, showing just three points and a minus-five rating in the last seven contests. The fact that he hasn't been a scoring threat is underscored by the fact that he's been getting beaten in the defensive end, and that could be a big problem considering the long-awaited return of the dangerous Alexander Radulov (lower body) in Monday's game.
Kevin Shattenkirk, NYR vs. VAN ($18)
Shattenkirk has been ineffective to start the campaign, showing just five points in the first 16 games despite averaging almost three minutes of power-play ice time per game. The New York native is also currently seeing the lowest overall average ice time of his entire career. Monday's matchup may be enticing, but if you want to take advantage of that, consider Neal Pionk, who has been more effective offensively and is listed at the same price.
