This article is part of our Yahoo DFS Hockey series.
Tuesday's NHL slate features no shortage of action, with 11 games on tap after 7:00 PM Eastern time. Read on to see which players stand out from the pack as options to target at their respective valuations and which ones should be avoided.
GOALIE
Matt Murray, PIT vs. FLA ($31): Murray's riding a seven-game winning streak, during which he's allowed just nine goals while recording a pair of shutouts. The red-hot netminder's unlikely to slow down in this home matchup against a Panthers team with a minus-12 goal differential this season.
GOALIE TO AVOID
Petr Mrazek, CAR at NYI ($30): Mrazek has been bailed out by his offense recently, but he's allowed at least three goals in four of his past five appearances. That support is likely to dry up against an Islanders team that's permitting the second-fewest goals per game in the league (2.60), so Mrazek will be hard-pressed to pull out a win here.
CENTER
Paul Stastny, VGK vs. NYR ($18): Stastny's been a two-way stud recently, posting a positive rating in each of the past six games while totaling three goals, seven points and a plus-10 rating over that span. Staying hot shouldn't be a problem against a Rangers team that's stuck in a tailspin, having lost its past three goals by a combined 18-3 margin.
CENTER TO AVOID
Evgeni Malkin, PIT vs. FLA ($30): Malkin isn't playing like a $30 player, with just three multi-point games in the past 23 and a minus-13 rating this season. Even with a favorable matchup here, you can do much better in this price range considering Malkin's average of 7.5 fantasy points per game is the lowest among all centers that cost at least $24.
WINGS
Alex Ovechkin, WAS vs. PHI ($34): This is a good time to pay up for Ovechkin, even though the league's leading goalscorer with 30 is actually mired in a rut, with just one of his 35 shots in the past nine games finding the back of the net. Expect Ovie's shooting luck to turn around against a Flyers team that's among the three worst defensively and four worst on the penalty kill, in addition to being on the second leg of a back-to-back.
Gustav Nyquist, DET vs. MON ($17): Nyquist continues to produce, as points in five of his past six games have him up to 36 points through 44 contests. He gets a nice opportunity to keep rolling at home against a Canadiens club that likely won't go with star goalie Carey Price in the second leg of a back-to-back after deploying him Monday.
WINGS TO AVOID
Can Atkinson, CLS at TB ($28): Atkinson's slowing down, having been held off the scoresheet in three of his past four games. Revving the engines back up won't be easy against a Lightning team that's outscoring opponents 4.12 to 2.95 on average.
Kyle Connor, WPG vs. COL ($20): Connor finally lit the lamp again Sunday, but that goal represents his only point in the past 11 games. The young winger will need to produce more consistently before he can be trusted at $20.
DEFENSEMEN
John Klingberg, DAL at STL ($22): Klingberg has rounded into form after returning from injury, recording between 6.6 and 16.7 fantasy points in each of his past five games while totaling four assists and 16 shots over that stretch. His ability to fill up the stat sheet and get on the scoresheet give Klingberg both a high floor and a high ceiling against an underachieving Blues team that's playing its second game in as many nights.
Rasmus Dahlin, BUF vs. NJ ($12): This could be a nice buy-low opportunity on Dahlin, who's slumped of late but could see his scoring jumpstarted by a move to the top power-play unit. Facing a Devils team that's getting outscored 3.29 to 2.95 on average should also help get the rookie first overall pick back on track.
DEFENSEMEN TO AVOID
Kevin Shattenkirk, NYR at VGK ($18): Many Rangers have struggled recently, but Shattenkirk's underwhelmed all season long. His average of 4.3 fantasy points per game is fourth-worst among defensemen that cost $15 or more, and Shattenkirk's trending even lower with fewer than zero fantasy points in each of the first two games of the Rangers' West Coast trip.
Shayne Gostisbehere, PHI at WAS ($19): Gostisbehere's minus-20 rating is tied for worst in the league, and it's likely to drop even further against the defending champs. He's made up for poor defensive play with offensive production in years past, but the man nicknamed Ghost has been exactly that on offense with just six points in his past 22 appearances.
