This article is part of our Yahoo DFS Hockey series.
It's a busy 10-game Monday, but only the eight evening games are included in the main contests at Yahoo! The Blues and Golden Knights are the largest favorites and are both on home ice, whereas Carolina, Minnesota and Montreal are all short road favorites. Look for the Winnipeg-Toronto clash to be a high-scoring affair with it's evening-high over/under total.
GOALIE
Cam Talbot, MIN at ANH ($31): The Ducks have only scored three goals through two games with a lousy 1.59 expected goals per 60 minutes. While Talbot has surrendered three goals in consecutive games (.910 save percentage), he's picked up the win in each and is positioned to have another respectable showing with Minnesota a modest road favorite. It's also worth noting the Wild allowed the fewest high-danger scoring chances per hour at five-on-five last season and ice the same solid top-four defense pairs.
GOALIE TO AVOID
Darcy Kuemper, ARI at VGK ($34): The veteran has a high-end .923 save percentage through 95 starts over four years with the Coyotes, so he owns the potential to upset Vegas and reward on this salary. It's just steep, and in a deep player pool there are likely safer options. The Golden Knights are deep, talented and have scored seven goals through two games while generating 12.9 high-danger scoring chances per 60 minutes.
CENTER
Robert Thomas, STL vs. SJ ($11): Discount chaser can look to Thomas for cap relief with upside. The 21-year-old center is skating in a top-six role and receiving power-play time with the second unit, and the Sharks have surrendered eight goals and 33 high-danger scoring chances per 60 minutes through their first two games.
CENTER TO AVOID
Logan Couture, SJ at STL ($22): On the flip side of the St. Louis-San Jose matchup, Couture projects to have difficulty producing to his salary. The Blues are coming off a 8-0 thumping, so expect a tidier defensive effort after the club surrendered the third fewest five-on-five goals in the league last season.
WINGS
Kirill Kaprizov, MIN at ANH ($19): The "Thrill" is off to an impressive start to his NHL career (four points through two games) and should continue to roll against the underwhelming Ducks. Anaheim lost consecutive games to Vegas while allowing seven goals and 26 high-danger scoring chances.
Nikolaj Ehlers, WPG at TOR ($18): The Maple Leafs have surrendered a healthy 11 goals and 39 high-danger scoring chances through three games to start the season, and Ehlers is penciled in on Winnipeg's No. 1 line alongside Mark Scheifele ($25) and Blake Wheeler ($23). Over the previous three seasons, the trio have combined for a respectable 4.15 goals per 60 minutes, too.
WINGS TO AVOID
Andrei Svechnikov, CAR at NSH ($27): The third-year star has found the scoresheet in consecutive games totalling two goals and an assist, but this is a steep salary against an admirable opponent. Nashville held Columbus to four goals and 17 high-danger scoring chances, and the Predators boast a high-end, top-four defense corps.
J.T. Miller, VAN at CGY ($23): Coming off a career-best showing in 2019-20 and fresh off the COVID-19 protocol list, Miller is a fade candidate. He will be hard pressed to duplicate last year's point-per-pace, and Calgary has also been stingy to start the season with just four goals and 14 high-danger scoring chances allowed -- including shutting out Vancouver on Saturday.
DEFENSEMEN
Neal Pionk, WPG at TOR ($18): As noted, the Maple Leafs haven't been defensively sound to start the campaign, and Pionk is locked into a top offensive role with 3:05 of power-play time in the season opener. With a manageable cap hit, the 25-year-old defenseman offers a high-floor, high-ceiling profile because of his respectable shot volume and shot blocking.
Tyson Barrie, EDM vs. MON ($14): Edmonton lost its opening game to Vancouver and then stormed back to beat the Canucks in the rematch, so look for the Oilers to avenge Saturday's disappointing 5-1 loss to the Canadiens on Monday. Barrie has collected assists in consecutive games and is averaging 5:42 of ice time with the man advantage quarterbacking the No. 1 power-play unit.
DEFENSEMEN TO AVOID
Brent Burns, SJ at STL ($24): Another expensive Shark to fade, Burns is coming off his worst offensive season since establishing himself with San Jose a decade ago, and he's now pointless through two games. With a tough matchup against St. Louis ahead, there are probably better targets in Monday's deep player pool -- especially considering his plus-minus risk after posting a dash-22 last season.
Morgan Rielly, TOR vs. WPG ($19): The range of outcomes for Rielly is wide. He could easily be Monday's top defenseman, or he could post negative fantasy points. Winnipeg has a lot of offensive firepower, and Toronto's been a mess defensively, as noted. Risk-averse managers should probably look elsewhere.
