Yahoo DFS Hockey: Monday Picks

Yahoo DFS Hockey: Monday Picks – Yahoo Sports

Monday boasts a tidy four-game slate in the National Hockey League with a single team sporting an above-.500 record for the season.

And those Rangers enter with a three-game losing streak. Still, the daily game churns on, and there are plenty of attractive value options to plug into your lineups to open cap space.

GOALIE

Jaroslav Halak, NYI vs. COL ($35) – Goal support has been the only thing holding back Halak from a dominate season in the virtual game. He owns a .921 save percentage and a 2.02 goals-against average with a pair of shutouts, but is 6-4-2. Goal support shouldn’t be an issue Monday, though, as Colorado enters allowing 4.0 goals per game over their past five outings and 3.04 for the season.

Goalie to Avoid:

Cam Ward, CAR at NYR ($29) – New York has dropped three straight in regulation, and have only lost three games through 60 minutes over their first 22 outings this season. Ward enters with a pedestrian .903 save percentage and a 3-5 road record. Also, with Carolina averaging just 1.73 goals per game away from home, the six-point win kickback is highly unlikely, especially with the Rangers eyeing a bounce-back showing and 10-3-1 at home.

CENTER

Ryan Strome, NYI vs. COL ($14) – The message was received, and Strome has a point in each outing since being recalled from his exile to the American Hockey League. At the cap hit, and in the favorable matchup, Strome is an exceptional value Monday. Strome was a heavily inked breakout candidate entering the season, and his value is at an all-time low, which is when the buying is best.

Center to Avoid:

Nathan MacKinnon, COL at NYI ($28) – No slight on MacKinnon, but given he is the highest-priced center available Monday, you can likely find similar upside at a discount. The Islanders allow just 2.38 goals per game, and they’ll own the matchup advantage in their own building. View MacKinnon as a high-upside contrarian option, albeit a costly one.

WING

Teddy Purcell, EDM at TOR ($15) – Purcell has joined Taylor Hall and Leon Draisaitl atop the lines at even strength, and Purcell has found the scoresheet in consecutive outings. The veteran proved to be a capable offensive contributor with Tampa Bay earlier in his career and is just now receiving a legitimate opportunity to be a difference-maker for the Oilers. The cap hit is attractive, and perhaps more intriguing, Toronto is rolling out Garret Sparks for his first career start.

Nick Ritchie, ANA vs. VAN ($12) – After lighting up the American Hockey League with 12 points — nine goals — through 12 games, Ritchie has now gone seven consecutive games without finding the scoresheet at the highest level. His PDO sits at 96.3 and projects for positive regression ahead. It isn’t a bad spot, either, with Vancouver losers of six of the last eight and playing a third consecutive road game.

Wing to Avoid:

Taylor Hall, EDM at TOR ($30) – Injuries have taken their toll on Edmonton, and their offensive weapons are much easier to account for given the diluted depth chart. As a result, Hall has a single assist over his last four games. With Edmonton playing its fifth consecutive road game Monday, paying up for Hall is risky, even with the favorable opposing goaltender.

DEFENSEMEN

Dion Phaneuf, TOR vs. EDM ($17) – First, entering the season, Phaneuf was a minus-22 during his tenure in Toronto, so his plus-2 mark is impressive on its own. Second, the Toronto captain enters with three helpers, nine shots and two blocked shots over his last two outings. He also draws a favorable matchup with Edmonton allowing 3.08 goals per game this season, and Phaneuf is affordable.

Cam Fowler, ANA vs. VAN ($16) – Despite posting a point-per-game mark over his last six outings (one goal and five helpers), Fowler is minus-2 with just eight shots on goal. However, he does have 10 blocked shots, so alongside his offensive output and manageable cap hit, Fowler is a nice value roll Monday.

Defenseman to Avoid:

Justin Faulk, CAR at NYR ($23) – There are enough value defensemen in the player pool to fade Faulk Monday. The Rangers allow just 1.93 goals per game at home, and Carolina has scored just 1.73 on the road. Plus, Faulk sits with eight power-play goals already this season, which is an unsustainably high total.

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