This article is part of our Yahoo DFS Hockey series.
Tuesday's NHL slate is an extensive one, with 10 games on tap beginning at 7:00 PM Eastern time. There are plenty of strategies on the table with so many games going on, but certain players present strong value regardless of lineup-building strategy, while others should be avoided. Read on to see which players fall in which category…
GOALIE
Connor Hellebuyck, WPG vs. CHI ($32): Hellebuyck was one of the league's best goalies during last season's breakout campaign, and he's starting to flash that same form with four wins in his past five starts and just one goal allowed in each of the past three. Even if Hellebuyck stumbles here, a Jets offense that's scoring 3.45 goals per game is likely to bail him out against a Blackhawks team that's getting outscored 3.68 to 2.71 on average. You likely won't be able to get him at $32 for much longer given Hellebuyck's recent form, so grab him at that price in this favorable home matchup.
GOALIE TO AVOID
Sergei Bobrovsky, CLS vs. VAN ($35): After getting pulled in Saturday's loss to the Capitals, Bobrovsky has now dropped three of his past four decisions while surrendering 17 goals over that span. Getting back on track won't be easy against a Canucks team that features Calder Trophy favorite Elias Pettersson and has beaten the Predators and Blues by a combined 11-4 margin over the past two games.
CENTER
Ryan Johansen, NSH vs. OTT ($19): The injury-riddled Predators are at far from full strength, but they should still find a way to pot a few goals against a Senators team that's surrendering a league-high 3.94 goals per game. Johansen continues to hold down the fort offensively with a spot on the top line and No. 1 power-play unit, and his four points in the past four games show that he still has enough support to capitalize on this vulnerable opponent.
CENTER TO AVOID
Carl Soderberg, COL vs. EDM ($17): Soderberg's on a career-best offensive pace at age 33, with 21 points through 30 games after scoring a combined 51 points in 157 appearances over the previous two campaigns. He's likely to decline precipitously as his 16.4 shooting percentage regresses to Soderberg's 9.1 percent career mark, and that decline could well begin against an Oilers team that's won six of its past seven games while allowing only 11 goals over that dominant stretch.
WINGS
Jakub Vrana, WAS vs. DET ($17): Vrana's made the most of his extra opportunities with the Capitals battling injuries up front, recording three goals and an assist during his active three-game point streak. The 2014 first-rounder will have a nice opportunity to keep rolling against a Red Wings club that's getting outscored 3.23 to 2.87 on average this season.
Sam Reinhart, BUF vs. LA ($18): Reinhart's active six-game point streak consists of five goals and nine points, and he's recorded seven multi-point efforts in his past 17 games. With 25 points through 30 games, the second overall selection in the 2014 draft is on pace to increase his point total for the fifth consecutive season since cracking the NHL. With that information in mind, Reinhart's a terrific value at $18 against a poor Kings team that's playing its second game in as many nights.
WINGS TO AVOID
Patrick Kane, CHI at WPG ($30): Kane's coming off a two-goal game, but he had just two goals over his previous 18. Meanwhile, the offensively gifted Jets are primed to exploit his ugly minus-8 rating.
David Pastrnak, BOS vs. ARI ($31): Pastrnak has relied on the power play for a major chunk of his production this season -- nine of his 20 goals and 16 of 35 points have come with the extra man. Arizona's league-best, 90.2 percent penalty kill is likely to stifle Pastrnak in such situations, and paying $31 for his even strength exploits alone is likely to end up a losing proposition.
DEFENSEMEN
Jared Spurgeon, MIN vs. MON ($17): Spurgeon's capable of stuffing the stat sheet while also marking the scoresheet consistently, and that well-rounded skill set has been on display of late. Over the past seven games, the diminutive blueliner has five assists, two power-play points, 21 shots and 13 blocks. He has just three goals thus far after averaging 10 per season over the previous three, but a date with underwhelming Canadiens netminder Carey Price (2.92 GAA, .902 save percentage) could be just what Spurgeon needs to start making improvements in that category as well.
Aaron Ekblad, FLA at STL ($17): After failing to score a goal and dishing only two helpers in his first 14 games this season, Ekblad's picked up the pace dramatically with seven goals and four assists in the past 14 games. His price should climb considerably if that recent production persists, but in the meantime, the only man picked ahead of Reinhart in 2014 is primed to outperform his current valuation against a Blues team that's been outscored 40-22 en route to a 3-7-1 record over its past 11 games.
DEFENSEMEN TO AVOID
Alex Goligoski, ARI at BOS ($16): There's almost no upside to using Goligoski here, as he has just 10 points, 28 shots and a minus-3 rating through 23 games. His chances of marking the scoresheet against a Bruins team that's allowing just 2.53 goals per game are slim.
Drew Doughty, LA at BUF ($19): Doughty continues to disappoint, averaging only 4.6 fantasy points over the past eight games while still sitting on just two goals for the season. Playing the second leg of a road back-to-back against a Sabres team that's not the pushover of years past creates an unlikely scenario for turning things around.
