This article is part of our Yahoo DFS Hockey series.
Tuesday's NHL slate begins at 7:00 PM Eastern time and features seven games. Read on to see which players stand out as the top value plays in this medium-sized slate and which ones are best avoided at their respective prices.
GOALIE
Jacob Markstrom, VAN vs. ANH ($32): Markstrom couldn't ask for a better matchup, as his team will play host to a Ducks team that's averaging a league-low 2.30 goals per game. With a respectable 2.74 GAA and .913 save percentage, the Swedish netminder is capable of capitalizing on such favorable conditions without burning a huge hole in owners' wallets.
GOALIE TO AVOID
Darcy Kuemper, ARI vs. CHI ($37): It's hard to justify paying $37 for Kuemper against a Blackhawks team that plays a lot of high-scoring games, averaging 3.28 goals per game (eighth-most in the league). Kuemper's also fallen into a rut following his hot streak, failing to notch a victory in his past five starts.
CENTER
Connor McDavid, EDM vs. LA ($34): McDavid's worth paying up for against an atrocious Kings team. In the midst of a third consecutive campaign north of 100 points, he could easily end up being the highest-scoring skater in this slate considering Los Angeles has by far the worst record in the Western Conference and will be playing the second leg of a road back-to-back.
CENTER TO AVOID
Sebastian Aho, CAR at WAS ($28): Aho has gone cold recently, posting three assists without a goal over his past seven games. Getting back on track won't be easy against the Metropolitan Division-leading Capitals.
WINGS
Alex Galchenyuk, ARI vs. CHI ($15): Galchenyuk does most of his damage on the power play. His eight goals and 20 points with the extra man both lead the Coyotes, and Galchenyuk gets an ideal opportunity to add to his power-play accolades against a Blackhawks team that sports the league's worst penalty kill at 73.3 percent.
Artemi Panarin, CLS vs. NYI ($23): Panarin can rarely be had for as little as $23, as he's in the midst of a fourth consecutive season with 25-plus goals and 74-plus points to begin his career. The talented Russian is slowly heating back up after a slump with four assists in his last six games, making Panarin an intriguing against-the-grain option here. While the Islanders are as stingy as they come defensively, they've shown some cracks in the armor with four or more goals allowed in five of their last 12 games.
WINGS TO AVOID
Alex DeBrincat, CHI at ARI ($26): DeBrincat has a minus-2 rating over his current four-game point drought, and don't count on him ending his slump against a stingy Coyotes club. Arizona has held seven of its past 10 opponents to two goals or fewer in regulation, and has a top-two penalty kill at 85.5 percent.
Kyle Okposo, BUF at OTT ($18): While stacking Sabres is a good strategy against the defensively challenged Senators, Okposo shouldn't be part of the equation. His paltry average of 3.6 fantasy points per game is the worst mark among wingers that cost at least $15, and things aren't getting any better considering he enters play mired in an eight-game point drought.
DEFENSEMEN
Rasmus Dahlin, BUF at OTT ($16): Dahlin has heated up again late in his rookie campaign, bringing a four-game point streak into this one. The first overall selection in the 2018 draft should continue to put his offensive skills on display against a Senators team that's surrendering a league-high 3.69 goals per game.
Shea Weber, MON vs. FLA ($24): Weber doesn't come cheap at $24, but his all-around ability should allow the veteran blueliner to outperform that lofty valuation against a Panthers team that's playing its second game in as many nights and has allowed seven goals to each of its last two opponents. He's leading Montreal's charge to the playoffs, having compiled two goals, an assist, 18 shots, 10 blocks and a plus-4 rating in the past four games alone.
DEFENSEMEN TO AVOID
Tyler Lewington, WAS vs. CAR ($18): Lewington averages a robust 9.8 fantasy points per game, but that average comes from a tiny, two-game sample. There's a good chance he doesn't even dress for this one, and even if he does, the blueliner is likely to be deployed in a limited role, making it difficult to live up to his $18 valuation.
Keith Yandle, FLA at MON ($19): Yandle has been much worse on the road than at home, with 26 points and a minus-20 rating on the road compared to 32 points and a plus-4 mark on home ice. Throw in Florida's recent struggles, and it becomes even harder to trust Yandle here.
