This article is part of our Yahoo DFS Hockey series.
The NFL is borrowing a page from the NHL on Monday, playing a regular-season game in a different country. However, unlike the NHL, who went to Europe, the NFL is just headed down to Mexico. While that's happening, there are only two games on the NHL slate. Here are some players to target, and to avoid, for your daily fantasy hockey lineup.
GOALIE
Braden Holtby, WAS vs. ANA ($28): Holtby's overall numbers won't wow you, as he has a 2.97 GAA and .904 save percentage. However, over his last 10 games he has a 9-0-1 record with a 2.44 GAA and .924 save percentage. The Ducks have only managed 28.6 shots on net per contest, so Holtby could be in for a fairly light night Monday.
GOALIE TO AVOID
John Gibson, ANA at WAS ($24): Stop me if you've heard this before, but Gibson is being bombarded with shots in Anaheim's net and trying to his best to keep the team afloat. The Ducks have given up 33.0 shots on net per game. Meanwhile, the Capitals have scored 3.68 goals per game, tied for second highest in the NHL, so it may be another trying outing for the American netminder.
CENTER
Nicklas Backstrom, WAS vs. ANA ($23): Backstrom has been his usual playmaking self, as he has 13 assists through 22 games. He only has four goals, but his 7.7 shooting percentage would be by far the lowest of his career if it held up. The Swede also is a power-play weapon, as he's had at least 25 points with the extra man in each of his last six season. Anaheim has a mediocre penalty kill, so there's no concern there.
CENTER TO AVOID
Anze Kopitar, LOS at ARI ($20): Despite not having much talent around him, Kopitar is off to a hot start to the season. However, there's a good chance his six-game point streak ends Monday. He'll be on the road facing the Coyotes, and Darcy Kuemper has a 1.85 GAA and .937 save percentage.
WING
Clayton Keller, ARI vs. LOS ($16): Keller has started 69.4 percent of his shifts in the offensive zone, highest on the Coyotes. He's also been getting more involved offensively recently, as he has 18 shots on net in his last five games. If he keeps shooting like that against the Kings, it should bode well for him. Los Angeles has a 3.60 GAA and an .878 save percentage.
Conor Garland, ARI vs. LOS ($16): Garland took a little while to make his NHL debut, but last year he scored 13 goals in 47 games. This year he already has nine goals and 50 shots on net through 21 contests. The Kings have the league's worst save percentage as a team, so this matchup gives Garland the potential to keep making his mark at this level.
WINGS TO AVOID
T.J. Oshie, WAS vs. ANA ($20): While I recommended avoiding Gibson, he has a .915 save percentage, so he hasn't exactly been bad. My concern was the amount of shots he faces, but Oshie has only averaged two shots on net per game this year. He does have 10 goals, but that's with a 22.7 shooting percentage that's probably too much for even him to keep up. As such, and because there's not a lot of talent on the wing in Anaheim or Los Angeles you would consider anyway, I think Oshie is a bit of a poor value.
Rickard Rakell, ANA at WAS ($18): Rakell is about the only wing on the Ducks that you can't get on the cheap, and that makes sense. He has two 30-goal seasons to his name, and he's played well this year. Of course, Holtby has been playing well also, with his 2.44 GAA and .924 save percentage over his last 10 starts. Plus, the Capitals have the sixth-ranked penalty kill.
DEFENSE
Alex Goligoski, ARI vs. LOS ($17): Goligoski has averaged 22:47 per night in ice time, including 1:42 on the power play. He happens to have the most points of any Arizona defenseman with 11. If you want a defenseman that can add some value on the other end of the ice as well, Goligoski has blocked 40 shots in 21 games.
Dmitry Orlov, WAS vs. ANA ($12): Obviously, you can just go with John Carlson and I would not disagree, but in case you want a cheaper option, there's Orlov. He's started 49.2 percent of his shifts in the offensive zone, second highest among Capitals defensemen. The Russian has also put 29 shots on net, also second on the team among Washington's defenseman, and he's tallied eight points in 22 games. Anaheim has given up 33.0 shots on net per game, and are on the road, and it won't take much for Orlov to provide a good value to you.
DEFENSE TO AVOID
Drew Doughty, LOS at ARI ($17): When you think of the Ducks and the Kings, the only defenseman who is likely to jump to mind these days is Doughty. Well, that means he's also the one defenseman who is likely to be disappoint at his price. His 10.4 shooting percentage is probably going to regress as is, and facing Kuemper with his .937 save percentages should help with that.
Cam Fowler, ANA at WAS ($15): With Hampus Lindholm on IR, Fowler is the top offensive defenseman on the Ducks. He does have nine points, but he's no longer the power-play weapon he used to be. Fowler only has two points with the extra man, and only had six all of last season. Of course, the Capitals have the sixth-ranked penalty kill, so this isn't a good matchup for that anyway.
