This article is part of our Yahoo DFS Hockey series.
Following a successful Winter Classic game on New Year's Day, the NHL returns to regular action Tuesday with a big 12-game slate. Here are some ideas on where to find the best values.
Goalie
Ben Bishop, DAL vs. CLS ($32)
Bishop has enjoyed the comforts of his home arena and it has shown in his stat line -- the 31-year-old keeper shows an excellent .933 save percentage in Dallas to go with a solid 13 wins, which includes four in his last five starts. The Blue Jackets have struggled to score and win lately, so this mid-ranged price iteration of Bishop seems ripe for good production here.
Goalie to Avoid
Andrei Vasilevskiy, TB @ TOR ($39)
Like the team around him, Vasilevskiy has been stupendous throughout the season, but his Tuesday price in this slate is exorbitantly high, especially considering he will be making a stop in Toronto to face a hungry Maple Leafs team. The Buds' offense has looked revitalized with Auston Matthews back in the lineup following an injury and the superstar will be playing in his first home game since Dec. 6, making high scoring totals for the home team entirely likely.
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Center
William Karlsson, VGK vs. NSH ($19)
Karlsson is on a tear of goal scoring right now, as he has lit the lamp five times in the last four games, adding a plus-5 rating over that span. The Predators present a nice challenge for the Swedish pivot and his Vegas teammates, but keep in mind that they were able to crack Nashville the last time these teams met, as Karlsson found the scoresheet in an overtime win on Dec. 8.
Center to Avoid
Sidney Crosby, PIT @ PHI ($33)
Things aren't getting better for Crosby, as the league's poster boy still has just two assists and an atrocious minus-seven rating in the last six matchups. While it seemed like the sky was falling around the Flyers at points this year, they've actually held up decently defensively, averaging just 2.31 goals allowed per game in December and allowing just three to the Lightning on Friday, so don't count on Crosby breaking out of his funk here.
Wings
Kyle Connor, WPG @ COL ($17)
The Jets offense has been as good as any in the league recently, scoring 19 goals in the last six games, so getting any piece of it is a sound strategy if the price is right. Enter Connor, who runs on the first line and power-play unit alongside the likes of Patrik Laine, who makes for an attractive stack option if you can afford the duo Tuesday. Bet on Winnipeg to keep rolling.
Alexander Steen, STL vs. NJ ($16)
Steen provides some tremendous value at this lower price point Tuesday -- the veteran winger is still an integral piece of the St. Louis offensive schemes, as evidenced by his 12 assists and 13 points in home games this season. The 33-year-old shoots the puck at a nice rate as well, which includes 21 shots on goal in the last eight contests, giving him a nice floor amongst the options in this price range.
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Wings to Avoid
Taylor Hall, NJ @ STL ($27)
The Blues defensive corps has continued to show why it is one of the most difficult units to crack, as it finished the month of December allowing just 2.25 goals per game on average. That doesn't bode well for Hall, who is riding a two-game pointless streak that has seen him post a minus-2 rating. The 26-year-old's minus-3 rating on the campaign makes him a risky buy at this listing price Tuesday.
Jeff Skinner, CAR vs. WAS ($20)
Skinner is enduring something of a slump right now, having put up just one assist and a minus-three rating over the last three contests. To make matters worse, the Toronto native isn't even shooting the puck at a high clip, recording two shot on goal or fewer in seven of the last eight. Add in Skinner's pitiful minus-13 rating on the season, and you don't want to mess with him against a Washington team that is good on both ends.
Defense
John Klingberg, DAL vs. CLS ($21)
Klingberg is heavily involved in the Stars' offensive schemes stemming from the blue line, as the 25-year-old has seven points, 17 shots on goal, and a plus-2 rating in his last six contests. The Blue Jackets are usually pretty stingy when it comes to allowing goals, but they've now allowed five in each of the last three contests, so look for Dallas' power-play quarterback to try and strike again against a vulnerable squad Tuesday.
Charlie McAvoy, BOS @ NYI ($16)
McAvoy's numbers don't jump off the page, but it's clear whenever McAvoy is on the ice that he is quickly becoming a crucial cog in the Boston machine. The rookie blueliner already averages 23:06 of ice time, including 2:11 with the man advantage where he has logged six of his 20 points, and his 15 assists thus far suggests he is on the same page with his teammates, who are playing outstanding hockey right now.
Defensemen to Avoid
Roman Josi, NSH @ VGK ($26)
Josi has not looked like his usual productive self of late, as he enters 2018 with two assists and a minus-4 rating in his last seven games. The Golden Knights have been a menace to teams from all levels of the standings this season, and this has been especially true when they play in Vegas, so it could continue to be tough sledding for the Preds' captain on either or both ends of the ice.
Jake Muzzin, LA @ EDM ($19)
Muzzin enjoyed a nice run of decent offensive success at the beginning of the season, but has not recently been playing up to that level, recording just two assists and a minus-1 rating to go with just 11 shots on goal in the last eight games. The Oilers, contrarily, have begun to show some life after a miserable start to the season, which could make life difficult for a usually dependable Los Angeles defense.
