This article is part of our Yahoo DFS Hockey series.
A full helping of 12 NHL games Tuesday gives you plenty of options to choose from. Here are some of the players and matchups to keep in mind when selecting your lineup...
Goalie
Jonathan Quick, LA @ VAN ($33)
Quick's price tag is still way too low for the type of production he can bring to your lineup, so you should try to take advantage here. The Kings' elite defensive unit allows a league-low 2.43 goals per game and will be facing off against a mediocre offense in the form of Vancouver, a team that records 2.41 goals per game on home ice, the third-worst mark in the NHL.
Goalie to Avoid
Cory Schneider, NJ @ BOS ($33)
At the same price point as Quick lies Schneider, but the latter finds himself in a very unenviable situation Tuesday. The Massachusetts native allowed three goals en route to a shutout loss to the Red Wings on Monday night and will have to turn around and start another game less than 24 hours later. His opponent, the white-hot Bruins, have averaged 4.45 goals per game since returning from Christmas break and could very well make Schneider uncomfortable.
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Center
Leon Draisaitl, EDM vs. BUF ($19)
When the Oilers began the season poorly, confidence in Draisaitl and his teammates began to drop, which brings us to the discounted price we see Tuesday. What people need to realize, though, is that the young German is approximately just five points off his pace from last season, and that's pretty good considering he missed four games earlier this season with an injury. At this price, you should absolutely fire him up against this poor Buffalo defense.
Center to Avoid
Claude Giroux, PHI @ DET ($22)
The Flyers continue to play great hockey, but it's mostly without the help of Giroux -- the team's captain has recorded no goals, four assists, and just 10 shots on goal over the last six contests. With Giroux so lightly involved in Philadelphia's current offensive schemes, it's hard to trust him against a Detroit squad that has looked better defensively of late, posting two shutouts in its last four games.
Wing
Brad Marchand, BOS vs. NJ ($31)
Though the price is high, Marchand's recent play is on another planet and essentially makes him a must start in this scenario. The Nova Scotia native is averaging two points and 3.38 shots on goal per game over his last eight, giving him a level of consistency that fantasy players dream of. As previously mentioned, the Devils could be ripe for a shelling on the second half of a back-to-back, so Marchand could be a great play here.
Andreas Athanasiou, DET vs. PHI ($16)
For a cheaper option, we'll turn our attention to the speedy Athanasiou, who has found the scoresheet 10 times while taking 28 shots on goal over the last eight games. The 23-year-old commands a prominent role with the Red Wings' power-play unit, averaging 2:14 of ice time there, and will look to take advantage of a poor Philadelphia penalty kill that has been successful just 65.4 percent of the time in January.
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Wings to Avoid
Blake Wheeler, WPG @ SJ ($29)
While Wheeler has been stupendous this season, it's worth noting that much of his success has come when he plays in Winnipeg -- the Minnesota native has 12 fewer points in away games despite playing in six more of them than home ones this season. This especially does not bode well against a stout San Jose defense that has held the mercurial winger to one assist and a minus-3 rating in two games thus far.
Artemi Panarin, CLS @ VGK ($25)
Marc-Andre Fleury continues to be masterful for the expansion Golden Knights, as he now shows a .946 save percentage and 1.68 GAA through 16 games. That spells bad news for the Blue Jackets and specifically Panarin, who is struggling to score with Columbus more so than when he was with Chicago, and is currently riding a stretch that has seen him record four points and a minus-2 rating in the last eight games.
Defense
Justin Schultz, PIT vs. CAR ($17)
One great reason to build around Schultz is the level of consistency he will bring to your lineup -- the 27-year-old has at least one shot on goal and at least one blocked shot in eight of his last nine contests, a stretch that has also seen him record three assists. Against a Carolina team that gives up a lot of scoring (3.04 GA/G) and shoots a lot (34.3 SF/G), Schultz could give you nice value.
Esa Lindell, DAL vs. FLA ($16)
Lindell provides a nice floor in the form of plus-minus rating -- the young Finnish defenseman holds a plus-8 rating in his last 10 games and boasts a plus-19 rating in all his home games this season. Lindell has accrued a third of his points while on the power play, and so will likely look to expand upon that against a Panthers team that kills off just 80.4 percent of its penalties and allows 3.22 goals per game.
Defensemen to Avoid
Ryan Ellis, NSH vs. TB ($22)
Since returning from offseason knee surgery, Ellis has overall faired well in games that have pitted him against mediocre offenses, but has mostly struggled when tasked with defending more capable units -- the veteran blueliner has posted no points and minus-1 rating in four combined games against Florida, Edmonton, and Vegas thus far. At this point, I wouldn't trust him going up against the league's premier offensive team in the form of the Lightning.
Zach Werenski, CLS @ VGK ($20)
Like his teammate Panarin, Werenski could very well struggle to score against a hot goalkeeper and a defense that has been rock solid on home ice, allowing just 2.18 goals per game at T-Mobile Arena. The Michigan native will also have to deal with the electric Vegas offense, which is not something he has recently been well-equipped to do as evidenced by his minus-4 rating over the last three contests.
