This article is part of our Yahoo DFS Hockey series.
Tuesday's NHL slate is full of action, with 11 games on the docket beginning at 7:00 PM Eastern time. Whether you stack players from the most favorable matchups or sift through the options in search of specific individuals from a variety of games, the recommendations below feature players that can either fit into any lineup or should be avoided regardless of strategy.
GOALIE
Juuse Saros, NSH vs. VGK ($34): Saros benefits from backstopping a Nashville team that boasts arguably the league's best defense corps, and he also draws a favorable matchup here if early-season results are to be believed. The Golden Knights are tied for second-worst in the league with 2.27 goals per game, and they've mustered just eight goals through five road contests.
GOALIE TO AVOID
Craig Anderson, OTT at ARI ($30): Anderson has allowed 14 goals in his past three appearances to bring his season GAA to 3.54 and save percentage to .908. While a matchup with Arizona looks like a bounce-back opportunity on its face, the Coyotes have actually been a force recently with 22 goals in their last five games, scoring at least three in every contest.
CENTER
Ryan Getzlaf, ANH vs. PHI ($21): Normally more of a distributor, Getzlaf has taken a more aggressive approach of late with his team struggling offensively. He's put at least four pucks on net in each of his last three games, producing two goals and two assists in the last two. The Flyers are surrendering a league-high 4.18 goals per game, so Getzlaf is primed for another strong performance here.
CENTER TO AVOID
Steven Stamkos, TB vs. NJ ($26): Stamkos continues to underwhelm, having recorded just five points through 10 games with no multi-point performances and a minus-3 rating. Getting back on track will be difficult against a Devils team that's outscoring opponents 3.5-2.5 on average so far this season.
WINGS
Artemi Panarin, CBJ vs. DET ($28): Panarin's scoring this season has come in bunches -- he's produced multiple points in five of 10 games this season, including three-point efforts in each of his past two appearances. The sky's the limit for the talented Russian at home against a Red Wings team that's been outscored 43-25 in its first 11 games. He costs a pretty penny at $28, but Panarin's upside rivals that of any skater in this slate.
Clayton Keller, ARI vs. OTT ($18): Keller flew under the radar as a rookie since his 65-point campaign benefited a poor Coyotes club, but it's becoming hard to ignore his recent success. The 20-year-old forward has been the catalyst behind his team's recent scoring outburst, with five goals and an assist in the last five games. Given Anderson's aforementioned struggles, Keller should offer excellent value relative to his $18 price.
WINGS TO AVOID
Anthony Beauvillier, NYI at PIT ($16): Beauvillier topped 15 minutes of ice time in each of the season's first three games, but he's failed to reach that mark in six appearances since. He's still sitting on just a single point for the season and has a minus-5 rating that's in danger of falling further against the high-scoring Penguins. Deploying him here is just asking for trouble.
Jamie Benn, DAL at MON ($28): Benn is in the midst of a six-game point drought, yet he remains priced among the most expensive options at his position at $28. Busting out of his slump will be difficult on the road against a Canadiens team that employs Carey Price in net. The 2015 Vezina Trophy winner has channeled his form from that campaign in the early going with a 2.13 GAA and .922 save percentage.
DEFENSEMEN
Matt Grzelcyk, BOS at CAR, ($10): Grzelcyk continues to skate on Boston's top power-play unit, and he's seeing increased opportunities at even strength as well with the Bruins battling the injury bug on the blue line. His prominent role with the extra man gives Grzelcyk offensive upside not typically found in minimum-priced blueliners, and that upside is likely to be realized against a Hurricanes penalty kill that's operating at only 67.6 percent.
Zach Werenski, CLS vs. DET ($19): Werenski has had no trouble adjusting to the return of teammate Seth Jones on the Columbus blue line, dishing out four helpers in Jones' three games back. That output has Werenski up to eight points in his past seven appearances, as he's well on his way to a third consecutive season of 37-plus points to open his career. Given Detroit's awful form to start the season, the offensive-minded blueliner should have no problem getting right back on the scoresheet.
DEFENSEMEN TO AVOID
Shayne Gostisbehere, PHI at ANH ($21): Gostisbehere has made up for poor defensive play with his offensive ability in years past, but he's offered close to no value in this format while slumping to start the season, producing four points and a minus-8 rating through 11 games. Ducks netminder John Gibson sports a 2.44 GAA and .938 save percentage despite his recent losing skid, so Gostisbehere's offense is likely to be suppressed while his rating risk remains as real as ever.
Max Lajoie, OTT at ARI ($18): Lajoie was on fire out of the gate with seven points in six games, but the league seems to have figured him out, holding the rookie without a point in the last four. Arizona's allowing a league-low 2.00 goals per game, so expect Lajoie's drought to continue. If you really want to roll with an Ottawa defenseman here, Thomas Chabot -- who already has 13 points and costs $17 -- is the better option, anyway.
