Yahoo Daily Fantasy Hockey: Monday's bargains and values

by Sasha Yodashkin

Monday's NHL slate features just two games -- a deciding Game 7 between the Blues and Blackhawks in St. Louis and Game 6 between the Ducks and Predators in Nashville. The same star players who have shined in getting their respective teams to this point will make popular picks, but identifying the likeliest sources of secondary scoring is the key to maximizing value.

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GOALIE

Brian Elliott, STL vs. CHI ($35) - It's not surprising that the resilient Blackhawks pushed this series to seven games, but Elliott and the Blues are still viewed as favorites in Game 7 at home. The St. Louis netminder has given up just six goals in three home starts this series compared to 10 on the road, so it's fair to expect another strong outing with the season on the line. Elliott has made at least 30 saves in five of six games and likely will top that mark again facing a Chicago team that puts the puck on net often. 

Goalie to Avoid:

Pekka Rinne, NSH vs. ANH ($30) - There's a reason Rinne is priced below the other three goaltenders. With 11 goals against him in three consecutive victories, the Ducks seem to have solved the Finnish netminder.

CENTER

Ryan Johansen, NSH vs. ANH ($17) - Johansen finally got on the scoresheet for the first time since the series opener with a goal in Game 5, and he'll get every opportunity to match that feat Monday. Nashville's top center will see plenty of ice time in this elimination game, and his history of production is superb for a $17 player. He is too good a scorer to pass up at this price.

Center to Avoid:

Ryan Kesler, ANH at NSH ($25) - Kesler's $25 price is rather exorbitant considering he has just two points through five games this postseason. The Predators have done a good job containing Kesler, and there's little reason to believe that will change now.

WING

Patrick Kane, CHI at STL ($33) - Kane has seven points in six games this series despite a 4.5 percent shooting clip that pales in comparison to his 16.0 percent regular-season mark. He doesn't come cheap, but the Chicago winger will be brimming with confidence as he looks to extend his five-game point streak. This could be your last chance to put the league's most productive player in your lineup this season, don't let it go to waste.

Jakob Silfverberg, ANH at NSH ($20) - Silfverberg has come alive the last two games, totaling three assists and 20.0 fantasy points after getting just one and 12.0, respectively, in Games 1 through 3. The Swedish winger totaled 18 points in 16 postseason appearances a year ago, and it looks like he has finally regained his scoring touch after a small stumble out of the gate. On a team teeming with expensive forwards, Silfverberg offers plenty of offensive upside at a more reasonable price.

Wings to Avoid:

Alexander Steen, STL vs. CHI ($22) - Steen has been held off the scoresheet in five of six games this series. The odds of another goose egg are too high to use him at this price.

James Neal, NSH vs. ANH ($27) - Neal has been silent since lighting the lamp in the playoff opener, continuing his history of pedestrian postseason play. It's tough to justify a $27 investment in a player who has 28 points and a minus-7 rating in 49 career playoff games and is part of an offense that has been held to three goals in its last three games combined.

DEFENSE

Duncan Keith, CHI at STL ($25) - Keith has played more than 30 minutes in each of Chicago's two prior elimination games, and that trend is likely to continue Monday. His combination of top-end skill and opportunity suggests the veteran blueliner will be a major factor on both ends, and Keith's downside is limited considering he hasn't finished with a negative plus/minus in any game this series. 

Sami Vatanen, ANH at NSH ($19) - Vatanen's uptick in production has corresponded with his team's improvement, as he comes into Game 6 riding a three-game point streak during which he has totaled 39.0 fantasy points. Anaheim's top blueliner is showing no signs of slowing, and his plus-6 rating this series suggests he's unlikely to disappoint even if he's kept off the scoresheet. At only $19, it doesn't make sense to pass on Vatanen given his team's clear superiority over the last three games. 

Defenseman to Avoid:

Roman Josi, NSH vs. ANH ($26) - Josi is still tied for the most expensive defenseman despite totaling just 11.0 fantasy points in the last three games. There are smarter ways to spend that money considering the quality of players available in that price range.

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