This article is part of our Yahoo DFS Hockey series.
Tuesday's NHL slate begins at 7:00 PM Eastern time and features eight games. Below, you'll find an overview of the matchups and suggested options for crafting an effective lineup.
SLATE PREVIEW
The Jets-Penguins matchup features a plethora of high-level forward options, and it's expected to be a high-scoring game, especially considering Winnipeg's decimated blue-line corps. Nashville will look to add to the early struggles of a disorganized looking Sharks team, and Calgary should feature plenty of popular picks at every position against a Kings team that's expected to finish among the league's worst. Boston and Vegas are both good teams off to strong starts, but it will be difficult to find much value in this high-profile matchup given both teams' proficiency on defense.
GOALIES
David Rittich ($8,400) is likely to live up to his valuation as this slate's most expensive goalie. He's coming off a 34-save shutout against Vancouver, while the Kings scored the second-fewest goals in the league last season. It's worth noting, however, that the Kings notched five goals in their only game this season — a 6-5 loss to Edmonton.
It's hard not be skeptical about Detroit's hot start, but the Red Wings are 2-0-0 heading into a matchup with a low-scoring Ducks team that notched the fewest goals in the league in 2018-19. Starting netminder Jimmy Howard ($7,900) should capitalize on this favorable matchup.
If you're not a believer in Detroit, then it would be smart to counter with the face of the Ducks team. John Gibson ($7,500) is off to a blistering start with a 1.00 GAA and .971 save percentage.
VALUE PLAYS/ONE-OFFS
Jared McCann ($3,700) has been elevated to the second-line center role after lower-body injuries to Evgeni Malkin and Nick Bjugstad. He's coming off a three-point effort and is unlikely to stay this affordable much longer. Make sure to get him in there against a Jets team that's given up 14 goals through three games, including at least four in each.
The Stars are winless through three games, but don't blame center Roope Hintz ($5,000) for that lack of success. Hintz has three goals already at what looks like the start of a breakout campaign from the 22-year-old. Even against a tough Capitals team, it's worth it to lock Hintz in at $5,000 before his valuation skyrockets.
Hurricanes center Erik Haula ($4,800) has opened his Carolina tenure with a three-game goal-scoring streak. The team looks ready to back up its run to the Eastern Conference finals with a strong regular season, and Haula should be a key part of the equation in this game against Florida and beyond.
While the Islanders were one of the league's stingiest defensive teams last season, it's hard to ignore the hot start of Oilers winger Leon Draisaitl ($7,600). The third overall selection from the 2014 draft is coming off a 50-goal, 105-point season, and he's on pace for an even better campaign with a goal, four assists and 10 shots through two games, including multi-point efforts in each.
Speaking of elite wingers off to hot starts, Calgary's Johnny Gaudreau ($7,500) also has five points through two games (two goals, three assists) and he gets a great chance to build on that success against the Kings, who gave up six goals to Edmonton in their first game.
FORWARD LINE STACKS
Penguins vs. Jets
Sidney Crosby (C - $7,300), Jake Guentzel (W - $6,200), Dominik Simon (W - $2,700)
Crosby and Guentzel are household names — the former had 100 points last season and the latter had 40 goals. Simon's a nice cheap filler who rounds out this line and has a good chance of stumbling into points given the talent surrounding him. Winnipeg has lost three of its top four defensemen from last season — Dustin Byfuglien (personal), Jacob Trouba (trade), Tyler Myers (free agency) — and the fourth is no lock to suit up here, as Josh Morrissey missed the team's last game with an upper-body injury.
Predators vs. Sharks
Matt Duchene (C - $6,200), Filip Forsberg (W - $7,200), Mikael Granlund (W - $5,000)
San Jose has looked completely out of sorts in the early going, dropping its first three games by a combined 12-3 score. The Predators are poised to add to those struggles, led by a top line that's off to a blistering start. After signing with Nashville as one of this offseason's most sought-after free agents, Duchene has five assists through two games. Forsberg has scored a goal in each game while rounding out his stat line with an assist and nine shots, while Granlund has lit the lamp once on six shots.
Red Wings vs. Ducks
Dylan Larkin (C - $6,300), Tyler Bertuzzi (W - $5,800), Anthony Mantha (W - $6,600)
Even against Gibson, Detroit's red-hot top line should be worth targeting in its entirety given the blazing hot starts from this trio. Larkin has posted multi-point performances in both games this season, Bertuzzi has five points thanks to a four-point effort in the opener and Mantha already has seven points, including a four-goal outburst in his last game.
DEFENSEMEN
Washington's John Carlson ($5,900) is a premier offensive blueliner, with three points through three games following a 68-point campaign in 2017-18 and 70 points last season. He's averaging a robust 25:37 of ice time heading into this matchup with the slow-starting Stars.
Mark Giordano's ($6,400) a stat-stuffer for the Flames, as the veteran provides value on both sides of the ice. He's found the scoresheet in each of his team's first two games (one goal, one assist) while supplementing that production with five shots and six blocks.
Neal Pionk ($4,600) was added in the Trouba trade to provide offense from the blue line for cheap. He's done that so far with a goal and an assist through three games, as well as two shots on goal in each. If the Jets are going to keep pace with Pittsburgh's high-powered offense, Pionk — who has 42 points in 104 career games — will likely play a key role.
Sticking in the Jets-Penguins game, Marcus Pettersson ($3,300) is a nice cheap option to round out your lineup. The 23-year-old blueliner is holding down a spot on the second power-play unit and has gotten off to a promising start offensively with a goal on five shots through two games.
