This article is part of our FanDuel NHL series.
I don't know about you, but yesterday I saw my first snow of the winter. I'm not looking forward to that, but I am looking forward to another several months of NHL hockey to watch while I sit inside avoiding the weather. There are eight NHL games Saturday night, and here are my recommendations for your daily fantasy lineup.
GOALIE
Scott Darling, CAR vs. DET ($7,500): Yes, this is a bold choice, given that Darling enters with a .904 save percentage. However, the Hurricanes have actually allowed a league-low 25.1 shots on goal per game. Meanwhile, the Red Wings will be on the road for their second game of a back-to-back. Heading into their game Friday, Detroit had scored 2.60 goals per game. So if Darling is ever going to have a good night, it would be in this matchup.
CENTER
Brayden Point, TAM vs. OTT ($6,900): Point surprised with 32 goals and 66 points last season, but now he's just yet another weapon on this potent Lightning offense. The 22-year-old has notched 19 points through 16 games. If that's not enough for you, the Senators sport a league-high 4.19 GAA.
Pierre-Luc Dubois, CLM vs. NYR ($5,700): Dubois scored 20 goals and added 28 assists as a rookie, which earned him the role of first-line center for the Blue Jackets this season. He's up to 18:10 per game in ice time, with a whopping 3:21 on the power play. New York will be on the road for the second game in as many days. They will likely be starting Alexandar Georgiev, who has managed a 3.61 GAA and .897 save percentage in limited action.
WING
Ilya Kovalchuk, LOS vs. CGY ($6,500): Kovalchuk has been eased back into NHL action, starting 57.3 percent of his shifts in the offensive zone – third highest among Kings forwards. He certainly still has his skills, leading the team in goals with five and points with 14. The Flames may come in with a 3.25 GAA, but they've struggled to a .889 save percentage. As well, their penalty kill only ranks 26th.
Justin Williams, CAR vs. DET ($4,900): Williams has tallied 11 points in 16 games, though he has only one goal. That's bound to improve, given his 50 shots on goal. The Wings, as previously noted, are on the road for the second game of a back-to-back, and they have a 3.60 GAA while allowing 35.1 shots on goal per contest.
Alex Killorn, TAM vs. OTT ($4,100): A matchup with a team that has posted a 4.19 GAA, has allowed 39.3 shots on goal, and owns the league's worst penalty kill is a great opportunity to find a cheaper option for your lineup – that's where Killorn comes in. Though he only has five points, his 5.6 shooting percentage will improve. On top of that, he's averaged 3:19 per game on the power play.
DEFENSE
Keith Yandle, FLA vs. NYI ($5,500): Yandle has racked up 13 points in 12 games – including an active five-game point streak – while putting 36 shots on goal. Yes, the Islanders boast a 2.47 GAA, but they recorded the worst GAA in the league last year. Their .926 team save percentage isn't going to sustain itself, especially since they've allowed 33.5 shots on net per contest.
Oliver Ekman-Larsson, ARI at PIT ($5,300): Ekman-Larsson is riding a four-game point streak of his own, notching a power-play point in all of those games. That's not surprising, given the Swede has registered at least 15 power-play points in each of his last five seasons. The Penguins enter with a 3.21 GAA, thanks largely to the fact Matt Murray has struggled with a 3.87 GAA and .886 save percentage.
