This article is part of our DraftKings NHL series.
SLATE PREVIEW
There are 12 NHL games Saturday, and all 10 of the evening matchups will be included in DraftKings featured contests. Here's a quick-hit primer providing the lay of the land and aid your lineup assembly.
Notable favorites from DraftKings Sportsbook:
Capitals
Lightning
Blues
Projected high-scoring games:
Flyers-Capitals
Penguins-Panthers
Maple Leafs-Canadiens
Predators-Oilers
Teams playing for the second consecutive night:
Maple Leafs
Blue Jackets
Stars
GOALIES
Mike Smith ($7,500) hasn't lost in regulation in eight starts and sports a respectable .914 save percentage and 2.71 GAA during the stretch. He's well rested having last played Feb. 1, and the Predators have only scored five goals through their past three games. Edmonton will also be looking to bounce back after a disappointing home loss to the Sharks. The price is also right to take a flyer on Smith.
The Stars are playing their second game in consecutive nights after losing 3-2 to Minnesota on Friday, and Jordan Binnington ($8,300) is 30-6-4 with a .920 save percentage and 2.18 GAA at the Enterprise Center during his career. This also sets up as a get-right spot for the Blues, as they enter with a 2-5-1 record with 3.75 goals against per game and Dallas has only scored 2.01 five-on-five goals per 60 minutes on the road this season.
While the Blue Jackets are cruising along a 13-2-1 stretch, they've only scored 2.33 five-on-five goals per hour during that span, so offense hasn't been their calling card. Additionally, this will be Columbus's second game in as many nights. Philipp Grubauer ($8,000) is reasonably priced and won consecutive games with a .960 save percentage, while the Avalanche pace the league in goals per hour this season.
VALUE PLAYS/ONE-OFFS
This salary appears short for Auston Matthews ($8,200). He's riding a six-game point streak consisting of six tallies, five helpers and 27 shots and is up to an elite 2.13 goals per 60 minutes for the campaign. While Montreal represents a run-of-the-mill opponent, the Canadiens have topped Toronto in both meetings this season, so look for Matthews and the Maple Leafs to have a strong showing. The Habs have also been vulnerable while shorthanded this season with a 21st-ranked 79.2 penalty-kill percentage.
Speaking of out-of-whack salaries, Gustav Nyquist ($3,600) is worth a long look. He's marked the scoresheet in four of the past five games for two goals and two assists while averaging a healthy 17:36 of ice time. He also receives consistent power-play time, and his ownership should be down with Colorado checking out as a daunting opponent.
Sam Gagner ($3,000) scored and registered five shots last time out and is projected to continue skating with Connor McDavid ($8,400) at five-on-five. It's a cushy fantasy setup for the veteran winger, and Gagner has proven to be a capable offensive contributor throughout his career. Nashville has also surrendered 3.17 goals per hour this season.
FORWARD LINE STACKS
Sticking with the Oilers, Leon Draisaitl ($7,900), Ryan Nugent-Hopkins ($6,300) and Kailer Yamamoto ($4,600) have been a force at five-on-five over the past few weeks. The trio have clicked for 5.59 goals per hour and combined for 19 tallies and 31 assists through 13 games since Yamamoto was recalled from the AHL.
Evgeni Malkin ($7,700), Bryan Rust ($6,900) and Patric Hornqvist ($5,800) have scored 10.05 goals and generated 30.16 high-danger scoring chances over 95:28 of shared ice time this season. Obviously, most of that dominant production has come with the man advantage. But the three all skate with Pittsburgh's No. 1 power-play unit, so their combined value rises in that regard.
DEFENSEMEN
With 10 points - including four goals - through his past 11 games dating back to mid-January, Quinn Hughes ($5,100) is showing no signs of slowing down. He ranks 10th among regular defensemen in points per hour, and the Calgary penalty kill has been reeling of late with a 63.6 percentage since the All-Star break.
Drew Doughty's ($4,900) down year is built into his salary Saturday, and the veteran lands in a decent matchup against the injury-riddled Devils. He offers cross-category coverage and has averaged an impressive 26:01 of ice time per game - including 3:15 on the power play.
With the Panthers-Penguins game likely high scoring, Keith Yandle's diminished priced stands out. He's been held off the scoresheet in each of the past five games, so puck luck could be in his favor. Yandle also ranks sixth among regular defensemen in points per hour this season at 2.22.
Justin Schultz ($3,900) rotated in on the No. 1 power-play unit during Friday's practice, and it's a role he's succeeded at in the past. There's no guarantee he's going to see reps in Saturday's game, but his value would skyrocket if he does. Additionally, it's unlikely he's a popular target, and the matchup is cushy with Florida allowing 3.26 goals per hour and owning a 23rd-ranked 77.7 penalty-kill percentage.
