This article is part of our DraftKings NHL series.
SLATE PREVIEW
Saturday night is the night for hockey, and this week is no different. There are eight games on the evening slate of contests. This includes four teams in action that played Friday. We also have three of the top four teams in terms of GAA taking the ice. That'll be a roadblock for a lot of potential DFS options. Let's take a look at what we have coming up Saturday!
GOALIES
Andrei Vasilevskiy ($8,000) is coming off a bad start, but I'm not concerned. Over his last 20 games, he has compiled an 18-1-1 record with a 1.99 GAA and .935 save percentage. I expect him to put his bad night behind him against a Coyotes' team that has only managed 2.64 goals per game.
Speaking of goalies who have been hot recently, Carey Price ($7,800) has shown some of that vintage Vezina-caliber goaltending in the new year by posting a 2.24 GAA and .929 save percentage over his last 16 outings. If you are worried about Price being on the road against the Senators, don't be as he has posted a .917 save percentage in away games this season.
Elvis Merzlikins ($7,200) has looked human in his last three starts, but he still has a 2.35 GAA and .922 save percentage on the year. At this price, those kind of numbers look quite enticing. Yes, the Predators have scored 3.15 goals per game, but they are also on the second leg of a back-to-back.
VALUE PLAYS/ONE OFFS
If there is one thing that Evander Kane can fall out of bed and do, it's put pucks on goal. The winger has notched 169 shots on net in 54 games, and he's lit the lamp 21 times. Yes, the Rangers are starting Igor Shesterkin in net Saturday, and the rookie has been stellar in a small sample size. Still, New York gives up 34.1 shots on goal per game, and it is playing the second game of a back-to-back as well.
Pierre-Luc Dubois ($5,000) is losing teammates to injury left and right, but he still has 44 points in 62 games. He's also started 62.7 percent of his shifts in the offensive zone, highest on the Blue Jackets. Perhaps most importantly, he's played 2:44 per game with the extra man, and the Predators own the league's worst penalty kill.
What Vegas flu? The Golden Knights have a 3.16 GAA and .893 save percentage at home this year. Evgenii Dadonov ($4,900) has recorded a point in three of his last four games, giving him 44 points in 61 games. Watch out if he gets a chance with the extra man, because the Russian has tallied 10 of his 24 goals on the power play.
STACKS
Golden Knights vs. Panthers
Paul Stastny (C - $4,300), Jonathan Marchessault (W - $5,800), Reilly Smith (W - $5,100)
The Sergei Bobrovsky signing has not worked out for the Panthers. Florida has a 3.34 GAA, which is tied for third highest in the NHL. As such, I'm happy to jump in on Vegas's second line. Stastny hasn't lived up to his peak years, but he does have a point in each of his last two games and at this price 17 goals and 16 assists in nothing to sneeze at. Marchessault has been more productive, especially recently with 11 points while directing 44 shots on net in his last 12 games. Smith, for his part, has fired home 23 goals this season and is riding a three-game point streak.
Canadiens vs. Senators
Phillip Danault (C - $4,700), Brendan Gallagher (W - $6,400), Tomas Tatar (W - $5,700)
The Senators have not been known for their defensive prowess or goaltending acumen in quite some time, and this year is no different. Ottawa has a 3.34 GAA - just like Florida - and also has given up 33.5 shots on net per game. Danault isn't the most-exciting center, but he does have 41 points in 63 games and he plays with a couple potent scorers on his wings. Gallagher has had trouble staying healthy this year, but he has recorded 20 goals in 52 games. He's also always been a prolific shooter by notching 201 shots on net. Tatar has been a regular on the scoresheet, notching at least one point in 13 of his last 16 games.
DEFENSE
I like Cale Makar ($6,000) against the Kings with their 3.20 GAA and 28th-ranked penalty kill. If he wins the Norris, the fact he has 17 power-play points in 52 games is an indication as to why. Jeff Petry ($5,200) doesn't have the name recognition of his teammate Shea Weber, but what he does have is 37 points in 63 games. He's also been fairly productive on the power play, where he has registered 12 points. For Keith Yandle ($4,400), it comes down to how much power-play time the Panthers pick up Saturday. He's averaged 3:45 per game with the extra man and 20 of his 42 points have come on the power play. The Golden Knights enter with the 23rd-ranked penalty kill, so Yandle can make them pay - and pay off for you - if they aren't disciplined.
