This article is part of our FanDuel NHL series.
SLATE PREVIEW
Scattered start times mean Saturday's 11-game schedule will be spread throughout four contests, with only the all-day slate carrying every matchup. The Capitals at Flyers (12:30 p.m. EDT) and Devils at Rangers (12:30 p.m.) will be on the early-only slate while three games – Penguins at Sabres (3 p.m.), Senators at Canadiens (4 p.m.) and Blues at Coyotes (6 p.m.) – will be on the afternoon-only contest and the final six on the main slate.
All salaries reflected are based on the all-day slate.
GOALIES
Igor Shesterkin, NYR vs. NJ ($8,300): Three straight shutouts is a pretty tall order no matter who the opponent is, but the Rangers have a distinct advantage at nearly every position. The Rangers have won four straight outscoring their opponents 19-4.
Tristan Jarry, PIT at BUF ($8,100): Jarry put in a strong performance before losing in overtime against the Flyers. The Pens have yet to lose to the Sabres and have beaten them by a combined 17-4. Even with the Sabres playing freely and enjoying more success, the Pens should still come out on top. Jarry is 2-0 with four goals allowed against the Sabres this season.
Jake Oettinger, DAL vs. CBJ ($7,500): I like the value proposition because the Stars are still a pretty solid team while the Jackets have virtually given up all hope for the playoffs. Oettinger should get the nod over Anton Khudobin after winning Thursday against Columbus while only allowing a goal on 18 shots. The Stars may have been playing down a couple key players all year, but they remain a solid defensive group.
Jordan Binnington, STL at ARI ($7,400): Binnington has been a big reason for the Blues' turnaround having posted a .936 Sv% with a 2.25 GAA. He's only allowed eight even-strength goals in five games against the Yotes this season, and they've lost five straight.
Cayden Primeau, MON vs. OTT ($7,300): The Habs may start Jake Allen again in a back-to-back, but Primeau's an intriguing play as one of the league's best young goalies facing one of the league's worst teams. The former seventh-round pick has climbed his way up the ranks and last season made two appearances with a .931 Sv%, including his first career win stopping 35 of 37 shots against the Sens.
Kevin Lankinen, CHI at DET ($7,000): Everything looked like it was going well last meeting until the second half when Lankinen and the Blackhawks collapsed. He gets a shot at revenge and for the most part he's been excellent against the Red Wings this season with a 1.60 GAA and .950 Sv%.
VALUE PLAYS
Filip Zadina, DET at CHI ($3,700): It's crazy to keep picking Zadina over and over again only to be disappointed, but that's the thing with analytics – the underlying numbers suggest his underperforming relative to 5v5 xGF is probably true, according to Natural Stat Trick - but the hard part is knowing when those goals will come. Chicago seems like a plausible opponent to be a victim of a breakout as Zadina registered five shots last game but came away without a point.
Kirby Dach, CHI at DET ($3,600): I think this is a favorable matchup for Dach, who will have Alex DeBrincat and Dylan Strome on his wings. He gets plenty of playing time, though the downside is he still defers to his older linemates on offense at times and doesn't shoot the puck often enough.
Dylan Cozens, BUF vs. PIT ($3,500): Both Cozens and Casey Mittelstadt ($3,800) should be good value plays for the rest of the year as two of Buffalo's best young players. The offense won't be consistent – they're still very green, after all – but they'll get all the playing time they need in a lost season for the Sabres.
Shane Pinto, OTT at MON ($3,000): The former North Dakota star will make his NHL debut centering the fourth line with Connor Brown and Alex Formenton, giving the Sens a very fast line with decent checking ability. However, Pinto's also noted for his goal scoring with 31 over his two NCAA seasons. The downside is that his ice time will probably be limited and the Habs' balanced lineup will be difficult to score on.
LINE STACKS
Rangers vs. Devils
Ryan Strome (C - $6,100), Artemi Panarin (W - $8,400), Colin Blackwell (W - $4,000)
This line combined for two goals and six assists last game, with Blackwell being the most efficient with three helpers in just 13 minutes of play. Panarin continues to drive this line and is an elite play driver at that to providing this line plenty of value. Blackwell's lower salary help keeps this line stack more affordable.
Capitals at Flyers
Nicklas Backstrom (C - $6,700), Anthony Mantha (W - $4,900), T.J. Oshie (W - $6,400)
That's now three straight with a goal for Mantha, which makes it hard to say no at this salary. The Flyers' goaltending has been unreliable all season, while Carter Hart barely been able to string two good games together even though he was excellent in his last start against the Pens (one goal allowed on 32 shots).
Penguins at Sabres
Sidney Crosby (C - $8,000), Jake Guentzel (W - $7,500), Bryan Rust (W - $5,900)
Until Jeff Carter can establish some chemistry on the second line, Crosby's the line to stack against the lowly Sabres. The Pens' captain has four points in his past three games and is once again willing his team into the playoffs despite injuries to key players. The trio have combined for 14 points against the Sabres this season with Crosby contributing seven.
Stars vs. Blue Jackets
Roope Hintz (C - $6,300), Jason Robertson (W - $4,800), Joe Pavelski (W - $7,400)
If Hintz doesn't dress – he's been drawing in and out of the lineup all season due to a lingering injury – all bets are off. He's been a vital part of the Stars' offense and one of a small group of point-per-game players in the league. Robertson has been incredible as a high-volume shooter and goal scorer while Pavelski remains one of the league's best power-play specialists.
DEFENSEMEN
Dougie Hamilton, CAR vs. NSH ($6,600): I see Dougie's name and I pick. It's that simple for one of the best DFS defensemen this season who registered three shots and an assist in his last appearance against the Preds. There's a lot of options, but his significant role in the Canes' offense makes him a slightly better fantasy play than other elite defensemen.
Adam Fox, NYR vs. NJ ($6,100): Fox racked up three assists in his previous two games against the Devils and is one of the better value plays among the top tier due to his relatively low salary. The matchup's good and he plays a huge role on the Rangers, whose offense has been very good ranking eighth in the league in GF/GP.
Erik Brannstrom, OTT at MON ($3,500): It's a matchup play for Brannstrom, who's quarterbacking the second power play and will face a 23rd-ranked penalty kill. He's a decent play just in case Primeau falters in his third career game and because the Sens' power play is ranked sixth in April at 28.6 percent.
