It's a big weekend of sports, including DraftKings' Saturday's NHL slate with nine games starting at 7 p.m. EST or later. To try and help you make DFS decisions, here are my lineup recommendations.
SLATE PREVIEW
A few teams that played on Friday are also in action Saturday. There's the back end of a home-and-home between the Ducks and Kings. Everyone else is on the road as Carolina visits New Jersey, Nashville goes to Vegas, and Florida will be in Washington.
GOALIES
Akira Schmid, VGK vs. NAS ($8,500): Adin Hill just allowed five goals in his first game back, so I think Schmid will start Saturday. He's only given up two goals during each of his last three starts, thanks in part to a Golden Knights defense that's only surrendered 24.7 shots per outing. While the Preds have improved offensively, they're still bottom-10 and on the second day of a back-to-back.
Tristan Jarry, EDM at VAN ($8,400): Jarry has returned and is still trying to acclimate to Edmonton, but at least Saturday's matchup is favorable. The Canucks are the worst team in the NHL and have lost nine straight while bottom-10 for both goals and shots. Jarry should pick up a win and shouldn't be tested too much.
Jeremy Swayman, BOS at CHI ($7,900): Even though Swayman let six goals past during one outing, he's posted a 2.27 GAA and .919 save percentage from his last seven games. Connor Bedard is back, yet the Blackhawks have only managed an average of 25.2 shots with an attack that isn't great even with the star center in the lineup.
VALUE PLAYS/ONE-OFFS
Zach Hyman, EDM at VAN ($6,700): Stacking an Edmonton line can be difficult from a salary perspective, but getting a piece of its top power play is still possible. Hyman has notched 10 points while up man during only 29 appearances. The Canucks maintain the 31st-ranked penalty kill, making this an opportunity to take advantage of.
Nico Hischier, NJD vs. CAR ($5,900): The Hurricanes are per usual excellent at preventing pucks on net while their penalty-kill percentage is average. They're also on the road Saturday for the second straight night. Hischier is on a three-game scoring streak while accumulating 12 PPPs on the season.
Pavel Dorofeyev, VGK vs. NAS ($5,800): Dorofeyev potted 35 goals last year and is currently at 19 while already reaching 13 PPGs. As mentioned above, the Predators are playing their second game in as many days and sit bottom-10 in GAA.
FORWARD LINE STACKS TO CONSIDER
Penguins vs. Blue Jackets
Sidney Crosby (C - $8,300), Bryan Rust (W - $6,800), Rickard Rakell (W - $6,200)
The Blue Jackets may have a new head coach, though they still carry the same lineup that's bottom-eight in GAA, shots allowed, and penalty-kill percentage. Unless Rick Bowness is a magician, Columbus should remain a subpar defensive side and one worth targeting with a stack.
Crosby is enjoying an incredible campaign. I know he's appearing a bit less at even-strength and that his shooting percentage is high, but he's still registered 51 points. And after a three-game scoreless stretch, Crosby supplied a goal and assist last time out. With 17 goals through 42 outings, Rust may get to 30 for the second consecutive season. He's also tallied 17 power-play points while the Blue Jackets maintain the 29th-ranked penalty kill. Rakell is at 18 points through 26 appearances with a 7.8 shooting percentage that should improve. He hasn't been deterred from directing pucks on net with 33 over his last eight.
Canadiens at Senators
Oliver Kapanen (C - $4,100), Juraj Slafkovsky (W - $5,300), Ivan Demidov (W - $4,700)
Montreal currently has two good lines, both featuring forwards on the lead man-advantage. I've opted for the second unit to save some salary. The Sens rank 30th on the penalty kill and things have deteriorated with Linus Ullmark away as the team GAA is up to 3.32.
Kapanen isn't on the first PP, but is doing well centering this trio of youngsters with six goals and five assists from his last 14 games. Moving off the top line has possibly given Slafkovsky some room to grow and he's responded by recording eight goals and 10 assists across his last 14 appearances alongside 14 total points with the extra man. Matthew Schaefer is still the favorite to win the Calder Trophy, though Demidov isn't going to let him walk away with it having racked up 40 points with 14 coming during his last 14 outings.
DEFENSEMEN
John Carlson, WAS vs. FLA ($6,100): Carlson is neither as old nor as productive as Crosby, but it's still impressive a 36-year-old defenseman has posted 36 points - including seven over his last six games. Daniil Tarasov enters with a .904 save percentage, which is solid for a backup goalie and also not imposing considering the Panthers are on the road for the second night of a back-to-back.
Josh Morrissey, WPG vs. TOR ($5,800): Morrissey has excelled for a while, yet has been on a tear of late with 11 points over his last 12 outings. Toronto has struggled defensively at a 3.28 GAA while allowing a league-high average of 31.4 shots. That should give Morrissey a chance to continue getting on the scoresheet.
Kris Letang, PIT vs. CLM ($4,200): With Erik Karlsson out, Letang is back on the Pens' lead power play. He's also picked up a point in each of his last two games. Letang will be getting his Saturday ice time against a Columbus team bottom-four in allowing shots and at killing penalties.
