It's decidedly warmer in hockey arenas than it is outside over much of the United States (and Canada). As such, maybe you'll want to stay home Saturday to enjoy some NHL action with seven games on the DFS slate and the first ones starting at 7 p.m. EST. Onto the lineup recommendations!
SLATE PREVIEW
Three teams are on the second leg of a back-to-back. The Blues are at home against the Kings, the Lightning travel to meet the Blue Jackets, and the Capitals head to Edmonton. That last matchup is the trickiest with Washington set to start their backup goaltender.
GOALIES
Darcy Kuemper, LOS at STL ($8,200): The Kings have let us know that Kuemper's upper-body injury isn't serious and could go on Saturday. Given this matchup, it wouldn't be surprising if they just rolled with Anton Forsberg as the Blues rank last in goals and shots per game while playing for a second straight day.
Jet Greaves, CLM vs. TAM ($7,400): Even though Tampa is one of the best offensive teams, I'm still willing to take a shot on Greaves at home as the opponent will be on the road for the second day of a back-to-back. He's proven to be a solid goalie the last two seasons where he's posted a .918 save percentage through 45 appearances with a .922 over his last 12. Not since the days of Sergei Bobrovsky has the goaltending picture been this positive in Columbus.
VALUE PLAYS/ONE-OFFS
Zach Hyman, EDM vs. WAS ($7,300): Hyman has potted 19 goals in 33 games while directing 104 shots on net. Washington is on the road for the second consecutive night where Charlie Lindgren is projected to start. He enters with a .901 save percentage across four seasons with the Caps.
Kirill Marchenko, CLM vs. TAM ($6,700): As with Washington, the difference between the Lightning's top netminder and backup is significant. Jonas Johansson has struggled to an .893 save percentage for three years behind Andrei Vasilevskiy. Adam Fantilli has struggled and Mason Marchment has been hurt, but Marchenko has kept it going with 15 points and 51 shots from his last 15 outings.
FORWARD LINE STACKS TO CONSIDER
Hurricanes at Senators
Sebastian Aho (C – $6,800), Seth Jarvis (W - $7,000), Andrei Svechnikov (W - $6,600)
Ottawa sits bottom-five with a 3.38 GAA, and that mark is only that low because of Linus Ullmark. The Sens also maintain a bottom-three penalty kill while Carolina's top trio also participate on the lead power play.
Aho hasn't registered a goal over his last 10 games, but has 17 on the season. He's also notched multiple assists during four of his last six matchups. Jarvis was playing well before getting injured and he's been solid since returning at eight points and 30 shots from his last nine, including five with the extra man. Svechnikov has tallied three multipoint efforts in his last four - highlighted a hat-trick - while providing 14 PPPs on the campaign.
Kings at Blues
Alex Turcotte (C - $3,000), Kevin Fiala (W - $6,000), Andrei Kuzmenko (W - $3,300)
As noted, the Blues are on the second day of a back-to-back. While Joel Hofer is starting Saturday, his .904 save percentage isn't necessarily imposing. St. Louis also lists a bottom-five penalty kill and two of the three Kings listed below are on their first power play.
Turcotte may only have 12 points overall, though six have come in the last 10 games where his ice time has increased to a 14:32 average and has also supplied multiple shots during six of his last eight outings. Thriving on the power play is what Fiala does best with at least 24 PPPs over each of the last three seasons and currently on 13. Kuzmenko has 10 goals, 10 assists, and 10 power-play points on the year, yet five, six and five of each have come across 15 appearances.
DEFENSEMEN
Charlie McAvoy, BOS vs. MON ($4,700): McAvoy has been on a tear having notched 16 points in 20 games since returning with eight coming on the man-advantage. With Jacob Fowler not on the roster, the Habs will be choosing between two goalies listing save percentages below .890.
Alexander Nikishin, CAR at OTT ($3,700): Nikishin has 20 points so far this season, which is quite impressive for a rookie. And with Shayne Gostisbehere out, he's been playing on Carolina's top power play. Gostisbehere is day-to-day, but I'd take a shot on Nikishin even if he does come back as the Sens have recorded a 3.38 GAA.
