This article is part of our Yahoo DFS Hockey series.
Now that everyone has had time to actually digest the food from Thanksgiving, you'll easily be able to handle another 12-game slate Saturday, right? With so many games over the course of two days, there will be plenty of teams playing back-to-backs, which means unlikely heroes and a good amount of backup goalies.
GOALIE
Pekka Rinne, NSH vs. BUF ($32) - There's no hiding the fact that Rinne has really struggled the last couple of weeks. He's allowed at least three goals in his last four starts, each on the road. Perhaps returning to Nashville against a Sabres team that has lost six in a row will end his cold streak. Buffalo is the only team the Preds have defeated in their last five games, so with the high win probability and a low price, Rinne is the ideal cash-game play Saturday.
Goalie to Avoid:
Scott Darling, CHI at LAK ($33) - Darling has looked like more bust than boom this season with a 2.52 GAA and .912 save percentage in six appearances. His numbers are even worse on the road with a 3.36 GAA and .885 save percentage over four games. The Kings have had a couple days off following a five-game road trip and should be fresh after the holidays. The Blackhawks are on the second of back-to-back games and have been vulnerable on defense lately.
CENTER
Kyle Turris, OTT at ARI ($21) - Turris is one of the more underrated centers in the league, and when he's hot he can be an absolute fantasy stud. He's in one of those stretches with three goals and five points in his last four games. The Coyotes allow nearly three goals per game this season and will throw backup Anders Lindback in net, so expect a lot of goals from a Senators squad that has scored 19 times its last four games.
Center to Avoid:
Leon Draisaitl, EDM at PIT ($22) - At this point Draisaitl is a household name, so his days as a low-priced, high ceiling play are over. His high ownership and mere six fantasy points in the last two games means it's time to ignore Draisaitl for a bit until the Oilers start scoring more goals. It also doesn't help that the matchup against Pittsburgh on the road is a pretty tall order for the young center.
WING
Adam Henrique, NJD at MTL ($20) - Henrique entered Friday with goals in back-to-back games and his 10 scores is tied for 13th in the NHL. The Devils play a back-to-back against the Canadiens on Friday and Saturday, and with Carey Price out Mike Condon likely will have to start both games. There's a better chance New Jersey pounces on Montreal on Saturday, and Henrique will look to build on his return to fantasy relevance.
Patrick Marleau, SJ vs. CGY ($23) - There was a lot of speculation a few weeks ago that Marleau was going to be traded, and it seems since then the veteran winger has been on a tear. He's posted three consecutive multi-point games and has scored in four of his last six. The Flames have allowed at least four goals twice this season when playing the second game of a back-to-back.
Wings to Avoid:
Ryan O'Reilly, BUF at NSH ($21) - O'Reilly has been streaky in his first season with Buffalo and isn't exactly on an upward trajectory. He hasn't scored in three games and isn't even doing a good job of generating scoring chances; he has just three shots over the same stretch. I still expect Rinne to show up in net for Nashville, so there won't be many points to go around in the boxscore for Buffalo.
Jarome Iginla, COL vs. WPG ($19) - It looks like this is finally the season that Iginla slows. Most thought that would happen over the last two campaigns, but all Iginla did was miss just four games and post 120 points. Now, he's mired in a seven-game goal drought with only two assists to show over that span. He failed to register a shot on goal and finished with a single fantasy point in Monday's win over Winnipeg. Best to just avoid him this time around.
DEFENSEMEN
John Klingberg, DAL at MIN ($23) - It continues to baffle that Klingberg isn't one of the highest-priced defensemen in Yahoo Daily Fantasy Hockey. Week after week, he keeps proving that he's not only one of the best offensive blueliners in the league, but a fantasy gem, as well. Klingberg has posted double-digit fantasy points in half his games, and the Wild have allowed three or more goals in five of their last six. His ownership will be sky high, but Klingberg is basically guaranteed points at a price that won't limit your options like Erik Karlsson ($32) and Brent Burns ($31).
Alex Pietrangelo, STL vs. CBJ ($18) - For another bargain price you can go with Pietrangelo, who is coming off a two-point performance against the Penguins on Wednesday. He's done a nice job contributing in all categories with 11 shots and nine blocks in his last three games, making him an appealing option in cash games.
Defenseman to Avoid:
Colton Parayko, STL vs. CBJ ($21) - At $3 more than Pietrangelo, the rookie Parayko doesn't really offer the same safety and upside. He has just two assists in his last seven games and has bounced in and out of the lineup in November. Considering Pietrangelo's price, as well as Kevin Shattenkirk's ($24), there's really no way you can trust Parayko ahead of either of those. The last time he put up double-digit fantasy points in a game was Nov. 7 against the Predators.
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