This article is part of our Yahoo DFS Hockey series.
The nine evening NHL games beginning at 7 p.m. EDT are included in the main contests at Yahoo on Saturday. It's a tight schedule, too. The Golden Knights and Stars are the only significant favorites, so with a deep player pool, there will be all kinds of avenues to differentiating your lineups. Here are picks and pans for each position.
All statistics from Natural Stat Trick and Hockey Reference.
GOALIE
Darcy Kuemper, ARI at LA ($25): While it's been a lost season for Kuemper, and he's posted an underwhelming .866 save percentage and 3.03 GAA through three starts since returning from a lengthy injury absence, this is a nice spot for a solid showing. The veteran posted a .926 SvP and 2.29 GAA through 84 games the past two seasons, and the Kings are playing their second game in consecutive nights and skidding along a 6-13 stretch with just 2.28 five-on-five goals per 60 minutes. The salary is right to target Kuemper as your No. 2 netminder, too.
GOALIE TO AVOID
Connor Hellebuyck, WPG vs. TOR ($36): It's safe to expect a bounce-back showing from Hellebuyck after he allowed three goals on six shots and was pulled in the first period of Thursday's loss to the Maple Leafs. Still, he's sporting the highest salary in the goalie pool, and Toronto boasts a formidable offense with a sixth-ranked 3.28 goals per game.
CENTER
Logan Couture, SJ vs. MIN ($13): With the Wild playing their second game in consecutive nights, this is a good sport to take a flier on Couture cashing in on some statistical correction. He's only scored once through the past 23 games (2.4 percent shooting) after scoring 13 times through the first 23 contests of the campaign. Additionally, with 84 shot attempts and 18 individual high-danger scoring chances, Couture has had his opportunities.
CENTER TO AVOID
Nicklas Backstrom, WAS at NYI ($24): This is a steep salary considering the daunting matchup, as the Islanders have surrendered the second-fewest goals per game in the league. Plus, even while Backstrom has been productive with two tallies, 12 helpers and 28 shots through his past 18 contests, he's only returned double-digit fantasy points three times during that stretch.
WING
Brady Tkachuk, OTT at VAN ($18): With three tallies, three helpers and 20 shots during Ottawa's current 4-1 surge, Tkachuk's finally capitalizing more consistently on his opportunities. The 21-year-old winger has generated the most individual high-danger scoring chances in the league, and there's also nothing scary about a date with the Canucks. Vancouver has allowed a healthy 3.18 goals per game, and it's still not clear how well the Canucks will transition back to the daily grind after missing nearly a month of action because of COVID-19 protocols.
Nick Foligno, TOR at WPG ($11): Projected to skate on the No. 1 line with Auston Matthews and Mitch Marner again Saturday, Foligno is as close to a lineup lock as there is in the player pool. His salary is way too low given his set-up, and the veteran even picked up an assist and was on the ice for three high-danger scoring chances Thursday against the Jets.
WINGS TO AVOID
Alex Ovechkin, WAS at NYI ($34): As noted, this isn't a favorable matchup for No. 8. However, he's also battling a lower-body injury, which is an added concern. Obviously, Ovechkin is a top-tier talent, but the Islanders have considerably limited his production through four meetings this season. He's recorded just a single goal, two assists and only 10 shots.
Frank Vatrano, FLA vs. CAR ($18): Inconsistency is part and parcel of Vatrano's game, but he'll still likely record the second 20-goal showing of his career this season. However, he's skating down the depth chart and with the second power-play unit, so his salary is probably a little steep given that he's missed the scoresheet in 13 of the past 21 games dating back to mid-March.
DEFENSE
Shea Theodore, VGK at ANH ($24): With double-digit fantasy point showings in each of his past six games, Theodore enters this favorable matchup in high-end form. Anaheim has surrendered the eighth-most goals per game, and Theodore ranks second in points and first in shot attempts per 60 minutes among regular defensemen this season.
Quinn Hughes, VAN vs. OTT ($17): While a definite plus-minus risk given his minus-16 mark for the campaign, Hughes also boasts as high a ceiling as any defenseman in the player pool. He ranks sixth in points per 60 minutes among regular blueliners over the past two seasons, and the Senators have allowed the most goals per game in the league.
DEFENSEMEN TO AVOID
Morgan Rielly, TOR at WPG ($21): Missing the scoresheet in four consecutive games would often be a spot to target a bounce-back showing, but Rielly's up against it Saturday. The Jets have two capable offensive lines, and he spent nearly all his five-on-five ice time Thursday opposite them. It's a deep enough defensemen pool to be cautious of tough matchups.
Tyler Myers, VAN vs. OTT ($18): This salary is a head scratcher. Myers is a consistent contributor in the shots and blocked shots columns, but he's only recorded a single goal and assist through the past 13 contests. In a deep player pool, there are superior options.
