This article is part of our Yahoo DFS Hockey series.
It's a giant 13-game slate for the main NHL contests at Yahoo on Saturday. Players from the Buffalo-Boston and Tampa Bay-Detroit afternoon tilts aren't in the pool, and Winnipeg is the lone other team not hitting the ice. The Maple Leafs, Hurricanes and Avalanche are the largest favorites on the docket with the Canadiens and Golden Knights following next. It's an incredible deep player pool, so it shouldn't be too difficult to differentiate lineups. Here are recommendations and fades for each position ahead of Saturday's action.
All statistics from Natural Stat Trick and Hockey Reference.
GOALIE
Devan Dubnyk, COL vs. SJ ($22): With Philipp Grubauer returning to action Friday, look for Dubnyk to take care of the Sharks on Saturday. Dubnyk has been mediocre -- .887 save percentage and 3.32 GAA -- through four starts with the Avs this season, but Colorado held San Jose to just 29 five-on-five shot attempts and three high-danger scoring chances all game Friday, so the matchup checks out. Plus, Dubnyk's salary is too low.
GOALIE TO AVOID
Cam Talbot, MIN vs. STL ($37): This will be the third consecutive game between these two clubs, and St. Louis has won the first two and scored nine goals on Talbot in the process. At this salary, and in a deep goalie pool, it's probably wise to look elsewhere. The Blues are making a late-season push with a 7-3 active record and 4.0 goals per game.
CENTER
Auston Matthews, TOR vs. VAN ($35): Through six games since taking a night off in mid-April, Matthews has racked up four tallies, three helpers and 35 shots. His underlying numbers are even better with 60 shot attempts and 27 individual high-danger scoring chances. He's chasing the Rocket Richard Trophy, and lands in another favorable matchup with Vancouver playing its fourth road game in six nights having lost the first three.
CENTER TO AVOID
Mika Zibanejad, NYR at NYI ($31): With the Islanders allowing the second-fewest goals per game and fifth-fewest high-danger scoring chances per 60 minutes at five-on-five, this is likely not the spot to spend up for Zibanejad. The Islanders have held him to just a single goal and two assists through seven games this season, too.
WING
Andrei Svechnikov, CAR vs. CLS ($21): Dating back to last season, Svechnikov has clicked with linemates Sebastian Aho and Teuvo Teravainen for an elite 5.83 goals and 20.24 high-danger scoring chances per 60 minutes. Additionally, the third-year Russian is back in another goal drought and hasn't scored in six games. Look for statistical correction for Svechnikov with Columbus allowing a healthy 3.27 goals per game, sixth most in the league.
Grigori Denisenko, FLA at CHI ($10): The 20-year-old rookie collected an assist last time out and is projected to remain on the No. 1 line with Aleksander Barkov and Anthony Duclair on Saturday. So, with a favorable matchup and minimum salary, Denisenko is a strong lean. Chicago has surrendered 23 goals through its past five games, after all.
WINGS TO AVOID
Patrick Kane, CHI vs. FLA ($33): The Panthers surrender the fourth-fewest five-on-five high-danger scoring chances per 60 minutes, and Kane has cooled off by his standards with just two tallies and 10 helpers through 13 April games. Just note, he still ranks fourth in the scoring race, so this is more a salary and matchup-based fade than anything.
Pavel Buchnevich, NYR at NYI ($23): Similar to linemate Zibanejad, the Islanders have kept Buchnevich in check to the tune of two goals and a single assist through seven meetings. In a deep player pool, there are enough options to pass over Buchnevich, unless you're looking for a contrarian angle.
DEFENSE
Shea Theodore, VGK at ARI ($26): With a five-game point streak snapped Friday against Arizona, look for Theodore to rebound in Saturday's rematch. He ranks second in points and second in shot attempts per 60 minutes among regular defensemen, and Arizona ranks sixth last in expected goals against in the league.
Rasmus Sandin, TOR vs. VAN ($10): Toronto is expected to take a long look at what they have in the 21-year-old defenseman ahead of the playoffs, and Thursday he logged a career-high 21:39 of ice time. Sandin has also collected two assists through the past three games and been on the ice for 13 high-danger scoring chances, so at minimum salary, he's an excellent source of cap relief.
DEFENSEMEN TO AVOID
Jakob Chychrun, ARI vs. VGK ($23): The 23-year-old defenseman buoyed his fantasy points with five shots during Friday's 3-0 win over Vegas. Beating the Golden Knights in consecutive games is a tall task though, and Chychrun and the Coyotes are huge underdogs Saturday. View him as a high-risk, high-reward option in the second half of the back-to-back set.
John Carlson, WAS vs. PIT ($22): It appears Calrson (lower body) is trending in the right direction to play Saturday after participating in Friday's optional skate. However, it's probably wise to take a wait-and-see approach with him because he underwhelmed prior to missing Thursday's game against Pittsburgh with a minus-4 rating and no points through his previous four contests.
