This article is part of our Yahoo DFS Hockey series.
Saturday brings our biggest NHL slate of the season so far, with 13 games offering fantasy players plenty of options. A few teams are playing the latter end of back-to-back games -- Calgary and Philadelphia both played Friday night, while the Blackhawks and Predators are competing a home-and-home set. Let's identify some values to fit into Saturday's Yahoo NHL lineups and others to steer clear of.
GOALIE
Craig Anderson, OTT vs. MON ($30): Good news for Anderson: The Habs don't employ Auston Matthews, who lit him up for four goals in the opener -- but was the only Leaf to get a shot past him. They also won't have Carey Price in this game, giving Ottawa the goaltending edge with backup
Goalie to Avoid:
Carter Hutton, STL vs. NYR ($30): Hutton is a tempting play after starter Jake Allen won his first two starts behind a tremendous Blues defense that has limited the opposition to just 42 shots on goal, but he's about to face a Rangers team that generated five goals on 39 shots in the opener. While they likely won't approach that shot total in this game, the Blueshirts still present enough of a threat to push the affordable backup off your radar. On a night with 12 other games, there are smarter options to be found.
CENTER
Auston Matthews, TOR vs. BOS ($22): It might be a good idea to get the guy who scored four goals in his NHL debut back in your lineup for his first career home game. Matthews' price is still reasonable despite the early success, and Bruins netminder Tuukka Rask did allow three goals to the Blue Jackets despite ending up victorious in his last game. Plus, the FOMO that comes with leaving the 2016 first overall pick out of your lineup after his electric season-opening performance is too great for anyone to have to bear. Those looking for a cheaper alternative should consider Flyers rookie Travis Konecny ($12), who will be skating on a high-octane scoring line with Sean Couturier and Jakub Voracek while Brayden Schenn serves a three-game suspension.
Center to Avoid:
Evgeny Kuznetsov, WAS vs. NYI ($28): Kuznetsov slumped late last year, failing to score in the regular season after March 1 and managing just four assists in his final 12 games before totaling just two points in 12 playoff contests. He's still seeing first-line minutes alongside Alex Ovechkin, but his play down the stretch and quiet performance in the opener don't inspire confidence that the Russian center will live up to his hefty price tag here.
WING
Joonas Donskoi, SJ vs. CLM ($14): Donskoi is skating on the second line with Logan Couture and Mikkel Boedker, which should mean plenty of scoring opportunities against a Blue Jackets team that gave up the second-most goals in the league last year and allowed six to the Bruins in the season opener. The Finnish winger kicked off his sophomore season with an assist in his own opener, and he's likely to at least match that output in a game that shouldn't lack for scoring from San Jose. At just $14, the bang for the buck here is much too good to overlook given Donskoi's spot in the lineup and vulnerable opposition.
Kevin Fiala, NAS at CHI ($12): Fiala makes for a terrific bargain at the minimum price as the Predators complete their home-and-home with the Blackhawks. The 2014 first-rounder is being thrust into a scoring role from the get-go this season, skating on the top line alongside established veterans Filip Forsberg and Ryan Johansen. He led AHL Milwaukee with 50 points in 66 games last yer and should get plenty of open ice to display his skills with Chicago focused on containing his linemates.
Wings to Avoid:
Taylor Hall, NJ at TB ($27): Hall was a non-factor in his Devils debut, and he could need some time to mesh with his new linemates and adjust to a much more defensively responsible system that offers fewer opportunities at the other end. He'll certainly collect his share of points this year, but paying $27 for him at this early stage doesn't make much sense.
Alexander Radulov, MON at OTT ($19): Radulov was unimpressive in his first NHL action since the 2011-12 season, and it would be wise to wait for him to get used to the smaller North American rinks before plugging him into lineups. He played only 15:45 against the Sabres, giving him fewer opportunities than most players in this price range.
DEFENSEMEN
Mark Giordano, CGY at VAN ($22): Giordano is criminally underpriced at just $22 given his tremendous production on both ends. The veteran blueliner has 151 points and a plus-20 rating in 207 games over the past three seasons, which averages out to 60 points over a full 82-game campaign. He also takes and blocks plenty of shots, raising his floor above those of the offense-first blueliners who need to get on the scoresheet to contribute. It would be a travesty to keep him out of your lineup at this price against a Vancouver team that allowed 52 more goals than it scored last season.
Ryan Suter, MIN vs. WPG ($19): Suter scored the first goal of the Wild's season while leading the team in ice time against the Blues, and he could repeat both feats against a Jets team that figures to allow plenty of goals this season. Winnipeg tries to outscore opponents to make up for its subpar goaltending tandem of Connor Hellebuyck and Michael Hutchinson, but that strategy will be tough to execute against shutdown blueliners like Suter. The steady veteran should get plenty of offensive opportunities while seeing a monstrous share of ice time in what promises to be a high-scoring affair, and he also isn't a major risk to be present for many conceded goals after finishing with a positive rating in each of the last seven seasons.
Defensemen to Avoid:
Victor Hedman, TAM vs. NJ ($21): Sure, he's coming off a strong opener with two power-play assists, but this time around, Hedman and the Bolts draw a New Jersey team that tends to play tight, low-scoring games in front of Cory Schneider. Hedman gets all the opportunity you like to see both at even strength and on the power play -- which looked improved in the opener -- but there are safer options Saturday.
Duncan Keith, CHI vs. NSH ($23): Keith is off to a slow start after undergoing offseason knee surgery. The veteran still eats plenty of minutes on the blueline, but isn't pushing the pace like he does when healthy. On the second night of a back-to-back set, it's best not to push your luck when it's still unclear how Keith's knee will respond.
