This article is part of our Yahoo DFS Hockey series.
Saturday's extensive NHL slate begins at 1:00 PM Eastern time and features 12 games. While there's no shortage of players to choose from here, certain guys stand out as options to target or, conversely, to avoid. Read on to see who falls into which category.
GOALIE
Sergei Bobrovsky, CLS at NYI ($34): Bobrovsky got off to a slow start this season, but he's looked like the dominant two-time Vezina Trophy winner we've grown accustomed to recently. In his past eight starts, the Russian netminder has pulled out seven victories while allowing more than two goals only twice. The pending unrestricted free agent is rumored to fancy New York, so he'll likely try to show off for his potential future employers with another strong performance here.
GOALIE TO AVOID
Chad Johnson, STL at ARI ($30): Johnson's 3.12 GAA and .895 save percentage leave a lot to be desired, and he's been even worse recently with 13 goals allowed over his past three appearances. With a tired group of skaters in front of him on the road -- St. Louis is playing the second leg of a back-to-back -- Johnson will be facing an uphill battle here.
CENTER
Drake Batherson, OTT vs. SJ ($16): Batherson's quickly making a name for himself at the NHL level, having recorded seven points in his first eight games. The rebuilding Senators are putting the 20-year-old forward in position to succeed, as he's skating on the top line with Matt Duchene while also receiving time on the power play. Owners who can't afford the red-hot Duchene at $21 can indirectly benefit from his services by locking in Batherson at $16.
CENTER TO AVOID
Connor McDavid, EDM vs. VGK ($34): As arguably the best player in the world, McDavid's capable of overcoming even the most difficult matchups. The odds are against him here, though, as Vegas netminder Marc-Andre Fleury has seven wins in his past eight starts, including three via shutout.
WINGS
Tyler Johnson, TB at FLA ($16): Tampa Bay has a glut of fantasy options, but Johnson stands out from the pack as a strong value play. He's easily been the most productive of the four Lightning wingers priced between $16 and $17, averaging 6.8 fantasy points while the rest of that group sits at 5.5 or fewer. With a top-six role and power-play time to boot, the diminutive forward is primed to exploit a Panthers team that's playing its second game in as many nights and ranks among the league's five most generous teams defensively.
Joonas Donskoi, SJ at OTT ($13): Donskoi was promoted to the top line alongside Joe Pavelski and Evander Kane with Timo Meier sidelined by an upper-body injury Wednesday. The affordable forward made the most of the opportunity, recording an assist in 16:55 of ice time -- two seconds short of his season high. With Meier ruled out again, Donskoi's once again in line for a first-line role against a Senators club that's surrendering a league-high 4.12 goals per game.
WINGS TO AVOID
Brad Marchand, BOS vs. DET ($28): Marchand snapped a seven-game goal drought Thursday, but he still has barely more than one third as many goals as $30 linemate David Pastrnak (seven versus 19). Among wingers in this slate that cost $24 or more, only Max Pacioretty averages fewer fantasy points than Marchand's 7.9, but at least Pacioretty has eight goals in his past seven games, while Marchand still hasn't reached that mark this season.
James van Riemsdyk, PHI at PIT ($19): Van Riemsdyk hasn't looked like himself since returning from injury, getting kept off the scoresheet in five of six games. The power forward will surely round into form eventually, but until then, it's best to look elsewhere unless his price drops.
DEFENSEMEN
Kris Letang, PIT vs. PHI ($24): Letang's biggest problem has always been staying healthy, but he's done that so far this season while racking up 20 points in 23 games, including eight on the power play. Philadelphia's giving up the second-most goals per game (3.58) while killing penalties at the league's second-lowest rate (70.9 percent), so this is a good time to pay up for the offensively gifted blueliner.
Josh Morrissey, WPG at NJ ($15): Morrissey's in line for an expanded role with Dustin Byfuglien sidelined for at least the next few games by a concussion. He posted 10.8 fantasy points in 28:59 of ice time in the first game of Byfuglien's current absence and also stepped up when Big Buff was out earlier this season. Look for Morrissey to find success against a mediocre Devils club that's playing its second game in as many nights.
DEFENSEMEN TO AVOID
Vince Dunn, STL at ARI ($18): Most of Dunn's fantasy value is derived from a role on St. Louis' top power-play unit -- five of his nine points this season have come with the extra man. With that information in mind, you couldn't hand pick a worse matchup for Dunn. Arizona's 89.2 percent penalty kill has been the stingiest in the league, and the Coyotes actually have more shorthanded goals scored than power-play goals against.
Kevin Shattenkirk, NYR at MON ($18): Shattenkirk's been stuck in low gear all season, and his average of 4.6 fantasy points per game is second-lowest among all blueliners in this slate priced at $16 or more (Nick Leddy brings up the rear at a disastrous 2.8). The Rangers are still in search of their first non-shootout road win of the season, which doesn't bode well for Shattenkirk's chances of raising his level here.
