Saturday and NHL hockey go hand-in-hand, and there are 10 games on the schedule starting at 7 p.m. EDT or later. We've seen a handful of results for each NHL team, so the numbers from the current and previous seasons can be considered. Here are my DFS lineup recommendations.
SLATE PREVIEW
Three teams are on the second day of a back-to-back. The Sharks are at home against Pittsburgh, which could feature lots of offense. Meanwhile, the Wild and Lightning are visiting the Flyers and Blue Jackets, respectively. Tampa remains one of the biggest gaps between starting goalie and backup, so their consecutive games are always notable.
GOALIES
Scott Wedgewood, COL vs. BOS ($8,500): Mackenzie Blackwood hasn't yet played this year, but it that hasn't been an issue as Wedgewood has posted a .939 save percentage while allowing a single goal in four of five starts. The Bruins are likely to be better than last season, though the offense may not increase that much. They're currently bottom-six in goals and shots since the beginning of 2024-25.
Adin Hill, VGK vs. CGY ($8,400): Hill avoided missing time when he got banged up. And while he's off to a slow start, he's coming off a 2.47 GAA. The Flames have averaged 2.63 goals and 29.1 shots since the start of last season, so Hill has a decent chance of picking up a win at home.
Igor Shesterkin, NYR at MON ($7,600): Offensive support has been lacking for Shesterkin, but he's doing his best with a 1.00 GAA and .962 save percentage through five outings. He's held the Maple Leafs and Oilers in check during his last two appearances, so he can handle the Habs.
VALUE PLAYS/ONE-OFFS
Kirill Marchenko, CLM vs. TAM ($6,100): Marchenko is already at four goals with at least four shots three times. While Columbus is often under-the-radar, he was a 30-goal scorer and produced over 200 pucks on net last year. Andrei Vasilevskiy is one of the best goalies, though his backup Jonas Johansson…is not with an .892 save percentage the last three seasons.
Rickard Rakell, PIT at SAN ($5,600): Rakell is one of the Penguins that may be moved to another team, but for now he's around and skating with Sidney Crosby. He also has two goals and two assists across five games. The Sharks finished worst in GAA last season and there's a good chance that'll repeat itself. And of course, they're closing out a back-to-back on Saturday.
Owen Tippett, PHI vs. MIN ($5,200): Tippett has reached 20 goals in each of the last three seasons. And he's so far found the back of the net twice on nine shots. The Wild are on their second straight night with Jesper Wallstedt projected to start. While he's considered a promising goalie, his career save percentage is .884.
FORWARD LINE STACKS TO CONSIDER
Stars at Blues
Wyatt Johnston (C - $6,300), Jason Robertson (W - $6,400), Tyler Seguin (W - $4,700)
This trio has been hot to start, though the power play has helped. However, that's not a concern here as the Blues ranked 27th on the penalty kill since the beginning of last season. Jordan Binnington has posted a .902 save percentage the last five campaigns, and he's already managed one subpar start.
Johnston literally has a goal in every game this season. That won't continue (spoiler!), yet he's gotten to 30 in each of the last two years. Robertson has six points - three with the extra man - through four games even though he's at a 9.5 shooting percentage. After missing most of 2024-25, Seguin is healthy and has notched a point during three outings with one of those on the power play.
Hurricanes at Kings
Sebastian Aho (C - $6,900), Seth Jarvis (W - $7,000), Nikolaj Ehlers (W - $6,000)
Darcy Kuemper is hurt. The Kings just traded for Pheonix Copley, which leads one to believe he may not play Saturday. That would mean Anton Forsberg is likely starting. The 32-year-old has an .897 save percentage the last four seasons while giving up at least three goals in two starts. And even if Kuemper returns, the Carolina's lead line offers plenty of offensive potential.
Aho has recorded six points with at least one in every matchup. And that's with only one goal and a slightly-low 11.1 shooting percentage. Jarvis, who's been a 30-goal scorer each of the last two seasons, has been finishing off those Aho passes with five goals to go with two assists. Ehlers was a significant free-agent signing who hasn't yet notched a point. The good news is he's registered 13 shots while logging 3:43 per game on the power play, so the offense will eventually come.
DEFENSEMEN
Erik Karlsson, PIT at SAN ($4,900): After a slow start, Karlsson produced two assists last time out. There's a decent chance he'll get on the scoresheet against Saturday as the Sharks are on the second leg of a back-to-back with former Penguin Alex Nedeljkovic listed as the starting opposing goalie with his .898 save percentage the last five seasons.
Brent Burns, COL vs. BOS ($3,900): Burns is 40, but he's still got some life in his legs. He's posted an assist during each of his last three games with three shots four times overall. Jeremy Swayman allowed six goals on Thursday and has faced at least 36 shots in two of three starts.
Braden Schneider, NYR at MON ($3,100): Schneider has assumed a larger role at 18:28 per game, including 1:12 on the power play. That's resulted in two assists, 10 shots, and nine blocked shots over six outings. My lack of belief in Sam Montembeault (and the Canadiens' defense) is warranted once again as he's struggled to a .870 save percentage through three appearances.
