This article is part of our Yahoo DFS Hockey series.
Saturday's four-game NHL evening slate won't lack for drama north of the border, where four of the league's seven Canadian teams will be pairing off for back-to-back battles. While those two contests should be slightly higher scoring since they feature the three top offenses in action, it's important not to ignore the American side of the slate. The players listed below should all perform well above expectations, regardless of which country they'll be skating in.
GOALIE
Jonathan Quick, LA vs. BUF ($42) - Don't overthink things at the goaltender position. Quick is the most expensive option for a reason, as his current three-game winning streak and matchup with the league's second-least threatening offense makes the American netminder the odds-on favorite to lead his position in scoring Saturday.
Goalie to Avoid:
Petr Mrazek, DET at COL ($40) - Unlike the similarly-priced Quick, Mrazek will have his work cut out for him against an Avalanche team that has won five of seven. He's only reached double-digit fantasy points once in his last five starts, making Detroit's netminder a very iffy choice considering the circumstances.
CENTER
Nazem Kadri, TOR at MON ($19) - Kadri has heated up with five points in his last three games, just in time to take advantage of a rival Montreal team that is reeling defensively. The Canadiens have allowed 22 goals in a 2-3-1 stretch over their last six games, as both Mike Condon and Ben Scrivens have been flailing in net. Look for Kadri to take advantage of their shoddy goaltending and extend his point streak to four.
Center to Avoid:
Dylan Larkin, DET at COL ($20) - Larkin has been bumped from a top-six role in Detroit following a seven-game stretch in which he went minus-5 with just one point. Playing fewer minutes with less-talented skaters isn't exactly known as the formula for breaking out of a slump, making $20 a significant overpayment for the struggling rookie.
WING
Jarome Iginla, COL vs. DET ($18) - The 38-year-old Iginla seems to have found the fountain of youth, with five goals and seven assists in 10 games since Feb. 4. He has attempted at least seven shots on goal twice in that span, and is constantly putting himself in position to get on the scoresheet. At just $18, Iginla is well worth a look considering his recent offensive output.
Mark Stone, OTT at CGY ($23) - Stone was third in the NHL in points after the All-Star break in 2014-15, and he's in the midst of another post-break surge with nine goals and four assists in 12 games since the 2016 edition. The streaking winger just takes a few months to get going, but Stone is an absolute must-start commodity based on his astronomical second-half splits.
Wing to Avoid:
Evander Kane, BUF at LA ($18) - Kane hasn't played particularly well since being benched for a game after missing a practice, totaling just 14.0 fantasy points in three subsequent appearances. Facing the NHL's second-ranked defensive team doesn't bode well for Kane's chances of turning things around and getting back into the coaching staff's good graces.
DEFENSEMEN
P.K. Subban, MON vs. TOR ($22) - Subban loves facing the Maple Leafs, as his 18 career points in 28 games against them trail only his total against the Senators. The Toronto-born Canadien leads his team with 46 points this season, and he should be able to add to that total against a 24th-ranked Toronto defense that lets many opportunities slip through the cracks.
Dion Phaneuf, OTT at CGY ($15) - Phaneuf is experiencing an offensive resurgence since being traded to Ottawa, with six points in eight games for the Senators. His $15 valuation hasn't caught up to the defensemen's recent contributions yet, and having extra motivation against the team for which he played from 2005 to 2010 only raises Phaneuf's stock. Those looking to save a few bucks on the blueline won't find a more promising deal out there.
Defensemen to Avoid:
T.J. Brodie, CGY vs. OTT ($20) - Brodie has been silent since racking up three assists on Feb. 19, scoring just 2.0 total points in three subsequent games. His overall resume is solid, but $20 is an ambitious price for a player who hasn't found the back of the net since Dec. 15 in addition to struggling over the past week.
Erik Karlsson, OTT vs. CGY ($32) - Karlsson has cooled off significantly following a ridiculously productive three-week stretch spanning late January and early February. He's averaging 8.0 fantasy points per game since Feb. 10, and that still-impressive level of production simply isn't high enough to justify the $8 gap between the Swede and the second-most expensive defenseman.
