This article is part of our Yahoo DFS Hockey series.
Saturday's 12-game slate offers a vast array of options to choose from at every position. The streaking Rangers' third line offers some of the best bang for the buck, but there are value plays to be found in every price range with this many players to choose from. Listed below are six of the guys with the best combination of floor and upside, as well as six unlucky players landing on the opposite end of the spectrum due to a combination of poor play and opponent:
GOALIE
Carey Price, MTL vs. PHI ($38): Price is well worth his high price in this matchup. He only costs $2 more than Cam Talbot and Braden Holtby, but has been far superior to either with a 6-0-0 record, 1.17 GAA and .964 save percentage. The 2015 Vezina and Hart Trophy winner has unmatched safety and upside against a Flyers team he just beat 3-1 on Oct. 24.
Goalie to Avoid
Ben Bishop, TB vs. NJ ($34): This matchup looks good at first glance, but it's hard to justify paying up for Bishop regardless of opponent right now. Tampa Bay's veteran netminder has been looking over his shoulder at youngster Andrei Vasilevskiy all season, and his poor play has given him even more reason to worry about job security. Bishop has an ugly 3.30 GAA and .891 save percentage, while the Devils have stepped it up offensively with 13 goals in their last four games.
CENTER
Kevin Hayes, NYR at BOS ($13): Hayes went through a sophomore slump last season, but he has rebounded with four goals and 10 points in 11 games this year. He has been even better in the past three games for the surging Rangers, with two goals, five assists and a plus-7 rating. Boston has been tough this season, but $1 above the minimum is much too good a price to pass up on the 24-year-old.
Center to Avoid
Joe Pavelski, SJ vs. PIT ($30): Pavelski has cooled down a bit with 7.0 or fewer fantasy points in three of his last four, and now he has to contend with a Penguins team that had won four straight before falling in overtime to the Kings on Thursday. With all the talent available in his stratospheric price range, it's tough to justify paying this much for Pavelski in such a tough matchup.
WINGS
Michael Grabner, NYR at BOS ($15): Grabner's presence has been a major reason for linemate Kevin Hayes' recent hot streak, as the speedy winger has potted four goals and assisted on another over his past three games. He has proven capable of producing for significant stretches before with a 34-goal 2010-11 season under his belt, and is being used in a very offensive-minded role by the Rangers. Look for the 29-year-old Austrian's bounce-back campaign to continue against a Boston team that has allowed three or more goals in four of its last six.
Tanner Pearson, LA vs. CGY ($19): Someone figures to score for the Kings against a Flames team that's allowing 3.42 goals per game, and Pearson is the best bet to do so among the team's wingers. He has four goals and three assists on their top line and can be had at a reasonable price. If you have other ways to spend your money at center, then getting Pearson in your lineup is the best way to still take advantage of this favorable matchup.
Wings to Avoid
Jaden Schwartz, STL vs. CLS ($17): Schwartz has been struggling to get on the score sheet, and he saw his ice time drop to a season-low 17:28 Thursday against the Dallas. Avoid the slumping winger until he starts trending back in the right direction.
Brad Marchand, BOS vs. NYR ($30): Marchand's stats are inflated from a five-point opening night, but he hasn't been nearly as effective of late, averaging just 4.8 fantasy points per game over his last six. That's nowhere near the expected production for a $30 player, and things aren't likely to get better against the 8-3-0 Rangers.
DEFENSEMEN
Mark Giordano, CGY at LA ($23): It's a testament to Giordano's all-around ability that he has been able to top 8.0 fantasy points four times in his past seven games despite managing just one goal and one assist in that span. The scoring will come soon enough given his 0.67 point per game average since the start of the 2013-14 season, but you can safely deploy Giordano knowing that he doesn't have to get on the scoresheet to provide solid value.
John Klingberg, DAL vs. CHI ($18): Half of Klingberg's six points have come on the man advantage, which bodes well for his chances of producing against Chicago's league-worst penalty kill. The Blackhawks have allowed opponents to score on 38.5 percent of their power-play opportunities, and the Stars' first-unit point man doesn't exactly lack for options to distribute to. His scoring upside is terrific for an $18 defenseman.
Defensemen to Avoid
Marc-Edouard Vlasic, SJ vs. PIT ($18): Vlasic is off to a slow start, having exceeded 5.0 fantasy points just four times in 11 games and 8.0 only once. Facing the Penguins team that just beat him in the Stanley Cup final last season isn't likely to get him going.
Shayne Gostisbehere, PHI at MTL ($22): Gostisbehere gathers most of his value from offense, and there isn't likely to be much of that against the undefeated Carey Price. Montreal's goaltender has a wonderful 1.17 GAA and .964 save percentage, rendering opposing fantasy stars almost useless. Don't try to get cute here by being contrarian, as it's more than likely to just backfire.
