This article is part of our FanDuel NHL series.
FanDuel's main contests consist of the 10 evening games that start at 7 EST With such a deep player pool, it'll be easy to differentiate your selections for tournaments. Here are a handful of options across multiple price points to consider for your lineups.
GOALIE
Pekka Rinne, NAS vs. DET ($9,100): The Red Wings enter Saturday's game on the wrong end of a back-to-back set, and Nashville has allowed the fewest high-danger scoring chances per 60 minutes (8.63) in the league. Rinne also boasts a rock-solid .939 save percentage and 1.88 GAA with seven wins through his past 11 outings.
CENTER
Jack Eichel, BUF vs. OTT ($7,300): The Senators are playing the final leg of a three-game road trip, and Eichel sports a three-game point drought despite registering 13 shots on net and logging 20:31 of ice time per outing (2:49 on the power play). The sophomore is reasonably priced and should be less owned than many of the other high-priced centers. For what it's worth, our NHL daily lineup optimizer is also bullish.
Eric Staal, MIN at VAN ($6,000): The offense has dried up lately for Staal (one goal and two points over his last nine games), but his salary is easily managed, and Vancouver isn't a daunting opponent. In fact, the Canucks impressive home-ice play has already started to see negative regression following Thursday's 4-1 loss to San Jose. Staal also sports an impressive 18th-ranked 2.61 points per 60 minutes among all skaters with 900 minutes this season.
WING
Nikita Kucherov, TAM vs. ANA ($7,600): The Ducks are on the wrong end of back-to-back road games and landed in the Eastern time zone for the first time since Dec. 22 on Friday. Anaheim also has allowed the ninth-most high-danger scoring chances per 60 minutes (11.31), and Kucherov's 3.04 points per 60 minutes the last three years rank seventh among all skaters with at least 3,000 minutes.
Cam Atkinson, CLM vs. NJD ($7,300): With both teams playing the second leg of back-to-back sets, look for Columbus to have a strong outing at home against an inferior club. Atkinson scored Friday against Pittsburgh to improve to a third-ranked 1.67 goals and seventh-ranked 3.15 points per 60 minutes among all skaters with 800 minutes.
Tomas Hertl, SAN vs. ARI ($5,000): The fourth-year winger has hit the scoresheet in consecutive games while skating with Joe Thornton and Joe Pavelski at even strength, and the Sharks land in a ripe matchup Saturday. Arizona has allowed the most high-danger scoring chances per 60 minutes (12.89) and second-most goals per game (3.16) in the league.
DEFENSE
Kevin Shattenkirk, STL vs. PIT ($6,000): With three goals, nine points and 18 shots in his last nine games, Shattenkirk is ramping up his offense amid plenty of trade rumors. The Penguins are dealing with a few key injuries and enter Saturday's game on the wrong end of a back-to-back set. Don't forget, Shattenkirk also boasts a fourth-ranked 1.81 points per 60 minutes among all defensemen with at least 2,500 minutes the last four seasons.
Rasmus Ristolainen, BUF vs. OTT ($5,100): This salary doesn't match Ristolainen's excellent cross-category production over the last two seasons. However, the blue liner is mired is a 19-game funk with just five assists. However, his 44 shots, 52 blocked shots and 27:57 of ice time (3:35 on the power play) during the stretch buoy his value when he isn't scoring. Expect Ristolainen to be scarcely owned Saturday, and he has positive regression ahead offensively.
