This article is part of our FanDuel NHL series.
FanDuel's main contests include the nine evening games beginning with the five bouts scheduled for 7 p.m. EST. It's a deep player pool, so you'll have plenty of avenues for differentiating your lineup. Here are a number of recommendations across multiple price ranges to consider:
GOALIES
Craig Anderson, OTT at COL ($8,600): Since returning from his personal leave, Anderson sports an 8-2 record, .944 save percentage and 1.80 GAA. Colorado is the lowest-scoring team (1.95 goals per game) and generates the fewest high-danger scoring chances per 60 minutes at five-on-five (7.91) in the league. Anderson isn't priced out of the matchup or his current form, either.
CENTERS
Auston Matthews, TOR vs. CAR ($7,000): Currently sporting a four-game point drought, this is a nice spot for Matthews to return to form. He posted eight goals, 16 points and 51 shots through the previous 13 games, after all. Additionally, the freshman sports a fifth-ranked goals (1.58), 20th-ranked points (2.81) and fifth-ranked shots (11.69) per 60 minutes among all skaters with 1,000 minutes this season. The Hurricanes also have a league-worst .907 team save percentage at five-on-five and allow 3.09 goals per road game.
Brayden Point, TAM vs. FLA ($3,700): A low-priced flier with upside, Point lands in a decent matchup with Florida on the wrong end of back-to-back games after losing 7-4 to Minnesota on Friday. While the rookie has missed the scoresheet in five straight outings, Point had six goals and nine points in his previous 11 games. He's also projected to remain in a top-six role and receive power-play time.
WINGS
Vladimir Tarasenko, STL vs. NYI ($7,900): With the Islanders allowing the second-most high-danger scoring chances per 60 minutes (12.0), Tarasenko checks out as a strong option Saturday. He's found the scoresheet in consecutive games for two goals, an assist and eight shots on net. Additionally, his 1.58 goals, 3.04 points and 11.33 shots per 60 minutes rank second, fifth and fourth among all skaters with 4,000 minutes over the past three years, respectively.
Mark Stone, OTT at COL ($5,800): The Avalanche have the second-worst team save percentage at five-on-five (.910) and have allowed the most goals per game (3.27) in the league. Stone has three assists and eight shots through his past four games while skating in a top-line role and being assigned to the No. 1 power-play unit. Considering Stone's 2.6 points per 60 minutes over the past three seasons rank 14th among all skaters with at least 4,000 minutes, this salary presents nice value in the favorable matchup.
Elias Lindholm, CAR at TOR ($4,400): With 23 points and 65 shots through his past 27 games, Lindholm has turned up the offense for a prolonged stretch. He's locked into a top-six role with power-play time on the no. 1 unit, and with Toronto allowing the fourth-most scoring chances per 60 minutes (30.11), the salary presents excellent value considering Lindholm's excellent form.
DEFENSEMEN
Erik Karlsson, OTT at COL ($7,400): The star defenseman has found the scoresheet in 11 of his past 14 games, totaling five goals, 17 points, 50 shots and 40 blocked shots while logging 25:35 of ice time, including 3:15 on the man advantage. As noted, Colorado checks out as a soft matchup, and there is a chance Karlsson's ownership is lower than it should be because of the deep player pool.
Oliver Ekman-Larsson, ARI vs. NJD ($4,500): There is no way to spin Ekman-Larsson's production this season positively, and he's been non-existent of late with just a single assist through his past 10 games. He's still logged huge minutes during the span (25:01 with 3:59 on the power play), though, and New Jersey enters with a slew of injuries and poor road form, losing five consecutive away games.
