This article is part of our FanDuel NHL series.
The main contests at FanDuel consist of Saturday's eight evening games beginning at 7 EDT. Here are a handful of players to consider across multiple prices ranges while assembling your lineups.
GOALIE
Jake Allen, STL at ARI ($8,700): Since the St. Louis coaching change, Allen has improved his play significantly with a .939 save percentage and 1.81 GAA through 15 starts. Arizona had a three-game winning streak snapped last time out, and this sets up as a tough win. After all, the Coyotes have averaged the fourth-fewest goals per game (2.37) and generated the sixth-fewest high-danger scoring chances per 60 minutes (9.56). Allen's salary hasn't quite caught up to his recent form, either.
CENTER
Connor McDavid, EDM vs. VAN ($8,800): The Canucks have dropped five consecutive games, allowing 19 goals during the losing skid. Confirmed starter Richard Bachman is making just his third NHL start over the last two seasons. McDavid hasn't slowed all season and has tallied six goals, 19 points and 46 shots through his last 15 games. He boasts a fourth-ranked 3.24 points per 60 minutes among all skaters with at least 2,000 minutes since entering the league, too.
Nick Schmaltz, CHI at TOR ($4,000): One of two things needs to happen before Schmaltz losses his intriguing allure in daily contests. He either stops scoring, or his price catches up to his production. As it stands, the rookie is centering offensive stars Patrick Kane and Artemi Panarin at even strength, and he has collected 13 points through his last 14 games. The cap space and consistency Schmaltz offers is helpful when trying to spend up elsewhere for elite scorers.
WING
Vladimir Tarasenko, STL at ARI ($8,200): The high-end sniper has hit a groove with six goals, seven points and 26 shots through his last six outings, and he lands in a high-end matchup Saturday. Arizona allows the most high-danger scoring chances per 60 minutes (13.11) and also struggle while shorthanded (8.11 goals against per 60 minutes and 77.7 penalty-kill percentage). Look for Tarasenko to stay hot Saturday.
Nino Niederreiter, MIN vs. NYR ($4,900): The Rangers entered Friday's game allowing the fourth-most high-danger scoring chances per 60 minutes through their last 40 games and travel to face the Wild on Saturday. Niederreiter has cooled significantly with just two helpers through his last nine games. However, his price reflects his slump, and the 24-year-old winger's 2.77 points per 60 minutes rank 21st among all skaters with at least 1,000 minutes this season.
Charlie Coyle, MIN vs. NYR ($3,900): Mired in a dreadful offensive funk, positive regression is ahead for Coyle. He's missed the scoresheet in 13 of his last 14 outings but has 21 shots through his last five games. As noted, the Rangers check out as a soft matchup, and Coyle's low salary makes him a strong stack option alongside linemate Nino Niederreiter.
DEFENSE
Roman Josi, NAS at CAR ($6,600): Despite producing at an elite level and moving the needle across all categories for more than a month, Josi is still a slight discount. He's notched six goals, 21 points, 52 shots and 32 blocked shots while logging 25:20 of ice time per outing (2:32 on the power play) through his last 18 games. Additionally, the Hurricanes own the worst team save percentage (.908) at five-on-five in the league and have lost 11 of their last 17 games.
Oscar Klefbom, EDM vs. VAN ($4,600): The 23-year-old defenseman is a sneaky stack option to help mitigate Connor McDavid's hefty salary. Klefbom and McDavid have combined for 3.8 goals per 60 minutes at five-on-five this season, and they're both members of the No. 1 power-play unit. Despite registering just one goal through his last five games, Klefbom provides a solid fantasy floor through the peripheral categories, as he has 15 shots and 16 blocked shots with an average of 3:00 of power-play time during that five-game span.
