This article is part of our FanDuel NHL series.
There are just six games included the main contests at FanDuel on Saturday, so it's a shallower player pool than usual. With that in mind, here are a handful of recommendations to considering while assembling your lineups.
GOALIE
Steve Mason, PHI vs. NJD ($8,000): The Devils are on the second leg of back-to-back road games and sport an active 2-13-4 stretch with an average of just 2.16 goals per game. New Jersey also entered Friday's game generating the fewest high-danger scoring chances per 60 minutes through the prior 18 contests. Mason has four consecutive wins with a .934 save percentage and 1.96 GAA, too. The price, the matchup and the form all align for the 28-year-old backstop.
CENTER
Mark Scheifele, WPG vs. OTT ($7,700): With 30 goals, 48 helpers and an elite 3.04 points per 60 minutes, it's been a tremendous offensive campaign for Scheifele. He's also hit the scoresheet 25 times through his past 20 games, and with just four power-play points during that stretch, there has been potential for more offense. This is a soft schedule spot to target Scheifele, too. Ottawa is playing its fourth contest of a five-game road trip, and the Senators have won just two of their past nine outings.
Brayden Point, TAM vs. MON ($4,500): The Tampa Bay lineup is injury riddled, and who will suit up Saturday is an unknown. However, Point is healthy and likely to log big minutes. He's collected four goals, nine points and 23 shots while averaging 21:21 of ice time (2:50 with the man advantage) over his past nine games, too. This isn't a strong matchup, but Point's role and current form present upside at this salary.
WING
Mike Hoffman, OTT at WPG ($6,700): Winnipeg owns the third-worst team save percentage (.899) and allows the third-most goals per game (3.15) in the league, so this is a ripe matchup for Hoffman. He's collected four goals, 17 points and 44 shots through his past 17 games and also boasts a rock-solid 2.8 points per 60 minutes for the campaign. There's a chance he's slightly overlooked Saturday, too.
Wayne Simmonds, PHI vs. NJD ($6,600): Coming off a Gordie Howe hat trick last time out, look for Simmonds to parlay the momentum into a solid showing against New Jersey. As noted, this is a tough schedule spot for the struggling Devils, and Simmonds' 6.7 shooting percentage over his past 15 games has room for positive regression. The Devils have allowed 3.07 goals per 60 minutes during their 19-game slump, including a healthy 8.29 while shorthanded. Simmonds has four consecutive seasons with double-digit power-play goals, so this matchup fits.
Elias Lindholm, CAR vs. DAL ($5,400): The 22-year-old Swede has provided reliable offensive numbers since late December with nine goals, 34 points and 93 shots through his past 49 games. He's logging top-line minutes and skating with the No. 1 power-play unit, and Lindholm grabs an A+ matchup against Dallas on Saturday. The Stars have allowed the fourth-most goals per game (3.14), the third-most high-danger scoring chances per 60 minutes (11.85) and sport the second-worst team save percentage in the league (.896), after all.
DEFENSE
Justin Faulk, CAR vs. DAL ($5,000): A high-ceiling target in a soft matchup, Faulk has an impressive five goals, 10 points and 43 points while logging 23:26 of ice time (2:35 on the power play) through his past 14 games. His game-to-game inconsistency can't be ignored, but it's also built into his salary. The only other downside is the potential for Faulk to carry a hefty ownership percentage.
Shayne Gostisbehere, PHI vs. NJD ($4,700): The offensively gifted rearguard has collected a goal, three helpers (two on the power play) and nine shots through his past three games and combines with Wayne Simmonds for a solid PP stack. Gostisbehere has had an up-and-down campaign, but he still sports an impressive 1.84 points per 60 minutes over the past two seasons, which rank sixth among all defensemen with at least 500 minutes.
