This article is part of our DraftKings NHL series.
Even with three afternoon games cut off to form their own set of contests, Saturday still has an earlier start time than usual for its evening slate. The first game kicks off at 6:00 PM ET, so be sure to set your lineups in time. There are 11 games worth of players to choose from, and here are some names I think you should target Saturday.
GOALIE
Jaroslav Halak, NYI at NJD ($7,900): It's unclear whether Halak or Thomas Greiss ($7,900) will start this game, but Halak has started five games in a row, so for now I'll go with him. He has done nothing to dissuade the Islanders from starting him either, as in his last four games he's picked up a win while posting a 0.99 GAA and a .966 save percentage. The Devils, meanwhile, have only managed 2.21 goals and 27.7 shots on net per game. As such, regardless of who's in goal for the Islanders, they shouldn't be threatened too much.
CENTER
Ryan Johansen, NAS at WPG ($5,900): Johansen has averaged 2:53 per game on the power play, and he's tallied 23 points with the extra man in 81 games. Now he gets the chance to end his regular season against the 27th-ranked penalty kill. That bodes well for Johansen, who also has six points in his last eight games.
Martin Hanzal, MIN at ARI ($4,400): Hanzal has started to find his footing with the Wild. In his last 12 games, he's tallied eight points. That's despite the fact his 7.7 shooting percentage with Minnesota is decidedly-worse than the 12.7 shooting percentage he had with the Coyotes. Speaking of Arizona, they've allowed 3.15 goals and 34.0 shots on net per contest. It wouldn't be surprising to see Hanzal have a nice fantasy day against his former team.
WING
Jamie Benn, DAL vs. COL ($6,600): There's no better matchup in the NHL right now than the Avalanche, as they've allowed a whopping 3.38 goals per game. Nobody is within 0.21 goals of lowly Colorado. The Avalanche have also given up 31.6 shots on net per contest, and they have the 29th-ranked penalty kill. Benn has 25 goals and 68 points in 76 games, and 25 of his points have come on the power play. The Stars don't have much depth, so if you want to take advantage of this matchup, you'll have to spend a little extra on a guy like Benn. He should be well worth it.
Jonathan Huberdeau, FLA vs. BUF ($5,600): Huberdeau has started 38.7 percent of his shifts in the offensive zone, which is fourth most on the Panthers. He's also averaged 2:33 per game on the power play, and he's tallied six power-play points in 29 games. Overall, he's averaged 3.4 fantasy points per game. The Sabres have allowed a league-high 34.2 shots on goal per game, and their penalty kill is ranked a lowly 26th in the NHL.
Milan Lucic, EDM at VAN ($4,500): Lucic was considered a bit of a bust for a while, but that's changed recently. In his last 20 games, he's tallied 11 goals and five assists. He's also played 2:44 a game with the extra man, tallying 25 points in that time. The Canucks have allowed 2.91 goals and 31.6 shots on goal per contest. They also have the 28th-ranked penalty kill, which bodes well for Lucic.
DEFENSE
Oscar Klefbom, EDM at VAN ($5,400): Klefbom has had a nice few games, as he's tallied six points and 13 shots on goal in his last four contests. He's notched 201 shots on goal in 80 games, which is an impressive number for a defenseman. Since the All-Star break, Vancouver has allowed 3.17 goals and 32.8 shots on net per contest. They also have the 28th-ranked penalty kill, and Klefbom has 14 points with the extra man.
Tyson Barrie, COL at DAL ($4,300): Barrie has started 36.9 percent of his shifts in the offensive zone, which is the most of any player on the Avalanche. He's also averaged 3:08 per game with the extra man, and Dallas is dead last on the penalty kill. The Stars are also fifth in shot attempts per 60 minutes (59.1), giving Barrie the opportunity to potentially block a shot or two, which would boost his fantasy value a bit.
