This article is part of our DraftKings NHL series.
Saturday is the Kentucky Derby, but there are also two important playoff hockey games you'll want to keep an eye on. The first game begins at 3:00 PM ET, so be sure to get you daily fantasy lineups in early. Speaking of which, here are some players to target for your Saturday lineups.
GOALIE
Marc-Andre Fleury, PIT at WAS ($7,400): Fleury has posted a 2.39 GAA and a .935 save percentage in the playoffs, and in this series he has a 2.24 GAA and a .937 save percentage. Yes, the Penguins may be without Sidney Crosby, but that didn't hurt them in Game 4. Pittsburgh is on the verge of eliminating the Capitals, and Braden Holtby has a 3.00 GAA and a .867 save percentage in this series. Fleury is also the cheapest goalie, giving you the best potential bang for your buck.
CENTER
Evgeny Kuznetsov, WAS vs. PIT ($6,000): Kuznetsov started 37.1 percent of his shifts in the offensive zone, which was second most of any Capitals forward. In his last six games he's tallied five points, and he's also put a whopping 28 shots on goal. The Penguins have allowed 37.3 shots on net per game in the playoffs, and they gave up 32.6 shots on goal per contest in the regular season. That should mean Kuznetsov is able to keep putting pucks on net.
Mika Zibanejad, NYR at OTT ($5,300): Zibanejad suffered through an injury-hampered season, but he still managed 14 goals and 37 points in 56 games. He also ended the regular season playing better, notching nine points in nine contests. Now, he's tallied seven points in his last eight tilts. Craig Anderson got pulled in Game 4, and in his last three games he has a 3.95 GAA and a .878 save percentage.
WING
Phil Kessel, PIT at WAS ($6,500): Crosby's status is unknown for Saturday, although he's been practicing and it seems like there is at least a decent chance he'll play. However, even if Crosby isn't skating alongside Kessel there's always the power play, where he was outstanding this year. He played 3:59 per game with the extra man, tallying 30 power-play points. Kessel's added five more power-play points in the postseason. Holtby had a great regular season, but he has a .909 save percentage in these playoffs, making him feel like less of an obstacle to fantasy success.
Marcus Johansson, WAS vs. PIT ($5,000): Johansson was top notch against Toronto (five points in six games), and in his last two games he's tallied two assists. He's also been seeing a lot of power-play time, as he's played 4:34 with the extra man in his last three contests. Fleury has been great in the playoffs, but his regular season left something to be desired (3.02 GAA, .909 save percentage). Additionally, Pittsburgh's penalty kill has been mediocre in the playoffs.
Michael Grabner, NYR vs. OTT ($4,200): The Austrian speedster has a point in his last three games, including two goals. Those three points go along with the two goals he tallied in the Rangers' first two playoff games. He notched 27 goals in 76 games this year, and in the playoffs the Senators have allowed 2.70 goals per game. At this price, Grabner's upside makes him quite enticing, especially with Anderson's recent struggles in goal for Ottawa.
DEFENSE
Kevin Shattenkirk, WAS vs. PIT ($5,100): Shattenkirk started 42.1 percent of his shifts in the offensive zone with the Capitals, which was the most of any Washington player. He's always been an offensive force, and in 19 games with Washington this regular season he had 14 points, including seven on the power play. In the playoffs, he's added four more points with the extra man, and he's put 29 shots on goal in 10 postseason games.
Cody Ceci, OTT at NYR ($3,500): Erik Karlsson got banged up in Game 4, and while he is going to play Saturday, he may not be at full strength. If he's not, that could mean more minutes for Ceci, who has played 25:10 per game in the playoffs. Most of his fantasy value has come from blocked shots, and he has 32 of them in the postseason. He may be able to help on offense, though, especially since the Rangers allowed 2.90 goals per game at home this season.
