This article is part of our FantasyDraft NHL series.
It's a busy day for the NHL on Saturday, even if you exclude the afternoon game between Ottawa and Vegas. The matinee may be excluded for daily fantasy purposes, but that still leaves you with 12 games worth of players from which to choose. That can be overwhelming, but hopefully this list of players to target will make your decisions a little easier.
GOALIE
Winnipeg Jets, WPG vs. MON ($14,000): Recommending the Winnipeg Jets' goaltenders? Have I gone mad? Not in the slightest. Winnipeg's team GAA might be 2.83, but that's largely Steve Mason's fault. Connor Hellebuyck has a 1.91 GAA and a .938 save percentage. Montreal has only scored 2.54 goals per game, and with Carey Price hurt Al Montoya (3.77 GAA, .873 save percentage) is getting the start.
CENTER
Mika Zibanejad, NYR at FLA ($14,900): Zibanejad struggled in his first season with the Rangers, but this year has gone much better. He has 14 points through 14 games, including seven on the power play. The Panthers have a 4.17 GAA and have given up a league-high 36.8 shots on net per game. Seems like the odds are good Zibanejad's hot start will continue against Florida.
Brayden Schenn, STL vs. TOR ($12,100): Schenn had more than 20 power-play points his last two seasons in Philly, and he still has a big power-play role with his new team. He's played 3:34 with the extra man and has tallied three power-play points. The Maple Leafs have a 3.50 GAA and have allowed 32.7 shots on net per game after giving up 32.6 shots on goal per game last season.
WING
Jakub Voracek, PHI vs. COL ($14,100): Colorado had a league-high 3.37 GAA last season. While the Avalanche have been slightly better this year, their 3.08 GAA is far from good, and they've also allowed 33.8 shots on net per game. Voracek has 14 assists through 14 games, and while he only has two goals, that's on 45 shots. His 4.4 shooting percentage is bound to improve.
Jeff Skinner, CAR at ARI ($13,400): The Coyotes have been staggeringly bad in net this season. Arizona has a league-high 4.36 team GAA and a league-low .864 team save percentage. This is a great matchup for anybody, especially a sniper like Skinner. The three-time 30-goal scorer has seven goals on 39 shots through 11 games this season.
Kevin Labanc, SAN vs. ANA ($7,200): The Ducks will be on the second night of a back-to-back likely will be starting Ryan Miller in net, who isn't as good as John Gibson. That could be a problem for Anaheim, as it had allowed 34.3 shots on goal per game heading into Friday night. Labanc has started 67.4 percent of his shifts in the offensive zone, and he has four power-play points as well. He could be a great money-saving option.
DEFENSE
John Klingberg, DAL vs. BUF ($10,000) Klingberg has 11 points through 13 games, including six on the power play. He's had at least 12 power-play points every season he's played, so that kind of production is not a surprise. The Sabres have a 3.62 GAA and have allowed 32.2 shots on net per game. That comes after they gave up a league high 34.3 shots on goal per game last season. Klingberg has 34 shots on goal, so that bodes well for him.
Justin Faulk, CAR at ARI ($9,900): Faulk has started 65.6 percent of his shifts in the offensive zone, and he's played 3:23 per game with the extra man. The points aren't there for him just yet, but he's taken 39 shots on goal through 11 games, and he had 17 goals in 75 games last season. As previously noted, the Coyotes have been the worst team in the league defensively. They weren't much better last year when they had a 3.15 GAA, which was third highest in the NHL.
