This article is part of our DraftKings NHL series.
It's a rare Saturday in the NHL with no matinee games. Instead, it's a jam-packed evening with 13 games on the schedule.
SLATE PREVIEW
Here's a quick-hit primer to highlight everything you need to know about Saturday's schedule.
Notable Favorites from DraftKings Sportsbook:
Pittsburgh (-186)
Toronto (-167)
Nashville (-240)
Colorado (-177)
Edmonton (-155)
Calgary (-190)
Teams playing for the second consecutive night:
New Jersey
Toronto
Columbus
Washington
San Jose
Potential High-Scoring Contests:
Rangers vs. Senators
Canadiens vs. Maple Leafs
Lightning vs. Panthers
Injury Watch:
Evgeny Kuznetsov, Washington (suspended)
Sam Steel, Anaheim (upper body)
Robert Thomas, St. Louis (upper body)
Andreas Athanasiou, Detroit (undisclosed)
Frans Nielsen, Detroit (lower body)
David Krejci, Boston (lower body)
Tomas Jurco, Edmonton (undisclosed)
Evander Kane, San Jose (suspended)
Cory Schneider, New Jersey (leg)
GOALIES
Not only are the Sharks playing their third game in four nights, they've also lost their first two contests and scored just a single goal in each. John Gibson ($7,600) has posted elite numbers throughout his career, and the injection of youth into the Anaheim lineup is promising. There is also a nice value considering the American owns a career 73-27-15 record, .926 save percentage and 2.28 GAA at the Honda Center.
The Blues generated an underwhelming five high-danger scoring chances in their season opener against Washington, and there's potential the defending champs continue to ease their way into the 2019-20 campaign. Additionally, the Stars own a top-five rank in goals against, expected goals against and high-danger scoring chances allowed per 60 minutes at five-on-five dating back to last season. The focus on team defense in front of Ben Bishop ($7,500) helped him to a career-best showing last year, and he boasts an impressive .925 save percentage as a Star.
Two high-priced options stand out. Alexandar Georgiev ($8,200) takes a career .918 save percentage into his date with the lowly Sens, and the new-look Rangers looked good opening night. While paying the piper for Pekka Rinne ($8.400) services hurts your cap flexibility, the veteran has been as close to automatic as there is at Bridgestone Arena with a career 215-83-40 record, .921 save percentage and 2.23 GAA.
VALUE PLAYS/ONE-OFFS
It's rare to find top offensive centers in the price range Aleksander Barkov ($5,100) and Sebastian Aho ($5,200) fall into. Barkov was nearly non-existent again Tampa Bay on Thursday, so look for a bounce-back showing. The Finn piled up 174 points - with 62 of those goals - over 160 games the past two seasons, after all. Similarly, Aho was held off the scoresheet opening night, but he attempted six shots and was on the ice for seven high-danger chances. Don't forget he recorded 30 goals, 53 assists and 24 power-play points last year.
Turning to top centers at even more affordable prices, Ryan Getzlaf ($4,000) and Derek Stepan ($4,000) warrant mention for their price and significant roles. They both could also be scarcely owned. Stepan played 20:51 and scored Thursday, whereas Getzlaf logged a surprisingly low 15:15 of ice time but still attempted four shots and got involved in two high-danger scoring chances.
There's also a few low-priced veterans to turn to for your winger lineup slots. Jamie Benn ($4,800) is coming off a down 2018-19 campaign and failed to register a shot or point Thursday. However, his go-to offensive role positions him for success. While a little more expensive, Johnny Gaudreau ($5,800) stands out as a notable value. He collected two power-play points in the season opener to improve to an elite 3.45 points per 60 minutes since the 2017-18 campaign.
Even cheaper, Mats Zuccarello ($3,700) is slated to see top offensive minutes and play with Eric Staal ($4,500). The Norwegian winger posted a respectable 2.3 points per 60 minutes over the previous three seasons, and Colorado allowed three goals and 12 high-danger scoring chances in their season opener, so the opportunities should be there for Zuccarello.
Over 251:07 of shared ice time the past two seasons, Dominik Simon ($2,600) has combined with projected linemates Sidney Crosby ($7,000) and Jake Guentzel ($6,100) for an impressive 5.02 goals per 60 minutes while driving possession with a 63.0 Corsi For percentage. As a result, Simon jumps off the page as a low-priced flyer to provide cap relief.
FORWARD LINE STACKS
Dating back to the 2017-18 campaign, Connor McDavid ($7,400) and Leon Draisaitl ($6,300) have clicked for an elite 5.42 goals per 60 minutes, and Zack Kassian ($3,500) helps mitigate the higher salaries of his linemates. There's nothing scary about a date with the Kings, either. Los Angeles operated as a middle-of-the-road team away from the Staples Center by allowing 3.12 goals per 60 minutes with a 26th-ranked 77.7 penalty kill percentage.
The Rangers scored six times in their season opener, and there's potential for their top line to turn in another monster showing with a soft matchup against Ottawa. Mika Zibanejad ($6,500), Artemi Panarin ($6,000) and Pavel Buchnevich ($4,700) combined for three goals and two assists Thursday and provide exposure to both Ranger power-play units.
In a rematch of Thursday's season opener, Tampa Bay's top line of Nikita Kucherov ($7,300), Steven Stamkos ($6,700) and Tyler Johnson ($5,700) will look to build on their dangerous start. The trio combined for 19.98 high-danger scoring chances per 60 minutes Thursday and have scored 7.92 goals per hour through 151:36 of shared ice time dating back to the 2017-18 campaign. The trio's high salaries should keep their ownership in check, and it's also beneficial that they all skate with the No. 1 power-play unit.
DEFENSEMEN
After two games, Morgan Rielly ($6,100) has collected four assists, two power-play points, seven shots and three blocks while logging 24:24 of ice time - including 3:55 with the man advantage. So much for Tyson Barrie ($5,300) cutting into his fantasy value. It's a back-to-back spot for Toronto, but Rielly's developed into one of the most reliable blueliners in the league, and Montreal allowed 20 high-danger scoring chances to Carolina on Thursday.
The Oilers have the noted favorable matchup against Los Angeles, so with Oscar Klefbom's ($4,500) role quarterbacking the No. 1 power-play unit and long-standing chemistry with Connor McDavid ($7,400), the Swedish defenseman is a solid target as a standalone play or in addition to an Oilers' stack.
Considering Mathew Dumba ($4,400) recorded a 14th-ranked 1.76 points per 60 minutes last season, his current salary doesn't match his potential. He recorded 15.6 DraftKings points in the season opener while logging 25:24 of ice time with 2:02 on the man advantage.
With an assist Thursday, Anthony DeAngelo ($3,500) is up to a 19th-ranked 1.55 points per 60 minutes among regular defensemen dating back to last season. The Sens allow a league-high 3.67 goals per 60 minutes for the Rangers, and DeAngelo is projected to continue skating with the No. 1 power-play unit.
