This article is part of our DraftKings NHL series.
This Saturday, the first college basketball teams will secure their spot in the Sweet 16. Well, there's another Sweet 16 out there, and that's the 16 teams in action in the NHL on Saturday night. If you want a break from college hoops, here are some players who could lead you to daily fantasy success. There is also a two-game afternoon slate, if you are so inclined.
GOALIE
Martin Jones, SAN vs. ANA ($7,800): Jones has a 2.25 GAA, in part because the Sharks have only allowed 27.6 shots on goal per game. Anaheim, meanwhile, has scored 2.57 goals per game, just outside the bottom 10 of the league. Additionally, the Ducks will be on the second night of a back-to-back, which is another point in Jones' favor. It could also mean that Jonathan Bernier (.913 save percentage) is in net two days in a row, or it could mean third-string goalie Jhonas Enroth gets the nod for Anaheim. Either way, it bodes well for Jones' chances of getting a win. Another positive factor for Jones is San Jose's 23-9-4 record at home.
CENTER
Paul Stastny, STL at ARI ($4,900): The Coyotes have allowed 3.17 goals and 33.6 shots on net per contest, both near the bottom of the league rankings. The same goes for Arizona's penalty kill, which ranks 27th. Stastny has enjoyed a good amount of power-play success, as he's tallied 12 points with the extra man in 64 games. He's scored 18 goals on the season, and now he has a favorable matchup at hand. Stastny is currently St. Louis' top line center, which should mean plenty of opportunities against the league's worst defense.
Ryan Nugent-Hopkins, EDM vs. VAN ($4,300): There's been a little uptick in Nugent-Hopkins' offense recently, as he has four points and 20 shots on goal in his last seven games. He's been more active than you might realize, as he's tallied 181 shots on net in 70 games. His 8.3 shooting percentage is what has hurt his fantasy value. Vancouver has allowed 2.90 goals and 31.9 shots on net per contest. Things have been even worst recently, as Ryan Miller has a 3.07 GAA and .907 save percentage in his last 16 games.
WING
Artemi Panarin, CHI at TOR ($6,100): Panarin has started a staggering 46.1 percent of his shifts in the offensive zone, which is third most in the NHL. Few players get the advantage of starting in the offensive zone nearly as often, and Panarin has made the most of his opportunities. He's tallied 23 goals and 40 assists in 70 games with 15 power-play points, and he hasn't slowed down at all recently, grabbing 12 points in his last 12 games. Toronto has allowed 32.7 shots on net per game, third most in the NHL, and the Leafs have also allowed 2.87 goals per contest.
James Neal, NAS at CAR ($5,000): Some may feel that Neal has been a disappointment this season, but he's actually averaged 3.1 fantasy points per game. He's notched 21 goals on 183 shots on net in 61 games, and he's also tallied 10 power-play points. Neal is also currently sporting a five-game point streak. He's also started 38.4 percent of his shifts in the offensive zone, which bodes well for his fantasy potential. The Hurricanes have allowed 2.82 goals per game, and their goalies have a collective .899 save percentage. Cam Ward has a .904 save percentage, but in his last 11 games he has a 3.27 GAA and a .891 save percentage.
Marcus Johansson, WAS at TAM ($4,900): Johansson has started 36.4 percent of his shifts in the offensive zone, which is fourth most on the Capitals and more than even Alex Ovechkin. He's also already scored a career-high 22 goals, and he's registered 12 power-play points as well. Andrei Vasilevskiy really struggled in his last start (he allowed four goals on 15 shots), and the Lightning have a middling 17th-ranked penalty kill. Johansson's a reasonably priced player, so he's worth a shot against Tampa Bay on Saturday.
DEFENSE
Duncan Keith, CHI at TOR ($5,300): Keith has averaged 25:45 per game in ice time, and 3:10 a night on the power play. That's a ton of minutes, and in that time he's notched 48 points, including 15 on the power play. As previously noted, the Maple Leafs have allowed 2.87 goals and 32.7 shots on net per contest. On top of that, Toronto has attempted 60.6 shots per 60 minutes, which is third most in the NHL. Keith has registered 91 blocked shots, so he could add a little more fantasy value on that front.
Colton Parayko, STL at ARI ($4,700): Parayko hasn't had any luck when shooting (2.5 shooting percentage) but that hasn't stopped him from firing pucks on goal. He's notched 159 shots in 69 games, and he's had more luck shooting the puck on the power play. All four of his goals have come with the extra man, and as noted earlier the Coyotes have the 27th-ranked penalty kill. They've also allowed 33.6 shots on net per contest, so Parayko should have the opportunity to put a few more pucks on net.
