This article is part of our FantasyDraft NHL series.
It's St. Patrick's Day. Before you spend the evening, ahem, celebrating, be sure to set your daily fantasy lineup. There are seven NHL games Saturday night. Here are my recommendations.
GOALIE
Columbus Blue Jackets, CLM vs. OTT ($17,000): The Blue Jackets have won six in a row, while the Senators are 11-19-5 on the road. Ottawa is also on the road for the second night of a back-to-back and has only scored 2.77 goals per game. Columbus has a 2.73 GAA, led by Sergei Bobrovsky and his 2.43 GAA and .920 save percentage.
CENTER
Derek Stepan, ARI vs. MIN ($10,400): Stepan has eight points and 32 shots on net in his last 11 games. He's also managed to have a solid season despite a career-low 6.5 shooting percentage. Maybe he will have better luck against a Wild team that has a league-high 3.56 GAA on the road and are on the second night of a back-to-back.
Tyler Bozak, TOR vs. MON ($8,600): Bozak has a three-game point streak that has helped give him 10 points in his last 14 games. The Canadiens have a 3.54 road GAA, but they are also dealing without having Carey Price in net. That leaves them choosing between Antti Niemi (3.25 GAA) and Charlie Lindgren (2.95 GAA).
WING
David Pastrnak, BOS at TAM ($13,200): You may be thinking, "Wait, I should select a guy on the road going up against the Lightning?" Actually, yes. Since the All-Star break the Tampa Bay has a 3.48 GAA and has allowed 35.1 shots on net per game. This is not a matchup to worry about, especially with how good Pastrnak is. The 21-year-old has 16 points and 38 shots on goal in his last 11 games.
Teuvo Teravainen, CAR vs. PHI ($10,900): Teravainen has been red hot, tallying eight goals in his last 11 games. He's also averaged 2:48 per game with the extra man and tallied 20 power-play points. That bodes well heading into this matchup, as the Flyers have the 30th-ranked penalty kill.
Thomas Vanek, CLM vs. OTT ($8,200): Since joining the Blue Jackets, Vanek has started 64.2 percent of his shifts in the offensive zone. It took him a few games to get going, but over his last four games he has four points and 12 shots on net. Meanwhile, the Senators have a 3.38 GAA and will be on the road for the second night of a back-to-back.
DEFENSEMEN
Colton Parayko, STL vs. NYR ($10,000): Parayko has picked up his offense recently, notching four points in his last six games. He's also managed 178 shots on net in 70 games. The Rangers have struggled since the All-Star break, to say the least. In that time they have a league-high 3.57 GAA and have allowed 38.0 shots on net per game.
Oliver Ekman-Larsson, ARI vs. MIN ($8,800): Ekman-Larsson has tallied six points in his last eight games, giving him 36 points total. He's also averaged 3:10 per game with the extra man and notched 13 power-play points. As noted, the Wild have a league-high 3.56 GAA on the road and will be player their second game in as many nights.
