This article is part of our FantasyDraft NHL series.
Saturday is the final day of March. April, and the NHL playoffs, are almost here. There are nine NHL games Saturday evening, and here are some recommendations for your daily fantasy lineup.
GOALIE
Arizona Coyotes, ARI vs. STL ($14,300): The Blues have won quite a bit recently, but they are still on the road for the second night of a back-to-back. St. Louis has also scored 2.75 goals per game, bottom 10 in the NHL. Plus, Antti Raanta has been truly outstanding recently. Over his last 15 appearances he has an 11-2-1 record with a 1.80 GAA and .945 save percentage.
CENTER
Nico Hischier, NJD vs. NYI ($10,900): Hischier has started 60.9 percent of his shifts in the offensive zone, highest among Devils forwards. The first overall pick also seems to have avoided any rookie wall, as he has nine points in his last 10 games. The Islanders have a 3.58 GAA and have allowed 35.7 shots on net per game. Both are highest in the NHL. On top of all that, New York is on the road for the second night of a back-to-back.
Kyle Turris, NAS vs. BUF ($10,500): Turris has started 64.6 percent of his shifts in the offensive zone, highest on the Predators. He's also enjoying a three-game point streak and has nine points in his last nine games. The Sabres, on the other hand, have a 3.30 GAA, third highest in the NHL.
WING
Alexander Radulov, DAL vs. MIN ($13,300): In his last 15 games, Radulov has 11 points (seven on the power play) and 52 shots on net. Thanks to this, the Russian winger has 67 points in 78 games, with 23 of those coming with the extra man. Meanwhile, the Wild have a 3.38 road GAA and the 25th-ranked penalty kill away from home.
Kyle Palmieri, NJD vs. NYI ($13,200): Who wouldn't want to double dip on the Devils given their great matchup? As noted, the Islanders are on the second day of a back-to-back. In 15 games played on zero days of rest they have a 3.73 GAA and have allowed 37.1 shots on per game. Palmieri, for his part, has 24 goals in 58 games. He's also notched 21 points on the power play. That's encouraging, as the Islanders have the 30th-ranked penalty kill.
Jake Guentzel, PIT vs. MON ($12,400): Guentzel skates on Pittsburgh's top line alongside Sidney Crosby, which is always good for a player's fantasy potential. The winger also has six points in his last five games. Montreal has a 3.50 road GAA, highest in the NHL. The Canadiens also have the league's worst penalty kill, and Guentzel has 12 points with the extra man.
DEFENSEMEN
Dougie Hamilton, CGY vs. EDM ($10,700): Although Hamilton has been scoreless in his last four games, he still has 16 goals and 43 points in 78 contests. Plus, he's put plenty of pucks on net, as over his last nine games he's tallied 42 shots on goal. The Oilers have a 3.22 GAA, bottom five in the NHL, and the 28th-ranked penalty kill. Hamilton has averaged 2:40 per game with the extra man and has notched 12 power-play points.
Justin Faulk, CAR vs. NYR ($9,800): Faulk returned from injury Friday (and scored a goal), and it came in the nick of time to take advantage of this matchup. Since the All-Star break, the Rangers have a 3.56 GAA and have given up 37.3 shots on goal per game. They are also on the road for the second night of a back-to-back. Faulk's 3.4 shooting percentage has hurt his fantasy numbers, but he's still put 209 shots on goal and tallied 19 power-play points in 75 games.
