This article is part of our Yahoo DFS Hockey series.
It's nearly two weeks into the NHL season, so we've got a decent sample size from each team to make better selections for our daily fantasy lineups. Saturday features 10 games, many of which figure to be high scoring. Both the Blackhawks and Penguins have very favorable matchups. Chicago plays host to the Blue Jackets, who are playing the second half of a back-to-back. Pittsburgh gets the same deal with the Maple Leafs coming to town, so if you're looking to catch lightning in a bottle look for elite scoring options from those two teams.
You can also look to the Lightning, who face the Sabres at Amalie Arena. Tampa Bay's top line of Jonathan Drouin, Steven Stamkos and Ryan Callahan has produced seven goals and eight assists in five games to start the season, making them an attractive stack against a young Buffalo lineup. The Islanders welcome a banged-up Sharks squad to Barclay's center and likely will be the first team to face backup Alex Stalock this season. The Isles' top unit of John Tavares, Anders Lee and Ryan Strome should take advantage of a San Jose lineup missing Logan Couture and Martin Jones.
If there's one game to avoid Saturday, Red Wings-Canadiens is it. Reigning Hart and Vezina Trophy winner Carey Price is coming off a 25-save shutout against the Rangers on Thursday. Detroit started Jimmy Howard against the Hurricanes on Friday and likely will turn to 23-year-old Petr Mrazek against Montreal. In his lone start this season, Mrazek made 44 saves in a 4-3 win against Carolina. With Price and Mrazek squaring off, don't expect much scoring in this tilt.
GOALIE
Marc-Andre Fleury, PIT vs. TOR ($33) - The Penguins finally got in the win column Thursday, shutting out the Senators, 2-0. Fleury made 22 saves and held an Ottawa team that had just netted seven goals against the Blue Jackets scoreless. The Maple Leafs are 24th in the NHL with 1.67 goals per game, but are fifth with 33.3 shots per game. Fleury should have no trouble keeping the Maple Leafs scoring to a minimum, while facing a high volume of shots in a game the Penguins should win. The goaltender scoring system for Yahoo DFS Hockey heavily favors a guy like Fleury against Toronto.
Goalie to Avoid:
Craig Anderson, OTT vs. NSH ($37) - Anderson has certainly been impressive this season, averaging 16.4 points per game in Yahoo DFS through four starts. Problem is all three of his wins have come against weak opponents (the Sabres, Maple Leafs and Blue Jackets). The Predators are a much more complete team and should provide Anderson with his biggest test of the season thus far. Anderson's price is second highest among goaltenders behind Price ($38), which is way too rich for my blood.
CENTER
Sidney Crosby, PIT vs. TOR ($22) - If you can believe it, Crosby has been held scoreless through the first four games of the season. If the best player in the world is going to break out against anyone, it has to be the Maple Leafs. Jonathan Bernier, who has a 3.84 GAA and .865 save percentage, will start in net for Toronto. While many lineups will play him, his affordable price makes him a no-brainer at center.
Center to Avoid:
Kyle Turris, OTT vs. NSH ($22) - If you can believe it -- and if you read the paragraph above -- Turris costs the same as Crosby. The difference is Turris goes up against the Predators' stout defensive front and goaltender Pekka Rinne. Neither bodes well for the top-line center, and chances are he'll have a quiet evening.
WING
Taylor Hall, EDM vs. CGY ($20) - Hall scored his first goal of the season Thursday, which is surprising considering it took the young superstar four games. He's averaging five shots per game this season and because Yahoo DFS awards a point for every shot on goal, Hall's value increases significantly. It also helps that the Flames rank fifth in the NHL in both goals against per game (3.67) and shots against per game (34). Expect the Oilers offense to it going Saturday; you'll want Hall in your lineup when it happens.
Anthony Duclair, ARI vs. BOS ($15) - Duclair and teammate Max Domi have formed the most dynamic rookie duo in the NHL this season. In his last two games, Duclair has scored four goals, averaging 13.5 points per game in Yahoo DFS. The Bruins' defense just isn't what it used to be, allowing 4.50 goals per game this season. The Coyotes suffered a tough 4-3 loss to the Wild on Thursday and definitely will look to Duclair to help them get back to their winning ways.
Wings to Avoid:
Max Pacioretty, MTL vs. DET ($25) - Pacioretty saw his four-game points streak end Thursday against Henrik Lundqvist and the Rangers. It won't be easy for him to get a new one started against Mrazek and the Red Wings, and Pacioretty is among the highest-priced wingers in Yahoo DFS. As mentioned, this game figures to be a goalie duel, so investing that much of your budget on Pacioretty just doesn't make sense.
Brian Gionta, BUF vs. TB ($19) - The Sabres captain just isn't the same player he once was. He made his season debut Thursday against the Panthers, recording three shots on goal with a minus-1 rating in 19:29 of ice time. While Gionta is skating on a line with talented young center Jack Eichel and Evander Kane, his price is just way too high to justify using him, especially against Ben Bishop and the Lightning.
DEFENSEMEN
Oliver Ekman-Larsson, ARI vs. BOS ($19) - OEL led the NHL in goals scored by a defenseman with 23 last season. He's only potted one so far in 2015-16, but leads all defensemen in shots with 18. The Coyotes should get plenty of opportunities to score against Boston, and Ekman-Larsson is their go-to guy on the power play.
Johnny Boychuk, NYI vs. SJ ($20) - If there's one thing Boychuk does well, it's block shots. Oddly enough he has also been pretty good at generating shots on goal, as he ranks third in the NHL with 16. On those two categories alone, Boychuk should put up a decent number of points in Yahoo DFS scoring. The Islanders offense has started to click and it should get an easier matchup against Stalock, rather than Jones.
Defensemen to Avoid:
Erik Karlsson, OTT vs. NSH ($26) - As the highest priced defenseman, Karlsson is usually a safe bet to register a nice chunk of points. But if you're looking for him to have one of those 3-4 point games, don't expect it to come Saturday against Rinne and the Preds. Karlsson also posted a goose egg Thursday against the Penguins, who aren't exactly known for their defense.
Jack Johnson, CBJ vs. CHI ($19) - Johnson continues to be one of the higher-priced defensemen in Yahoo DFS, problem is he hasn't scored a point all season. The Blue Jackets are reeling, and Johnson likely will play big minutes Friday against the Maple Leafs. Until the Jackets get a win, it'd probably be best to avoid anyone on their blue line.
