This article is part of our Yahoo DFS Hockey series.
Saturday always has a ton of NHL action, which means plenty of goalies from which to choose. Normally it's difficult to narrow down which netminder to employ in your lineup, but with 10 games on tap, it's easy to find players with value. Nine of the 20 teams taking the ice Saturday will be on the second game of a back-to-back, so you'll see a lot of tired faces and backups starting.
The Blue Jackets are starting to play good hockey, winning their last two. They'll likely send out Curtis McElhinney to face the Jets at home with Sergei Bobrovsky making his fifth consecutive start Friday. McElhinney is cost effective and gets a bump from Columbus' improved play. He's also a nice contrarian option for tournament use. Cam Talbot, Philipp Grubauer, Jonas Gustavsson and Al Montoya are also names to consider if they indeed start.
GOALIE
Cam Talbot, EDM vs. CGY ($29) - Let's face it, the Flames just aren't the same team as last season, at least not yet. Calgary has one of the worst goal differentials in the NHL, scoring two goals per game while allowing nearly four per game. The Oilers are starting to find their stride, scoring four unanswered goals to defeat the Canadiens, 4-3, on Thursday. Talbot wasn't discouraged in that contest, and he should build off the win, holding the Flames in check.
Goalie to Avoid:
James Reimer, TOR vs. PIT ($25) - Assuming Reimer starts with Jonathan Bernier in net Friday, he'll have to deal with a Penguins team that is starting to score. Pittsburgh has nine goals over its latest three-game winning streak. Phil Kessel's demotion to the second line with Evgeni Malkin has been a blessing for both players. Also, Reimer isn't a very good goaltender. There are plenty of cheap goalie options more attractive than the Leafs' backup.
CENTER
Ryan Nugent-Hopkins, EDM vs. CGY ($18) -Connor McDavid might be lighting the world on fire, but he's not the Oilers center I want Saturday. RNH seems particularly underpriced. He's on a four-game points streak (goal, four assists) and just received the gift of Leon Draisaitl on his right wing. Along with Taylor Hall, Edmonton's second line packs a pretty big punch and should have a field day against Calgary at home.
Center to Avoid:
Patrice Bergeron, BOS vs. TB ($25) - Yes, I am aware of Bergeron's four-game points streak during which he has three goals and four assists. I've also noticed the teams he's played during said streak (at ARI, PHI, at NYI, ARI), which puts it in perspective. Bergeron should have a much tougher time against the Lightning, not to mention Ben Bishop has looked sharper. His high price and lineup exposure are what's turning me off even more.
WING
Thomas Vanek, MIN vs. STL ($16) - Once upon a time this guy scored 40 goals in a season. Vanek is well past those years, but has embraced his new role on the Wild's third line with Charlie Coyle and Justin Fontaine. He has two goals and three assists in his last four games and has seen time on Minnesota's ninth-ranked power play. The Blues have allowed seven PP goals in 10 games this season.
Alexander Steen, STL vs. MIN ($22) - The "STL Line" of Steen, Vladimir Tarasenko and Jori Lehtera is back in town. This unit set the hockey world on fire during its torrid stretch last season and has a shot at finding that same spark again as we move toward the second month of the season. Steen's scoring has been down, but he's still generating shots. More of those shots should turn into goals now that Lehtera and Tarasenko are around.
Wings to Avoid:
Ryan Callahan, TB vs. BOS ($18) - The Bolts are in a bit of a funk offensively and Callahan hasn't registered a point in four games. You'd think with Steven Stamkos as your center, there would be plenty of opportunities for Callahan to get on the scoresheet, but that hasn't been the case this season. Coach Jon Cooper would be wise to shake his lines up, until then, stay away from Callahan.
Alex Ovechkin, WSH vs. FLA ($30) - By not rolling with Ovechkin in your lineup, you're undoubtedly playing with fire, but wait a second. The Capitals are playing the second of a back-to-back, and the Panthers have been surprisingly stingy, allowing just two goals per game this season. It's a risky move, but consider fading Ovechkin on Saturday.
DEFENSEMEN
Darnell Nurse, EDM vs. CGY ($15) - I'm a huge fan of prospects, and Nurse is one of the best when it comes to defensemen. Since being recalled Monday, he has a goal and an assist with a plus-2 rating. Chances are the Oilers will light up the scoreboard, givng Nurse a decent shot at picking up a helper (probably on a Connor McDavid goal).
Ryan Murray, CBJ vs. WPG ($12) - If you're looking for extreme value, Murray isn't a bad play for the minimum price. He's averaged just north of eight points per game over his last three and is getting plenty of power-play ice time. New coach John Tortorella always encourages his defensemen to block shots, something Murray has done a nice job of in a couple games this season. The Jets fire almost 30 shots per game, so Murray has a chance to tack on a few extra points through that category.
Defensemen to Avoid:
Alex Pietrangelo, STL vs. MIN ($20) - Without Kevin Shattenkirk on St. Louis' blue line, Pietrangelo has seen an increase in responsibility, which hasn't translated to fantasy success. He's being asked to do more and hasn't had the freedom he's used to with the puck. Pietrangelo is still without a goal through 10 games, and with plenty of talented defensemen going Saturday, Pietrangelo just doesn't offer much upside.
Mark Giordano, CGY vs. EDM ($23) - Giordano's price is this high mostly out of respect for what he did prior to his injury last season. Problem is he just isn't the same player and the Flames are a completely different team, figuratively speaking. This game should be a high-scoring affair with Edmonton doing most of the celebrating, so if Giordano plays close to 25 minutes, his plus-minus won't look pretty at the end of three periods.
