This article is part of our Yahoo DFS Hockey series.
Saturday's seven-game evening slate has no shortage of lopsided matchups, as six teams currently ranked in the bottom two of their division are scheduled to take the ice, while the other eight in action all currently hold playoff positions. The four games featuring one member from each category (Toronto-Boston, Washington-Buffalo, Colorado-Columbus and Minnesota-Nashville) figure to provide the bulk of the night's productive fantasy players, but there are assets to be found throughout the rest of the league as well. Regardless of which team they play for, all of the guys listed below have a great chance of outperforming their price for one reason or another.
GOALIE
Pekka Rinne, NSH vs. MIN ($34) - Rinne was often targeted as a goaltender to stack against on Nashville's recent road trip, but the three-time Vezina Trophy finalist has been a completely different animal at home. He sports a fabulous 12-5-3 record, 2.10 GAA and .919 save percentage within the confines of Bridgestone Arena, and he made 20 saves in a 3-2 win over the Wild there back on Dec. 19. With Minnesota playing the second game of a back-to-back, the cheapest goaltender on the board is definitely worth a look.
Goalie to Avoid:
Tuukka Rask, BOS vs. TOR ($35) - Rask has been struggling mightily of late, averaging just 8.4 fantasy points per game while winning only one of his last eight starts. While a matchup against Toronto's 21st-ranked offense offers a good opportunity for Rask to turn things around, losses to St. Louis and Philadelphia, clubs that rank below that threshold during his recent slump, don't inspire much confidence.
CENTER
Ryan Spooner, BOS vs. TOR ($20) - Since David Krejci went down with an upper-body injury on Dec. 27, Spooner has eight points in seven games while playing a top-six role for the Bruins. The Maple Leafs have given up 12 goals while dropping three straight, so Spooner has a golden opportunity to continue his productive ways. Those who value consistency should see especially high appeal in the 2010 second-rounder, as he has scored at least 5.0 fantasy points in every game since Krejci's injury.
Center to Avoid:
David Backes, STL vs. MON ($18) - Backes has just two goals and three assists in his last 14 games, playing through an upper-body injury for a portion of those contests. He still seems to be limited, so using the struggling center against a sound defensive team isn't the soundest course of action with so many more productive options facing less daunting opposition available.
WINGS
Taylor Hall, EDM vs. CGY ($23) - The silver lining behind Hall's recent struggles is that he is now more affordable than at almost any other point this season. He should be viewed as a great value at $23 considering he has lit up the Flames for two goals, five assists and 53.0 fantasy points in three previous meetings this season. The 2010 first overall pick ranks third in the NHL with 178 shots on goal and sports a solid plus-6 rating, so his fantasy contributions go beyond just his scoring output.
Justin Williams, WAS at BUF ($19) - Williams stayed hot Thursday against the Canucks, tying a season-high with five shots for the third straight game while also chipping in an assist and a plus-3 rating to finish with 17.0 fantasy points. He now has two goals, two assists, a plus-5 rating and 15 shots on goal for a total of 45.0 fantasy points over the last three games, marking his most productive fantasy stretch of the season. The former Kings winger remains one of the few reasonably priced Capitals players despite his recent form, making him a terrific grab for someone who wants access to the league's second-best offense without breaking the bank.
Wings to Avoid:
Zach Parise, MIN at NSH ($27) - All of the factors working in Pekka Rinne's favor can also be used to make an argument against using Wild players. Parise is the team's most expensive skater, and his 4.3 fantasy-point average over the last three games heading into the weekend's back-to-back set hardly inspires confidence that he can deliver strong returns on a $27 investment.
Ryan O'Reilly, BUF vs. WSH ($20) - In two games against the first-place Capitals this season, O'Reilly has totaled zero fantasy points while being kept off the scoresheet with a minus-3 rating. Considering the Sabres are under .500 in their last 10 while the Capitals are 8-1-1, you can expect more of the same Saturday.
DEFENSEMEN
Justin Schultz, EDM vs. CGY ($15) - Schultz has suffered a major offensive drop-off, posting just 0.26 points per game after averaging 0.45 over his first three NHL campaigns. This season's number was even worse until the last four games, during which the defenseman scored two goals and added two assists. History suggests that Schultz's recent production is a better indicator of his true offensive ability than his early-season struggles were, so the blueliner should be able to outperform his $15 price tag moving forward as he approaches his career scoring pace. A matchup against the league's worst penalty kill makes for an excellent opportunity for Schultz to keep scoring, considering half of his eight points this season have come on the power play.
Dougie Hamilton, CGY vs. EDM ($18) - Hamilton's early-season struggles make his overall numbers look pedestrian, but he has started to live up to the big contract the Flames gave him in the offseason with 16 points and a plus-10 rating over the last 33 games. He is a steal for just $18 based on his play since adjusting to life in Calgary, especially against an Edmonton team that has been outscored by 17 while dropping 11 of its last 14 games.
Defensemen to Avoid:
Aaron Ness, WAS at BUF ($15) - Ness is only priced at $15 because he is part of a Washington roster that has been dominating its opposition this season. Neither his 4.7 fantasy-point per game average nor his 12:11 average ice time inspire much hope that the former Islander will live up to that price tag any time soon. Much like his Super Smash Bros. counterpart, Ness is far from a top-tier option.
Francois Beauchemin, COL at CLS ($19) - Beauchemin has been extremely quiet over his last 12 games, recording just three assists while averaging under 6.0 fantasy points per game over that span. Those numbers aren't terrible, but they're definitely not worth $19.
