This article is part of our Yahoo DFS Hockey series.
There are 11 games included in the main contests at Yahoo! on Saturday. Most of the games are projected to be close according to the odds, with Tampa Bay, Florida and St. Louis the only significant favorites. It's worth adding that Boston and Toronto are receiving notable road chalk, whereas Carolina, Philadelphia and Winnipeg have short odds as home favorites.
GOALIE
Sergei Bobrovsky, FLA at DET ($30): The veteran Russian has underwhelmed to start this season and owns a disappointing .899 save percentage and 3.24 GAA through 52 games as a Panther. This lean is all about the matchup, though. The Red Wings have scored just 1.4 goals per game and generated only 7.14 high-danger scoring chances per 60 minutes at five-on-five this season, whereas Florida has only surrendered five goals at five-on-five through four games.
GOALIE TO AVOID
Philipp Grubauer, COL at MIN ($37): This fade recommendation is primarily salary related, as Grubauer has been solid with a 5-2 record, .928 save percentage, 1.86 GAA and two shutouts to begin the season. He's facing a potentially tough matchup, though. The Wild are generating the most high-danger scoring chances per 60 minutes at five-on-five in the league while allowing the second fewest. Additionally, Grubauer has never been a true No. 1 netminder with a career-high 36 starts last year, and Saturday will be his eighth start of the 2021 campaign already.
CENTER
Jordan Staal, CAR vs. DAL ($10): With a minimum salary, Staal jumps out. He collected an assist, two shots and two blocks while logging 19:09 with 2:34 on the power play during Thursday's win. The cap space opened up can be allotted to high-end scorers, and the Stars have been hammered by injuries.
CENTER TO AVOID
Mika Zibanejad, NYR vs. PIT ($31): Despite being mired in a four-game point drought and with just a single goal and assist through seven games this season, Zibanejad's salary remains among the league's elite scorers. With a deep player pool, there are plenty of alternatives to pivot to. It's also worth noting the 27-year-old center will likely see a healthy dose of on-ice matchups against Sidney Crosby, Evgeni Malkin or Pittsburgh's third line with Brandon Tanev and Jared McCann, who have surrendered just 0.96 goals per 60 minutes at five-on-five this season.
WING
Brayden Schenn, STL at ANH ($18): This is a speculative recommendation based on Anaheim's league-high .954 team save percentage taking a hit against a superior team. There could be statistical correction all around considering the Blues have also generated the fewest high-danger scoring chances per 60 minutes in the league. Schenn hasn't been to blame for St. Louis' lack of quality chances, though. He has clicked with linemates Jaden Schwartz and Jordan Kyrou for four goals at five-on-five during his active five-game point streak.
Carter Verhaeghe, FLA at DET ($16): The sophomore probably isn't going to turn in a point-per-game season, and his current 33.3 percent shooting is unsustainable. Still, he's skating on the No. 1 line, receiving power-play time and has racked up four goals, two assists, 12 shots, 25 attempts and 10 individual high-danger scoring chances through four games. He did record 34 goals and 82 points through 76 outings his final season in the AHL, too. Plus, the matchup and salary are fits, as Detroit has surrendered 29 goals through eight contests this year.
WINGS TO AVOID
Mikko Rantanen, COL at MIN ($30): While you're fading Rantanen at your own risk, the 24-year-old winger lands in a tough matchup and has just two multi-point showings through eight games this season. As noted, Minnesota is allowing the second fewest high-danger scoring chances per 60 minutes in the league this season, and Rantanen's salary limits lineup flexibility.
William Nylander, TOR at EDM ($23): With a goal and five shots in Thursday's win over the Oilers, Nylander could be a popular target in the potential high-scoring rematch Saturday. However, he logged a season-low 14:28 of ice time in the contest and has only topped 10.0 fantasy points three times through eight games. At his salary, you're probably looking for a little more consistency, and Nylander's a plus-minus risk. Additionally, Toronto has beat Edmonton in consecutive games and owns a four-game winning streak overall, so it could prove to be a bounce-back spot for the Oilers.
DEFENSE
Victor Hedman, TB vs. NSH ($24): After recording a 29th-ranked 76.1 percent penalty kill last season, the Predators have already surrendered 10 power-play goals this year. Enter Hedman. He's locked into a top role with an average of 26:10 of ice time, including 2:43 with the man advantage, and the 30-year-old defenseman has recorded a third-ranked 2.0 points per 60 minutes over the past three years. He's collected a goal, four assists and three power-play points through five 2021 contests, too.
Anton Stralman, FLA at DET ($10): With a contest-low salary, and in the noted favorable matchup, look to the veteran for cap relief. Stralman averaged 23:37 of ice time through the two-game mini series against the Blue Jackets, and he's already collected a pair of assists, three shots and four blocks through four games. There's obviously not oodles of upside here, but he's probably not going to return negative value, either. He's projected to skate with the No. 2 power-play unit, too.
DEFENSEMEN TO AVOID
Roman Josi, NSH at TB ($26): It's been a quiet start for Josi. He's recorded double-digit fantasy points in just two of seven outings and only has a goal and an assist for the campaign. The matchup is the real concern Saturday, though. Tampa Bay has generated the second most high-danger scoring chances per 60 minutes (13.26) this season, and the Lightning have positive offensive regression ahead after scoring just two goals over the past two games, including being shut out by Carolina on Thursday.
Ivan Provorov, PHI at NYI ($20): The Russian defenseman's salary skyrocketed after his three-point showing against New Jersey on Tuesday, and Saturday's matchup isn't favorable. The Islanders have surrendered just 2.43 goals and 7.86 high-danger scoring chances per 60 minutes this season, and Provorov has also missed the scoresheet entirely in five of eight games.
