This article is part of our Yahoo DFS Hockey series.
It's a packed schedule in the NHL on Saturday with 11 evening games included in the main contests at Yahoo. The Maple Leafs, Capitals and Blues are the three biggest favorites on the docket, and the Capitals, Sabres, Penguins, Devils, Flyers and Coyotes are all playing for the second consecutive night. Here are recommendations and fades for each position.
All statistics from Natural Stat Trick and Hockey Reference.
GOALIE
Charlie Lindgren, STL vs. MON ($23): The Canadiens have lost five straight games, scoring just seven goals, and they rank 29th in goals per game for the campaign. Lindgren's .908 save percentage through 26 career NHL appearances doesn't jump off the page, but his salary is low, and he is coming off a 29-save win Thursday.
GOALIE TO AVOID
Jacob Markstrom, CGY vs. BOS ($38): While the Bruins have scored the 12th-fewest goals per game in the league, they also rank 26th in shooting percentage, so some positive regression is likely ahead. Additionally, Boston's 53.9 Corsi For percentage is fourth best in the league. With that in mind, Markstrom's salary and potentially tough matchup probably are an expensive fit Saturday.
CENTER
Sean Couturier, PHI at ARI ($13): The 29-year-old center snapped a 14-game goal drought Friday, but his current 8.5 percent shooting and 1.79 points per 60 minutes are still well below his 13.8 and 2.63 marks over the past three seasons. Facing the Coyotes is also a huge plus. Arizona has surrendered the third-most goals per game this season and ranks 29th in penalty-kill percentage.
CENTER TO AVOID
Connor McDavid, EDM vs. CAR ($38): While you're always fading McDavid at your own risk, this is definitely a tough matchup. The Hurricanes rank second in goals against per game, penalty-kill percentage and Corsi For percentage.
WING
Alex Ovechkin, WAS at BUF ($34): Buffalo has lost six straight, and Ovechkin enters the matchup in high-end form. No. 8 has found the scoresheet in nine of his past 10 contests for eight tallies, nine helpers and 43 shots. Additionally, he's piled up a plus-7 rating, which is a sneaky bonus in this format.
Kyle Palmieri, NYI vs. NJ ($10): A potential upside source of cap relief, Palmieri is off to a slow start with just a single goal on 2.0 percent shooting. However, the veteran entered the 2021-22 campaign with 185 goals and a 12.5 percent shooting rate, so statistical correction should fall in line. This is also a slump-busting matchup with the Devils sporting an active 3-7-3 record and 46 goals against.
WINGS TO AVOID
Patrick Kane, CHI at TOR ($29): In poor current form and in a tough matchup, Kane probably carries more risk than normal Saturday. After all, he's only reached double-digit fantasy points twice through his past 10 outings while posting a minus-6 rating, and Toronto has allowed the third-fewest goals per game in the league.
Kirill Kaprizov, MIN at LA ($29): A candidate for negative regression, Kaprizov has been scorching hot with seven tallies, 14 assists, 38 shots and a plus-16 rating through the past 11 games. The Kings are also a potentially tough matchup, as Los Angeles has allowed the fifth-fewest goals per 60 minutes and ranks eighth in Corsi For percentage at five-on-five this season.
DEFENSE
John Carlson, WAS at BUF ($22): With the noted soft matchup against Buffalo, Carlson's salary appears a little short. He ranks second in points per 60 minutes among defensemen over the past three years and checks out as a solid addition to a Washington stack.
Keith Yandle, PHI at ARI ($10): A minimum-salary option to target in the highlighted plus matchup, Yandle is beginning to show signs with four assists, 15 shots and 27 attempts through his past five outings. Additionally, he entered the season ranking ninth in points per 60 minutes among defensemen, so the offensive track record is there.
DEFENSEMEN TO AVOID
Dougie Hamilton, NJ at NYI ($25): The first-year Devil has missed the scoresheet in seven of his past 10 contests and recorded double-digit fantasy points just twice during the stretch. With a position-high salary, Hamilton's current form is discouraging.
Charlie McAvoy, BOS at CGY ($20): Calgary has surrendered the fewest goals per game in the league and rank fifth in penalty-kill percentage, so this is a tough road matchup for McAvoy and the Bruins. McAvoy has also been quiet of late with just two assists – both on the power play – through his past nine outings.
