This article is part of our Cap Compliance series.
There are nine games in the NHL on Saturday with Edmonton the only club playing for the second consecutive day. Additionally, it's worth noting that five of nine tilts are in the afternoon. Boston, Florida and Toronto all opened as huge home favorites, whereas Nashville is also receiving notable chalk in Music City. The Hurricanes are the lone road favorites. Here are picks and pans for each position ahead of Saturday's action.
All statistics from Natural Stat Trick and Hockey Reference.
GOALIE
Sergei Bobrovsky, FLA vs. MON ($29): Montreal enters with just three wins and 38 goals through its past 18 contests, so this checks out as a plus matchup for Bobrovsky and the Panthers. Additionally, the Russian netminder boasts a 10-1 record with a .918 save percentage on home ice.
GOALIE TO AVOID
Jordan Binnington, STL at MIN ($26): Minnesota has scored the third-most goals per game in the league this season, including 4.3 per contest on home ice, so this isn't a great matchup for Binnington. Plus, St. Louis has surrendered the eighth-most expected goals and fifth-most high-danger scoring chances per 60 minutes in the league.
CENTER
Anze Kopitar, LA vs. PHI ($21): With just three goals on 4.7 percent shooting through his past 27 games, Kopitar is eyeing statistical correction in the goals column. He also should see some soft on-ice matchups with Philadelphia's No. 1 center Sean Couturier on injured reserve.
CENTER TO AVOID
Elias Pettersson, VAN at SEA ($17): This might be the breakout opportunity Pettersson has been needing, as the Kraken have surrendered the second-most goals per game in the league. However, Pettersson hasn't had a multi-point showing in 20 games, so he probably shouldn't be a lineup priority.
WING
Alex Kerfoot, TOR vs. OTT ($14): There have been offensive peaks in valleys for Kerfoot this season, so his salary remains in profit territory. He's projected to skate with John Tavares and William Nylander on Saturday, and the trio has clicked for a respectable 3.18 goals and 12.42 high-danger scoring chances per 60 minutes for the campaign at five-on-five. Ottawa has also surrendered the 10th-most five-on-five goals in the league, too.
Maxim Mamin, FLA vs. MON ($13): As noted, the Canadiens are reeling, and Mamin is projected to remain in a top-line role alongside Aleksander Barkov and Carter Verhaeghe. Mamin scored last time out and has a respectable 32 shots and 13 individual high-danger scoring chances through 13 games.
WINGS TO AVOID
Jonathan Huberdeau, FLA vs. MON ($29): Expect Huberdeau to be popular Saturday. He's coming off his second five-point showing of the month Thursday, and lands in the highlighted cushy matchup against Montreal. However, he recorded just five points – two tallies – through the seven outings between his two five-point nights and only hit double-digit fantasy points twice. The upside is there, though.
Patrick Kane, CHI at NSH ($28): With consecutive losses following the holiday break, look for Nashville to batten down the hatches and slow down Chicago on Saturday. Kane's also recorded just eight points – one goal – through his past 14 contests, and Nashville surrendered 14 goals during its six-game winning streak prior to the break.
DEFENSE
Charlie McAvoy, BOS vs. BUF ($19): The Sabres have surrendered the fifth-most goals per game in the league and rank 20th in penalty-kill percentage, so this projects as a favorable matchup for McAvoy. He's also ripe for a breakout showing considering he's been held to just three points through his past 12 games despite being on the ice for 50 high-danger scoring chances.
Brandon Montour, FLA vs. MON ($13): This is a low-salary candidate positioned to capitalize on the plus matchup against Florida. His power-play time has been inconsistent of late, but Montour's zone starts are in the opposition's end 69.6 percent of the time, and he ranks 32nd in points and 12th in shot attempts per 60 minutes among regular blueliners this year.
DEFENSEMEN TO AVOID
Thomas Chabot, OTT at TOR ($19): Toronto ranks ninth in both goals against per 60 minutes at five-on-five and penalty-kill percentage, so this doesn't project favorably for Chabot. Additionally, the Maple Leafs rank eighth in Corsi For percentage and seventh in goals for percentage at five-on-five.
Zach Werenski, CLS vs. CAR ($18): This is a daunting matchup for Werenski. The Hurricanes rank third in goals against per 60 minutes at five-on-five and second in penalty-kill percentage. Werenski is also a plus-minus risk with a minus-5 mark through his past 11 contests.
