This article is part of our DraftKings NHL series.
SLATE PREVIEW
There are 13 games in the NHL on Saturday, and all but the two afternoon tilts are included in the featured contests at DraftKings. Additionally, the Flames, Panthers, Islanders, Canucks and Oilers are the only clubs not playing their second game in consecutive nights.
The largest favorites of the slate are the Maple Leafs, Capitals, Flames and Islanders, whereas the lowest over/under totals are in the Columbus-New York and San Jose-Arizona bouts.
GOALIES
After a disappointing showing in Buffalo on Friday, look for a tidier effort from the Maple Leafs in the second game of their home-and-home series with the Sabres. Frederik Andersen ($8,400) is pricey, but he's also won three straight with Sheldon Keefe behind the bench and posted a .957 save percentage and 1.34 GAA during that stretch.
The Red Wings continue to prove they're the worst team in the league, so turning to Ilya Samsonov ($7,800) at a manageable salary will probably be a popular play. The rookie netminder started the season with a rock-solid 5-1 record, .915 save percentage and 2.34 GAA before allowing seven goals in consecutive losses. This is definitely a bounce-back opportunity with Detroit owning an eight-game losing streak and scoring just two goals through its past four games.
The Sens came down to Earth in Minnesota on Friday with a 7-2 loss and have now dropped three consecutive games. Calgary should prove to be a tough opponent in the second leg of a back-to-back set, and David Rittich ($8,000) has also gone 2-0-1 with a .938 save percentage and 2.22 GAA over his past three outings. With a fifth-worst 2.6 goals per hour this season, Ottawa is hardly an offense to be concerned about.
Another home-and-home series has the Blackhawks visiting Colorado following the Avs' 5-2 over Chicago on Friday. Philipp Grubauer ($8,100) will receive the starting nod Saturday on home ice, and Mikko Rantanen ($7,100) might even be back to beef up an already solid forward corps. Grubauer's ownership could be down with a mediocre 8-5-2 record, .912 save percentage and 2.85 GAA for the season, so there's contrarian appeal here and Colorado remains a sizeable favorite.
The Canucks are struggling with a 3-7-2 record and just 2.55 goals per hour over their past 12 games, whereas Edmonton enters with a 7-2-2 record on home ice. Interestingly, Mike Smith ($8,200) has struggled at Rogers Place with a .888 save percentage and 3.45 GAA, so a potentially soft matchup to right the ship could be just what the veteran needs - although he's still more of an against-the-grain lean.
VALUE PLAYS/ONE-OFFS
After being outplayed by countryman Jack Eichel ($8,200) on Friday, look for a strong showing from Auston Matthews ($8,000) today. He's been held off the scoresheet in consecutive games, but was an absolute force late in Friday's loss and finished with six shot attempts and an individual high-danger chance.
While more expensive, it's tough to overlook Nathan MacKinnon ($8,500) and his torrid stretch to start the season. He's up to 11 multi-point showings consisting of 10 tallies and 19 helpers through 25 games to highlight his contest-winning upside. He also recorded 29.5 DraftKings points against the Blackhawks on Friday.
Brayden Point ($6,400) has five tallies and two helpers through his past five outings, and his salary still trails his production. Carolina also owns the fifth-worst team save percentage in November, which has led to the Hurricanes allowing a healthy 3.13 goals per hour for the month.
With Pittsburgh playing its third game in four nights and allowing 11 goals through its past two contests, this is a potentially soft matchup for the Blues. Brayden Schenn ($4,900) has marked the scoresheet in 11 of 14 November games and skates in a top offensive role, so he checks out as a strong value with a respectable floor.
With just a single assist through his past 11 outings, Anders Lee ($4,600) is in the midst of his worst stretch over the past three seasons. His salary is down, Columbus is playing its second game in consecutive nights, and the 29-year-old winger represents an obvious candidate for statistical correction. After all, Lee scored 102 times from 2016-17 through 2018-19.
Jack Roslovic ($3,200) has quietly collected two tallies, two helpers and nine shots through his past six contests skating on the second line and with the No. 2 power-play unit. Obviously, those numbers don't jump off the page, but the Kings are hardly a defensive juggernaut with the sixth-most goals per hour allowed this season. The 2015 first-round selection comes in as an upside source of cap relief.
Nikolay Goldobin ($2,500) is projected to line up alongside Elias Pettersson ($6,300) Saturday against the Oilers, so the Russian winger warrants mention at minimum price. Additionally, Filip Zadina ($2,600) registered four shots during Friday's loss and continues to skate with the No. 1 power-play unit, so the sniper is in play as a low-priced flyer.
FORWARD LINE STACKS
Last season, Sean Monahan ($5,700), Johnny Gaudreau ($6,200) and Elias Lindholm ($5,200) clicked for 5.31 goals and 15.67 high-danger scoring chances per hour compared to their 3.97 and 12.39 marks this year. Their salaries are down as a result of the slow start, so Calgary's top line is all the more attractive with a soft matchup. Ottawa has surrendered the third-most expected goals against per 60 minutes on the road this season.
With Nicklas Backstrom ($5,800) out for Washington, the Caps have been rolling out Lars Eller ($4,700), Jakub Vrana ($5,500) and T.J. Oshie ($5,900) on the second line. The trio has scored a respectable 3.57 goals per 60 minutes while driving possession with a 59.9 Corsi For percentage over the past two seasons and also provide coverage to both power-play units. As noted, the Red Wings enter as the worst defensive team in the league.
Turning to Connor McDavid ($8,500) and Leon Draisaitl ($8,300) is expensive, but they've also produced 6.18 goals per hour this season and draw the noted soft matchup - Vancouver has surrendered 3.02 expected goals per hour on the road this season. Stacking Zack Kassian ($4,800) or James Neal ($4,600) with the duo helps soften the cap blow. Kassian skates with McDavid and Draisaitl at five-on-five, and Neal joins them with the man advantage.
DEFENSEMEN
With Detroit's penalty-kill percentage the lowest mark in the league, John Carlson ($7,800) could be a chalky target. However, don't overlook Dmitry Orlov ($3,400) as a cheap alternative. The Russian's upside is obviously significantly lower, but Orlov is coming off a two-point showing Friday and averages 22:05 of ice time per game this season. He's also a candidate to receive the bonus points for recording three blocks in a game.
Cale Makar ($6,700) continues to supply consistent offense and has clicked with Nathan MacKinnon ($8,500) for a jaw-dropping 7.82 goals per 60 minutes over the past 10 contests. The price is steep, but Chicago is also a soft opponent with the second-most expected goals against allowed in the league this season.
There have been plenty of peaks and valleys in Keith Yandle's ($4,500) game log this season, but he collected two assists in Wednesday's loss and ranks eighth among all regular defensemen in points per hour over the past three years. And with Nashville playing its second game in as many nights and owning the league's third-worst penalty-kill percentage, Yandle's salary jumps out as a bargain.
With nine helpers through his past six contests, Quinn Hughes ($4,200) is up to 21 points over 25 games this season. He's locked into the quarterback role on the No. 1 power-play unit and averages a hefty 4:09 of ice time per contest with the man advantage. Just note Hughes is more of a price-based candidate because of his boom-or-bust fantasy profile.
Neal Pionk ($3,800) has registered a power-play point in consecutive games and projects to remain with the No. 1 unit for Saturday's tilt. Los Angeles' 74.7 penalty-kill percentage also ranks 27th in the league, so there's nothing scary about the matchup.
