This article is part of our FanDuel NHL series.
Saturday's NHL main slate begins at 7 p.m. EST and features seven games. Below, you'll find an overview of the matchups and suggested options for crafting an effective lineup.
SLATE PREVIEW
There are some lopsided matchups to take advantage of in this one, with the Avalanche in New Jersey, the Lightning in Ottawa and the Predators in Los Angeles. Additionally, Rangers-Canucks and Penguins-Canadiens both figure to feature plenty of scoring, as all four of those teams rank in the top 12 offensively.
GOALIES
Andrei Vasilevskiy ($8,900) should be the chalk play in net for those willing to pay up for him. The reigning Vezina Trophy winner has finally rediscovered last season's form, winning each of his last four starts while holding two of those opponents to one goal. He should keep rolling against Ottawa's bottom-10 offense.
Whomever Colorado chooses between Pavel Francouz ($8,300) and Philipp Grubauer ($7,500) in net should have few problems shutting down a Devils team that averages 2.55 goals per game — third-fewest in the league.
The same goes for Nashville's duo of Pekka Rinne ($7,700) and Juuse Saros ($7,300). It's been a struggle in net for the Predators this season, but those looking for a cheap netminder can roll the dice on whichever guy gets the start against a Kings offense that comes in ranked just above New Jersey with 2.60 goals per game.
Antti Raanta ($8,000) of the Coyotes is a higher floor option at home against the Flyers. He's won his last two starts while allowing a total of three goals, bringing his GAA down to 2.52 along with a .918 save percentage. Meanwhile, the Flyers are 13-2-4 at home but just 9-12-1 on the road.
VALUE PLAYS/ONE-OFFS
Matt Duchene ($6,300) finally snapped an eight-game goal drought in his last game, and there's a chance that tally opens the floodgates. He's been playing well for Nashville recently even without lighting the lamp, with a 1-6-7 line and 17 shots over his past six games.
Ryan Strome ($6,200) was blanked Thursday in Calgary, putting an end to an impressive three-game point streak that featured five goals and three assists. Given his spot on a line with elite winger Artemi Panarin, Strome has a nice opportunity to begin a new point streak in what should be a high-scoring affair in Vancouver.
Patric Hornqvist ($5,700) is stepping up for the injury-riddled Penguins, with three goals on 13 shots and an assist over the past two games. The veteran winger should keep rolling against a Canadiens team that ranks among the 10 most generous defensively with 3.22 goals allowed per game.
Kasperi Kapanen ($4,200) is an intriguing against-the-grain play against the stingy Islanders. Toronto's hard-working winger has two goals and two assists over his past four games, putting him on pace to reach the 20-goal mark for a second consecutive campaign.
FORWARD LINE STACKS
Avalanche at Devils
Nathan MacKinnon (C - $9,100), Gabriel Landeskog (W - $7,000), Joonas Donskoi (W - $4,500)
The Devils have played better of late, but they still have the second-fewest points in the league, ahead of only Detroit. Detroit is also the only team that gives up more goals per game than New Jersey's 3.38. Colorado's top-ranked offense (3.68 goals per game) should thrive in this matchup, led by the team's top line. MacKinnon's 3-3-6 line over the past two games has him up to 25-37-62 for the season, trailing only Connor McDavid (64) and Leon Draisaitl (63) in points. Landeskog has been solid when healthy with a 10-7-17 line in 25 games after scoring 75 points last season. The affordable Donskoi is enjoying a breakout campaign in his first year with the Avalanche, needing just 41 games to pot 14 goals for a third consecutive campaign.
Canucks vs. Rangers
Elias Pettersson (C - $7,600), Brock Boeser (W - $7,300), J.T. Miller (W - $6,000)
The Rangers have been burned for 23 goals in their past five games, leaving them tied for third-worst overall with 3.35 goals allowed per game this season. Vancouver's top line is set to add to those struggles. This trio holds the top three spots on the team in both goals and points, as Pettersson has a 19-25-44 line, Miller's at 15-25-40 and Boeser's at 13-26-39. Miller is an especially great value at just $6,000 against his former team.
Lightning at Senators
Anthony Cirelli (C - $5,000), Steven Stamkos (W - $8,300), Alex Killorn (W - $5,300)
This second line is the better value play for the Lightning in Ottawa, as these guys have been key to the team's recent success. Cirelli has a 2-3-5 line in his last four games, Stamkos is at 2-5-7 in his last five and Killorn's at 5-2-7 in the past five. This trio should stay hot against a Senators team that's allowing 3.32 goals per game.
DEFENSEMEN
Roman Josi's ($6,800) numbers during his active eight-game point streak would make even star forwards jealous. He has a 7-8-15 line while peppering the net with 27 shots over that span. If you have money to spend on the back end, Josi's your guy.
Victor Hedman ($6,300) is playing a point-per-game pace for Tampa Bay, with a 9-28-37 line in 37 appearances. While some will be reluctant to turn to the highly skilled blueliner after consecutive clunkers for him, those who look Hedman's way could be handsomely rewarded in this favorable matchup.
Cale Makar ($5,600) just keeps piling up points for Colorado. Expect him to improve on his 9-22-31 line through 33 games against the leaky Devils defense.
He may not get the same fanfare as Makar, but fellow rookie defenseman Adam Fox ($4,100) is in the middle of an outstanding season of his own for the Rangers. With five helpers in his last two games, Fox is up to a 5-17-22 line through 40 games.
