The National Hockey League will offer double the number of games on Saturday compared to Friday’s slate, which saw three of the four matchups end with scores of 4-3. Only Edmonton was able to earn a win by more than one goal over the volatile and anemic offense of the New York Islanders. With eight games rounding out Saturday’s slate, there is a ton of opportunity to construct winning lineups using various strategies. Some of my favorites tend to be stacking players on the same line and rostering a goaltender who either benefits from being on an excellent offensive team or with recent success defending the crease. Everyone has off nights, which is why so many high-upside prospects wind up getting undervalued in DFS.
Most players I’m analyzing for Saturday’s slate aren’t a part of championship-contending teams. However, these players still produce despite the adversity and lack of talent surrounding them. Calgary and St. Louis form the two exceptions for now, as both teams have above a .500 win percentage across their previous ten games. The goals have been pouring in all season long, but it has kicked into a higher gear since returning from All-Star Weekend, which allowed most players to earn a few days of much-needed rest.
With three early puck-drops scheduled to begin at 12 pm ET, let’s jump right in to set these winning lineups!
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Recommended Plays: DraftKings
DraftKings maximum salary is set at $50,000
Boone Jenner (C – CBJ): $6,200
Columbus continues to defy the odds by winning games against superior opponents. The Blue Jackets’ point leader on the season, 28-year old first-line center Boone Jenner, has been instrumental in this effort. Jenner has spent his entire nine-year career in Columbus and now finds himself as the leader of the league’s youngest team. He has three points in his last two games, totaling six shots on goal while adding a blocked shot in four of his previous five games. He earns plus-man advantage opportunities on Columbus’ top powerplay unit and has seven multi-point games accrued this season. Jenner will face the lowly Montreal Canadiens and goaltender Samuel Montembault, who has a 3.97 GAA and sub.900 save percentage in ten starts this season. In this matchup, Jenner should get a point quickly, with oddsmakers expecting over 6.5 total goals to be the more likely outcome. Take advantage and acquire the best offensive weapon on the Blue Jackets in a rare-plus matchup against Montreal during the early window of Saturday’s slate.
Tyler Toffoli (RW – MTL): $6,000
Sticking with the Montreal Canadiens for a minute, I want to suggest rostering first-line winger Tyler Toffoli. The 29-year old has only played in 35 games due to sustaining a previous hand injury. However, he’s second on the team in total points (26) and is tied for first with goals (9). Toffoli was on the Canadiens last year when they went to the Stanley Cup Finals, contributing 28 goals in only 52 regular-season games last season. He has the talent and opportunity to keep Montreal competitive, as they lack depth and goaltending. Toffoli has at least one point in seven of his previous nine games played, including a two-point game against Columbus back on January 30th. Blue Jackets reserve netminder Joonas Korpisalo (G – CBJ) has been a liability in goal, allowing three or more goals in each of his last six starts. Toffoli is an excellent value at $6,000, considering he’s Montreal’s best asset alongside Nick Suzuki (C – MTL) on their first-line attack. Add him into your lineups, and don’t look back.
Moritz Seider (D – DET): $6,300
Rookie defenseman Moritz Seider has been worth every penny for the Detroit Red Wings. The 20-year old German was drafted as the sixth overall pick back in 2019 and is currently fourth on the team in terms of total points (31), racking up 27 assists to lead the Red Wings in this statistical category. Not only does Seider have an eye for the open shooter in the offensive zone, but he is also a beast in the defensive zone as well, racking up five blocked shots in his last game against the Philadelphia Flyers. Seider tends to produce assists in bursts, as he has three finishes without a point in his previous five games played. However, he has four assists in the other two games during this stretch, pouring in two against Toronto and Philadelphia with Carter Hart (G – PHI) defending the crease. Hart is expected to be the goaltender once again on Saturday, so Seider should feel comfortable enough to gain his 28th assist of the season. Detroit is only seven points behind Boston for the fourth and final playoff seed in the Atlantic Division, so expect Seider and the rest of the Red Wings to come out buzzing against the hapless Flyers.
Jacob Markstrom (G – CGY): $8,200
One of the most reliable goaltenders is Calgary’s Jacob Markstrom. He may even find himself hoisting the Vezina Trophy if he keeps up his current pace, as he currently has eight shutouts through 35 games played. The 32-year old has a 2.13 GAA, and a .927 save percentage and has given the Flames a serious chance to make a run in the postseason. Markstrom has not allowed more than two goals in three straight starts, so expect him to achieve this feat for the fourth consecutive time against the anemic New York Islanders offense. The Islanders have only scored more than one goal once in their previous four games, entering Saturday’s road contest in Calgary. Markstrom has a great chance to earn his ninth shutout of the season, so pay up to anchor your lineups with a sturdy foundation.
Recommended Plays: FanDuel
FanDuel maximum salary is set at $55,000
Brayden Schenn (C – STL): $6,000
Brayden Schenn has been cooking in the offensive zone for St. Louis lately. The 30-year old skates on the Blues’ first-line attack and has scored 15 goals, ranking second on the team behind only Jordan Kyrou (RW – STL). Schenn earns additional opportunities on the top powerplay unit while getting roughly 17 minutes average time on ice. He alternates his shots on goal volume depending on the matchup and game flow, but Schenn is coming off a two-goal outing against New Jersey on Thursday. He only has one game without a point in his last seven games played, including three multi-point finishes. Schenn is heating up for the Blues and DFS lineups at the right time. He is a steal at $6,000 on FanDuel and should be plugged into lineups with confidence. His opponent, the Chicago Blackhawks, will deploy veteran goaltender Marc Andre-Fleury, who is volatile with his performance in the net. Considering that he just held Edmonton to one goal in a win on Wednesday, he could be positioned for a big-time letdown. Schenn is matchup proof, but Chicago’s vulnerability in net elevates him into the list of must-add prospects during Saturday’s slate.
Andrew Mangiapane (LW – CGY): $6,600
Second-line winger Andrew Mangiapane has been tearing up the stat sheet for Calgary as of late. The 25-year old is now in his fifth season with the Flames and is only two points away from tying his career-high of 32 points set during the last two seasons. Mangiapane also skates on the second powerplay unit, but his ability to score is uncanny. He leads Calgary with goals (23) and has scored four across his previous four games played. In the game where Mangiapane did not score, he still produced two assists. This is a player who can win you any DFS contest, and the $6,600 salary is still too low considering his recent hot-streak. The New York Islanders are a terrible offense but their goaltender, Semyon Varlamov (G – NYI), is a tough out. He has only allowed two goals in his past two starts, but both resulted in losses due to the offense lacking scoring prowess. That being said, Mangiapane is the scoring leader and riding momentum entering Saturday’s home game against the Islanders. He’s a certified stud and should be prioritized when constructing Saturday DFS lineups.
Oliver Ekman-Larsson (D – VAN): $5,100
Vancouver still has a very good chance to hit a winning streak and climb into a playoff berth in the highly competitive Pacific Division. First-line defenseman Oliver Ekman-Larsson has been integral in keeping the team from fully tanking and plummeting in a downward spiral, scoring five points across his last three games played. It’s always helpful to roster a player who earns minutes on the top powerplay unit, which is precisely the case for Ekman-Larsson. The 30-year old is adapting to life outside of the Arizona Coyotes, where he spent his first 11 seasons in the league. He takes three to four shots on goal and racks up a couple of blocked shots, making Ekman-Larsson a defenseman with one of the highest floors available. At just above a $5,000 salary, he’s a steal and should be heavily considered when you’re constructing lineups.
Eric Comrie (G – WPG): $7,400
26-year old netminder Eric Comrie is not a household name, but he does have a pretty solid resumé across six starts for Winnipeg this season. He only allowed one goal in his last start, which led to a 4-1 rout of the St. Louis Blues. Comrie has had three games to rest and will prepare to face the Nashville Predators, a team that has experienced lulls and recently ended a six-game losing skid. The Predators are top-heavy in their offense, so as long as Comrie can defend the crease against that particular unit, his chances of leading the Jets to a win become increasingly favorable. Acquire one of the cheapest goaltenders on Saturday’s slate and view him as a salary-saving option, allowing you to re-invest in another player with higher-upside than the one initially selected to fill the spot.
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Matthew MacKay is a featured writer for FantasyPros. For more from Matthew, check out his archive and follow him @Matt_MacKay_.
