This article is part of our Yahoo DFS Hockey series.
Saturday's NHL slate begins at 1:00 PM Eastern time and features 24 teams. Even with the large selection, certain players stand out as options to target or avoid. Read on to find out which ones those are.
GOALIE
Steve Mason, WPG at ARI ($22): While Mason's still without a win this season, the offseason acquisition had his best game in a Jets uniform with 35 saves on 37 Columbus shots in his last appearance Oct. 27, and he's made 108 stops over his last three starts. He's expected to start this second leg of a back-to-back over Connor Hellebuyck, and will be heavily favored to finally notch a victory against a 2-13-3 Coyotes club. Using Mason at this price also grants owners maximum flexibility with the rest of the their lineup.
GOALIE TO AVOID
Tuukka Rask, BOS vs. TOR ($27): Seeing Rask at $27 would usually constitute a great buy-low opportunity, but his combination of subpar early-season form for an injury-ravaged Bruins squad coupled with a tough matchup outweigh the advantages that come with plugging in Rask on the cheap. He's allowed at least three goals in four of five starts, while the Maple Leafs are scoring 3.76 goals per game.
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CENTER
Mika Zibanejad, NYR vs. EDM ($19): While much of the credit for New York's hot start on the power play rightfully goes to free agent acquisition Kevin Shattenkirk, Zibanejad has been the team's most effective player in such situations. A team-leading five of his eight goals and 10 of his 18 points have come with the extra man, and Zibanejad is primed for more power-play success at home against an Oilers penalty kill that's operating at a league-low 72.0 percent.
CENTER TO AVOID
Rocco Grimaldi, COL at OTT ($17): Grimaldi has done little to deserve his relatively lofty $17 valuation, as he's only averaging just over 10 minutes of ice time per game. There's little reason to trust the 5-foot-6, 180-pound forward against a superior Senators club that's outscored the opposition by eight goals while picking up points in 12 of its first 15 games.
WING
Kyle Connor, WPG at ARI ($17): Connor has three goals, four helpers and a plus-5 rating through nine games heading into the weekend and should be able to add to those totals in this matchup with an Arizona team that's allowing 3.89 goals per game. The top-heavy Jets rely on their top two lines to do the majority of their goal scoring, and Connor offers a combination of ability and affordability that's otherwise unmatched in that group.
Jason Zucker, MIN at PHI ($18): Zucker is brimming with confidence after potting all five of his team's goals in the past two games while taking 12 shots over that span. He's been a fantastic all-around asset in the early going, with eight goals, 13 points and a plus-5 rating over 18:23 of ice time per game. Expect more success against Flyers goalie Brian Elliott, who's looked shaky early on with a 2.90 GAA and .903 save percentage.
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WINGS TO AVOID
Brian Gibbons, NJ vs. FLA ($17): Gibbons came into this season with five goals on 50 shots in 66 career NHL games, so the 31.8 percent shooting percentage that's allowed the 29-year-old forward to score seven goals on 22 shots this season is unlikely to last. He's skated fewer than 14 minutes in six of 15 games, including the past two, and Gibbons will be unable to take advantage of Florida's greatest weakness (penalty killing) since he doesn't play on the power play.
Patrick Kane, CHI at CAR ($34): Kane is valued at $34 due more to reputation than performance, as his average of 7.1 fantasy points per game is more befitting of a player half his price. While he's capable of snapping out of his recent rut at any time, it's tough to commit such money to a player that's produced a total of just 20.0 fantasy points in his past six appearances combined. Getting back on track won't be easy against a Carolina team that's allowed the second fewest goals in the league so far.
DEFENSE
Erik Karlsson, OTT vs. COL ($31): Karlsson provided an inspired effort in his home country Friday, dishing out a pair of helpers to help his team pull out a 4-3 overtime win against the Avalanche in Stockholm, Sweden. Expect a similarly high motivation level from the skilled blueliner in the second leg of this two-game set, as a Colorado team that was worst in the league last year and just traded one of its best players simply lacks the personnel to contain a player who has posted 15 points in 10 appearances this season. Add Karlsson's frequent contributions in the shots and blocks categories to his point production, and he easily has the highest fantasy expectations of any blueliner on this slate given the situation.
Will Butcher, NJ vs. FLA ($16): Scoring upside on the blue line is rare in this price range, but Butcher's power-play prowess makes him a likely candidate to contribute offensively in this matchup. The rookie defenseman has dished out seven of his 12 helpers with the extra man, and Florida's 73.2 percent penalty kill has been less effective than that of any team except Edmonton. Unlike some power-play quarterbacks, Butcher can also hold his own defensively, as evidenced by his plus-6 rating.
DEFENSEMEN TO AVOID
P.K. Subban, NSH vs. PIT ($21): The Penguins have had many players' number of late, but Subban in particular stands out. Pittsburgh's talented forwards are equipped to take advantage of Subban's risky style, and his flopping is rendered ineffective by playing against the league's golden boy. Subban was limited to two assists and a minus-1 rating without a goal in six Stanley Cup Finals games against these opponents last season and posted a season-worst minus 4.1 fantasy points in this season's first meeting between these teams, so another underwhelming performance is likely on tap.
Brent Burns, SJ vs. VAN ($32): Burns is another high-priced player off to a slow start. With no goals and an average of just 0.5 points per game this season, the 32-year-old Burns appears to have lost a step ahead of this matchup with a Canucks club that's allowing the fourth fewest goals per game at 2.50.
