This article is part of our Yahoo DFS Hockey series.
Saturday's 12-game NHL slate begins at 1:00 PM Eastern time. While there are plenty of options to choose from in this slate, certain players are primed to provide a little extra value relative to the competition. Read on to see which options to target and which to avoid.
GOALIE
Henrik Lundqvist, NYR at CAR ($22): Lundqvist has dominated the Hurricanes throughout his career, posting a 27-11-1 record, 2.05 GAA and .929 save percentage in 39 meetings. While the Swedish veteran's having a down year, New York has still outscored Carolina by a combined 11-2 margin in two meetings with Lundqvist in net this season. At just $22, the risk in using Lundqvist against the league's 24th-ranked offense (2.75 goals per game) is minimal.
GOALIE TO AVOID
Martin Jones, SJ at VGK ($35): Jones has lived up to his $35 valuation recently, as Thursday's loss to the Predators snapped a seven-game winning streak. Unfortunately, matchup once again dictates that owners should look elsewhere in net. Jones allowed four goals to Nashville's seventh-ranked offense, and this road tilt against a third-ranked Vegas unit that averages 3.29 goals per game is unlikely to go any better.
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CENTER
Ryan Nugent-Hopkins, EDM at CGY ($19): Owners who can't afford Connor McDavid but want to benefit from his tremendous recent form should lock in his linemate Nugent-Hopkins. Drafted first overall in 2011 to be a center, Nugent-Hopkins has fit right in as a winger alongside the hottest player in the world, contributing five goals and 12 points in his last 11 games. He's also averaging over 20 minutes of ice time per contest over that stretch, so Nugent-Hopkins will have all the opportunities he needs to maintain his recent success against a beat-up Flames team.
CENTER TO AVOID
Jack Eichel, BUF at NSH ($22): While Eichel's managed to light the lamp three times in his last two games, he's still averaging just 6.2 fantasy points in seven appearances since returning from an ankle injury. His minus-7 rating in that stretch has brought Eichel's season mark down to minus-21, and a Nashville team that's outscoring opponents 3.17 to 2.45 on average has the ability to shut down Eichel's offense while exploiting his defensive deficiencies.
WING
Kyle Palmieri, NJ vs. NYI ($19): Palmieri is in the midst of a three-game goal-scoring streak which has featured four goals and five points. Such production really isn't surprising for a player who's quietly amassed 80 goals in 220 appearances over the past three seasons, 30 of which have come with the extra man. Look for him to extend that streak against an Islanders team that allows the most goals per game (3.58) while killing penalties at the second-lowest rate (74.6 percent).
Phil Kessel, PIT vs. MON ($28): The only team worse than the Islanders on the penalty kill is the Habs, operating at 74.5 percent. That's music to Kessel's ears considering his 38 power-play points are tied for the league lead. The veteran sniper will cost you a pretty penny, but you'll be hard-pressed to find a better time to pay up for him.
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WINGS TO AVOID
Jonathan Huberdeau, FLA at BOS ($21): Huberdeau's caught in an unfortunate middle, as owners are likely to either pay up for one of Florida's three more productive forwards or look to save money by going for one of the team's cheaper options. It's tough to justify dropping $21 on a winger that's been held to 3.7 or fewer fantasy points in six of his last nine games, including a zero-point performance against this same Boston team – a team allowing the third-fewest goals per game (2.54) in the league.
Bobby Ryan, OTT at DET ($18): Ryan just had a three-game goal streak snapped with an ugly, minus-1.1 fantasy point effort Thursday, but that recent success has overinflated his price. While Senators skaters are always risky due to the team's propensity to give up goals in bunches, fellow $18 winger Mike Hoffman is much more likely to capitalize on this favorable matchup against a subpar Red Wings squad considering he averages 6.6 fantasy points per game compared to Ryan's 5.0.
DEFENSE
Niklas Kronwall, DET vs. OTT ($16): With Mike Green (neck) sidelined, Kronwall has become Detroit's best offensive weapon from the blue line. While he's yet to capitalize on his new role with the top power-play unit, Kronwall still has a goal and two assists at even strength in five games since Green last played and is averaging 8.2 fantasy points over that stretch. Rookie Joe Hicketts ($18) is also a tempting option against an Ottawa team that allows the second-most goals in the league (3.44 per game), but Kronwall's more established presence gives him the higher floor of the two, plus the veteran's $2 cheaper.
Matt Dumba, MIN at DAL ($17): Dumba's been terrific in the month of March, posting two goals and 10 assists in 14 games while topping his hefty season ice time average of 23:41 in each of his last 10 appearances. The young blueliner should have little trouble maintaining his recent success against a Dallas club that he just lit up for a goal, three assists and 32.8 fantasy points Thursday, especially since the Stars continue to rely on the struggling Kari Lehtonen in net with Ben Bishop (knee) out of commission.
DEFENSEMEN TO AVOID
Vince Dunn, STL at ARI ($17): Dunn's price still seems to be riding the high of a four-point game against Chicago back on March 18, but that game was clearly an aberration considering he has just five other points -- all assists -- over his past 20 games. Targeting Blues players makes sense in this favorable matchup against the Coyotes, but as far as the team's blueliners go, Colton Parayko at $18 makes much more sense than Dunn at $17 considering Parayko averages 6.3 fantasy points to Dunn's 4.4.
John Klingberg, DAL vs. MIN ($23): Klingberg has been a disappointment by his lofty offensive standards recently, with just 10 assists and no goals over his past 22 games. He also has a minus-11 rating over that span, so it's tough to justify dropping $23 on him right now.
