This article is part of our DraftKings NHL series.
Thursday you ate, Friday you shopped, and Saturday you play daily fantasy hockey. Since there were 15 NHL games Friday, basically every team in action Saturday is on the second leg of a back-to-back. That will mean a lot of backup goalies in net. There are 10 games Saturday night, and here are my lineup recommendations.
GOALIE
Linus Ullmark, BUF at DET ($7,900): Ullmark only played in five games last year, but he was a rare bright spot for the Sabres (2.00 GAA , .935 save percentage). This year, he's played in six games and has posted a 2.65 GAA and .922 save percentage. The Sabres and Wings have both been hot recently, but heading into Friday the Wings had only averaged 2.76 goals and 28.7 shots on net per game.
CENTER
Sean Couturier, PHI at TOR ($5,800): After a slow start, Couturier has played more like he did last season, when he broke out with 31 goals and 75 points. Over his last 11 games he's tallied 15 points. While Frederik Andersen has played some impressive hockey in net for the Leafs, this contest will likely feature the rare Garret Sparks appearance. Sparks only has a 3.21 GAA and .906 save percentage.
Alex Kerfoot, COL vs. DAL ($4,600): The Avalanche are mostly known for their top line, but Kerfoot has been a solid secondary scorer. He's notched 17 points, including eight on the power play. The Stars are without Ben Bishop, so either Anton Khudobin will have to play back-to-back games, or 23-year-old rookie Landon Bow will be getting his first career NHL start.
WING
Mike Hoffman, FLA vs. CHI ($7,300): Hoffman won't stay this hot forever, but he has 20 points in 20 games, even though his 17-game point streak ended Friday night. He's also averaged 3:17 per game on the power play and notched nine points with the extra man. The Blackhawks, for their part, have the 29th-ranked penalty kill, and they will likely have Cam Ward (3.81 GAA, .891 save percentage) in net.
Jake DeBrusk, BOS at MON ($4,800): DeBrusk has started 62.3 percent of his shifts in the offensive zone, highest among Bruins forwards. That's paid off recently, as he has eight points in his last nine games. Carey Price has not been able to turn his play around after struggling last season, and he has a 3.17 GAA and .895 save percentage.
Kevin Labanc, SAN at VGK ($3,900): Labanc has 15 points to start the season, even though he has a career-low shooting percentage at present. He has three points with the extra man, and last season he had 17 power-play points. Malcolm Subban will likely be getting the start for Vegas, and he has a 4.03 GAA and .859 save percentage backing up Marc-Andre Fleury.
DEFENSE
Morgan Rielly, TOR vs. PHI ($6,600): Rielly's great start has not faded, as he has nine goals and 17 assists through 23 games. He also has 10 points with the extra man. Heading into Friday, the Flyers had the second-highest GAA in the league, and also the 30th-ranked penalty kill. That's enticing enough as is, but Philly will also be starting fourth-string goalie Alex Lyon in net.
Drew Doughty, LOS vs. VAN ($4,700): Doughty has something going for him basically no other NHL player in action Saturday can claim: rest, as the Kings were the only team who didn't play on Friday. Doughty is off to a slow start by his standards, but he still has 12 points, and he's still getting a Canucks team on the road for the second night of a back-to-back. He will also likely see Jacob Markstrom in the opposing goal, who has a 3.42 GAA and .896 save percentage.
