Smart plays and guys to avoid for Saturday’s Daily Fantasy Hockey slate
By Benjamin Zweiman
RotoWire Hockey Writer
Saturday features a couple of big rivalry games and one of the most anticipated rematches early in the season. The top team in the NHL, the Canadiens, plays host to the Maple Leafs. Mike Condon was in net Friday for the Habs, so that means Carey Price will take the Hockey Night in Canada stage looking to remain undefeated this season. The Flyers play host to the Rangers for the first time this season, searching for their fourth win in five games. But the game everyone is anticipating is the first meeting between the Blackhawks and Lightning since the 2015 Stanley Cup Finals. Tampa Bay’s roster survived the offseason, but Chicago’s received a pretty significant face lift. These are only the marquee matchups Saturday, so don’t worry, there are nine other games with players ripe for the fantasy picking.
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Perhaps the most polarizing team is the Blue Jackets, who came into the season with high expectations and have zero wins to show for it. Something’s gotta give, and I think Saturday is the day Columbus captures its first two points of the season. It’s not just because the Jackets are due, but because they’ll likely face Avalanche goalie Semyon Varlamov, who has a 3.89 GAA and .861 save percentage in four games in 2015-16. Now, let’s get into some picks for Saturday’s slate of Yahoo Daily Fantasy Hockey contests.
GOALIE
Carey Price, MTL vs. TOR ($39) – Price may be the easiest play in Yahoo DFS Hockey, and in fantasy hockey in general. The man is playing out of his skull and gets a banged up, unintimidating Leafs squad at home. Oh yeah, and he’ll be making Saturday’s start on nearly four days rest. The Price is most certainly right; he’s averaging 19.5 points per game, making him the ideal play for cash games regardless of his top-ranked salary. Price also makes sense in tournaments in lineups that feature scarcely owned forwards or defensemen.
Goalie to Avoid:
Mike Smith, ARI vs. OTT ($33) – This is pretty simple; Smith has allowed 14 goals on his four-game losing streak and is tied for the fifth-highest salary among goaltenders. The Coyotes are up against a high-powered Senators offense that ranks eighth in goals per game (3.14). Arizona is trending down and Smith is a big reason why. It’d be wise to stay away from him until his salary starts to look reasonable again.
CENTER
Ryan Johansen CBJ vs. COL ($18) – I’m all-in on the Jackets to get their first win of the season Saturday, and this guy should make an impact in the process. Johansen has hardly looked like the player who produced 71 points in 82 games last season, but he has still managed six points in eight games in 2015-16. Because of Columbus’ struggles, Johansen comes in at a nice price for an elite top-line center. Varlamov is beginning to look like one of the NHL’s worst goaltenders, so Johansen should have no problem breaking out of his scoring slump.
Center to Avoid:
Ryan Getzlaf, ANA vs. MIN ($21) – Getzlaf should probably consider flying South for the Winter, because he is freezing cold. The 30-year-old perennial all-star hasn’t scored a goal this season and has just one assist in six games. The Ducks are last in goals per game (1.00), and Devan Dubnyk likely will want to avenge last Sunday’s 4-1 loss to Anaheim. Until Getzlaf gets it going, I’m not willing to pay this much for him.
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WING
Mike Cammalleri, NJD vs. BUF ($20) – Cammalleri is riding a three-game points streak in which he’s scored a goal and four assists right into a juicy matchup against the Sabres. The Devils are beginning to look like a real hockey team, and Cammalleri has the best shot at lightning the lamp Saturday. New Jersey enters the game with the seventh-ranked power play in the league, a PP that features Cammalleri heavily. It will also help that Buffalo has the 28th-ranked penalty kill.
Chris Kreider, NYR vs. PHI ($17) – Rivalry games usually get chippy, and when games get chippy, Kreider really rises to the occasion and makes you hate him even more. In seven career games against Philadelphia, Kreider has three goals and three assists. He is starting to heat up with two points in his last two games, as well. As a Devils fan it pains me to say this, but I like Kreider to bring a lot of energy Saturday, get under the skin of his opponent and find the box score.
Wings to Avoid:
Zach Parise, MIN vs. ANA ($25) – Ryan Getzlaf is mired in a scoring slump, but that doesn’t mean he forgot how to shut down the opposing team’s best player. Chances are Parise will have to deal with the Ducks’ top unit. Don’t let your judgment be clouded enough to spend this much salary on him Saturday.
Phil Kessel, PIT vs. NSH ($21) – Kessel hasn’t clicked with his new teammates in Pittsburgh yet, and a road tilt against Pekka Rinne and the Predators isn’t the best place to jumpstart things. Kessel’s taking fewer shots with the Penguins, and while he will get it going at some point, don’t bank on him Saturday.
DEFENSEMEN
Brent Burns, SJ vs. CAR ($22) – Sure, Burns’ scoring has been down this season, as he has just three points in seven games, but it’s not always about points. Burns had a season-high nine shots on goal in Thursday’s 4-1 loss to the Kings. He’s consistently hovering around 4-5 shots per game and even registers a couple of blocks here and there. The Sharks should do plenty of scoring against the Hurricanes, which should translate to a nice outing for Burns.
John Klingberg, DAL vs. FLA ($18) – Klingberg has totaled four points on his current three-game points streak. The Stars throttled the Panthers for four goals in last Saturday’s win and will look to do the same a week later. Klingberg might offer the best value of any defenseman at just $18, plus he’s mildly hot.
Defensemen to Avoid:
Sami Vatanen, ANA vs. MIN ($19) – Vatanen was one of my go-to blue liners last season; he was always extremely cheap and just kept producing points on the power play. But this season, not so much. The Ducks can’t get anything going on offense, and I can’t trust Vatanen until he shows he’s the defenseman who had 37 points in 67 games last season.
Oliver Ekman-Larsson, ARI vs. OTT ($19) – The Coyotes are on a four-game losing streak and have allowed a lot of goals in the process. Ekman-Larsson is one of the most talented young offensive defensemen in the NHL, but the goals just aren’t coming like they did last season. There’s a chance Ottawa throws up a crooked number on Arizona on Saturday, OEL likey will be on the ice for a few goals against. I’d shy away from spending too much on Ekman-Larsson until he pots his first of the season.
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