This article is part of our FanDuel NHL series.
Before you fall back time-wise, let's see if you can fall into some winnings, daily fantasy hockey-wise. It's a busy Saturday for the NHL per usual, with 10 games starting at 7 p.m. ET or later. I've looked over the lineup and have these recommendations.
SLATE PREVIEW
We've got a classic matchup with the Bruins vs. Leafs and a matchup of rebuilding teams in the Red Wings and Sabres. The league's top-four highest-scoring teams aren't included in this slate, but there's still offensive upside. We have two clubs at home on the second night of a back-to-back (Jets and Coyotes) and two doing the same but on the road (Rangers and Devils), which is always a bit harder to navigate.
GOALIES
Jacob Markstrom, CGY vs. NYR ($8,000): I think, in time, regression is going to hit both Markstrom and the Rangers. The Swedish goalie enters with a 1.89 GAA and .936 save percentage, while the Rangers are mired in the bottom-10 in both goals and shots on net per game. For this one, Markstrom gets the Blueshirts right after being in Edmonton. I'm not fearing regression in this particular case.
James Reimer, SAN vs. NJD ($7,800): The Sharks haven't exactly been known for their defense and goaltending the last few years, but the team has only allowed 29.1 shots on net per contest. Meanwhile, Reimer has posted a 1.54 GAA and .950 save percentage, which should get him the bulk of the starts over Adin Hill. The Devils are currently lacking Jack Hughes, and are also on the road for the second consecutive night.
Philipp Grubauer, SEA at ARI ($7,300): It felt like a bit of a coup when the expansion Kraken got themselves a goalie with a career .920 save percentage. While Grubauer got off a slow start with his new squad, he's produced a 1.51 GAA and .935 save percentage over his last four outings. Meanwhile, the Coyotes are well on their way to making NHL history as the first team to finish 32nd in goals per game.
VALUE PLAYS
Tomas Hertl, SAN vs. NJD ($6,000): With five points over his last three contests, Hertl now has eight in 10. He notched 43 over 50 last year, and scored 35 goals during his last full campaign. New Jersey's goaltending duo of Mackenzie Blackwood (who is just getting back in action) and Jonathan Bernier doesn't inspire confidence, especially with the team away from home for its second game in as many days.
Oliver Wahlstrom, NYI at WPG ($4,500): Wahlstrom has potted five goals on 24 shots across eight games, including two on the power play. It's the power play that has me interested today, with the Jets battling the Coyotes for the league's worst penalty kill and also on the second day of a back-to-back. Connor Hellebuyck has been dealing with an illness, so he might not even be able to play.
Tage Thompson, BUF vs. DET ($4,400): The youth movement is on in Buffalo. Thompson has averaged 18:00 and is currently the team's top center. With points in consecutive outings, the 24-year-old now has six in 10. The Red Wings have allowed a whopping 34.3 shots on net per contest and sport a 3.55 GAA.
LINE STACKS TO CONSIDER
Golden Knights at Canadiens: Nicolas Roy (C - $3,600), Jonathan Marchessault (W - $5,900), Reilly Smith (W - $4,600)
Due to injuries, meet your new first line for the Golden Knights. Marchessault and Smith are also both on the top power-play unit. Jake Allen has a 2.92 GAA and .904 save percentage after a .907 last season, so there's not much to fear from the Habs.
Roy has unexpectedly found himself centering Vegas' top trio and has averaged 18:34 over the last four. He's produced five points in eight, but his 6.7 shooting percentage should improve. Marchessault seems to be rounding into form with five in four. Smith has directed 32 shots on net in 10 appearances, and his 6.3 shooting percentage should regress toward his career average of 12.1.
Kraken at Coyotes: Alexander Wennberg (C - $3,600), Jaden Schwartz (W - $4,600), Joonas Donskoi (W - $3,800)
I will admit Karel Vejmelka's performance belies the fact the Coyotes enter with the league's highest GAA. Having said that, he's a 25-year-old who has played all of eight games in the NHL. And the Coyotes are playing on the second night of a back-to-back. They may be at home, but they were in Anaheim on Friday. Arizona just added Scott Wedgewood off waivers, which tells you where the team is in net behind the unproven Vejmelka.
This is currently the Kraken's first line, though as an expansion team roles are less written in stone than other cities. Wennberg is not a big-time shooter, but he's managed six points in 11 contests and has averaged 2:30 per game with the extra man. Schwartz is riding a five-game point streak and just recorded a three-point effort. Donskoi doesn't have a goal, but has racked up five assists. He also had 17 goals in 51 games last year, so he should eventually start lighting the lamp.
DEFENSE
Kris Letang, PIT vs. MIN ($6,200): Letang just returned from a four-game absence to net a goal and four shots. That gives him five points in five appearances. We know Letang always produces when he's healthy, and he's looking fit as he heads into a home contest against a Wild team with a 3.33 GAA.
Rasmus Dahlin, BUF vs. DET ($4,400): Dahlin has started 66.4 percent of his shifts in the offensive zone, second highest on the Sabres. He's also averaged 3:07 on the power play, and has usually excelled with the extra man even when he's been down. The Wings maintain a bottom-10 penalty kill along with a 3.43 GAA.
Noah Dobson, NYI at WPG ($4,200): Now 21, Dobson has graduated to a substantive role for the Islanders. He's averaged 18:31, including 2:53 while up a man. Dobson's not offensively proven yet, but he has posted three points in eight games. He's also been active on the defensive end blocking 18 shots. And Dobson will get to attack that weak Winnipeg penalty kill.
