This article is part of our FantasyDraft NHL series.
Although there are eight NHL games Saturday, five are matinees, leaving only three games for daily fantasy. That includes an outdoor game, which is always an interesting factor. With all that in mind, here are some recommendations for daily fantasy lineups.
GOALIE
Arizona Coyotes, ARI vs. OTT ($16,400): The Coyotes are, perhaps surprisingly, 7-2-1 in their last 10 games. The Senators, meanwhile, had lost six in a row before winning Friday and are on the second night of a back-to-back. Antti Raanta has a .923 save percentage and new backup has Darcy Kuemper has a .930 save percentage, so the goalies in Arizona are no longer pushovers either.
CENTER
Leon Draisaitl, EDM vs. NYR ($12,600): This might be a disappointing season for the Oilers, but Draisaitl hasn't let it keep his numbers down. In his last 20 games, he notched 10 goals and 14 assists. The Rangers are on the road for the second game of a back-to-back and will start Alexandar Georgiev in goal. On top of that, heading into Friday's game New York had a 3.93 GAA since the All-Star break.
Mika Zibanejad, NYR at EDM ($11,800):Zibanejad has averaged 13.27 fantasy points per game, fourth most among centers playing Saturday. He also averages 3:07 per game with the extra man and has 15 power-play points through 56 games. That bodes well heading into this matchup, as the Oilers have the league's worst penalty kill.
WING
James van Riemsdyk, TOR at WAS ($11,600):Braden Holtby has really struggled in net recently, posting a 4.43 GAA and an .875 save percentage in his last 10 games. Additionally, though the Capitals have been better defensively at home, this isn't a true home game for them as it will be played outdoors at the U.S. Naval Academy in Annapolis, Md. Van Riemsdyk has started 63.6 percent of his shifts in the offensive zone, most on the Maple Leafs, and he has 10 points in his last 12 games.
Pavel Buchnevich, NYR at EDM ($9,400): Buchnevich has 12 power-play points in 57 games and, as noted, the Oilers have the league's worst penalty kill. However, you also don't have to be worried about the fact the Rangers are on the road. Edmonton has a 3.55 GAA at home, second highest in the NHL.
Christian Fischer, ARI vs. OTT ($7,600): Fischer had chipped in a bit this season with 30 points in 60 games. However, 11 of those points have come in his last 15 games, and that only includes one goal on 37 shots. A little more puck luck and he could be doing even better. The Senators have a 3.44 GAA, second highest in the NHL, and they are on the road for the second night of a back-to-back.
DEFENSEMEN
Oliver Ekman-Larsson, ARI vs. OTT ($9,900): Let's stick with the Coyotes, because, as I just noted, the Senators have some woeful defensive numbers. Ekman-Larsson has six points in his last six games, all assists. He has a 5.3 shooting percentage that is his lowest since the 2012-13 season, and there is still some time left for regression. The Swede has also averaged 3:12 per game on the power play where he's tallied 11 points with the extra man. Perhaps unsurprisingly, given their other numbers, the Senators have the 28th-ranked penalty kill.
Darnell Nurse, EDM vs. NYR ($8,900) Nurse actually leads Edmonton's defensemen with six goals, and his 20 points are second to Kris Russell by one point. However, he's racked up a lot more shots than Russell, as the 23-year-old has 150 shots through 64 games. The Rangers have a 3.16 team GAA and have allowed 34.5 shots on net per contest. They are also on the road for the second game in as many nights, are starting their backup goalie, and just traded away a few players at the deadline.
