Neither tricks nor treats bear any relevance now. We're past the spooky season metaphors and analogies. Every ad with a Christmas tree in it I see is an act of aggression. So this Saturday, it's all about hockey talk with DFS lineup recommendations based on nine NHL games starting at 6 p.m. EDT or later.
SLATE PREVIEW
Now that we're a few weeks in, I'm starting to notice more which of the worst defensive teams are in action with a number of them going Saturday. We also have one team on the second leg of a back-to-back as the Capitals visit the Sabres.
GOALIES
Stuart Skinner, EDM vs. CHI ($7,700): Skinner may only have an .896 save percentage, though that's paired with a 2.59 GAA as the Oilers have only allowed 24.7 shots per game. The Blackhawks have averaged 3.27 goals, but on only 24.5 shots that isn't sustainable. There's a good chance Skinner barely faces over 20 shots, which hopefully will yield limited goals and a home win.
Thatcher Demko, VAN at MIN ($7,400): Both teams have potted 2.58 goals per game, yet the Wild have been much better at putting pucks on target. On the other hand, Demko gives the Canucks the clear goaltending advantage as he's been playing like a Vezina finalist again with a 2.17 GAA and .926 save percentage.
VALUE PLAYS
Kirill Marchenko, CLM vs. STL ($6,800): I like a player who's tallied five goals and five assists through 11 games. What I really like is someone who's averaged nearly four shots a night since that tells me he's not messing around. And Marchenko is that player. The Blues have only given up 24.7 shots while struggling to a 4.27 GAA. Marchenko is aggressive enough to still manage a few pucks on target in this matchup, and that could be enough to find the back of the net.
Trevor Zegras, PHI vs. TOR ($5,200): Zegras seems revitalized and has been quite lucky. Both can be true as he's produced 12 points with a 25.0 shooting percentage that's eventually going to drop. However, a hot Zegras has a chance to catch a cold Anthony Stolarz carrying a 3.27 GAA and .886 save percentage.
Ivan Demidov, MON vs. OTT ($4,700): Demidov is a promising prospect who's getting third-line ice time as he's 19 and his game isn't developed enough to get major minutes for a team that suddenly has serious aspirations. However, he's logged 2:05 per game on the power play with nine points overall. Ottawa ranks 31st in penalty-kill percentage, so Demidov has a nice opportunity to continue scoring on Saturday.
FORWARD LINE STACKS
Sabres vs. Capitals
Jiri Kulich (C - $4,700), Tage Thompson (W - $7,000), Jason Zucker (W - $5,000)
The Caps, as noted, are on the road for a second straight day. Buffalo also benefits from catching Charlie Lindgren instead of Logan Thompson. Lindgren has made three starts this year, one excellent and two terrible. And if I fold in his 39 appearances from last season, he's managed an .893 save percentage. And that bodes well for the Sabres' top line.
As a rookie, Kulich tallied 15 goals on 134 shots through 62 games. With an elevated role, he's generated five points that should increase alongside Thompson. Speaking of Thompson, he's reached 40 goals twice and can easily put 240-250 pucks on net in any year. He may only have nine points, but has already recorded 50 shots with an 8.0 shooting percentage that's bound to improve. Zach Benson was surprisingly placed on injured reserve Friday, leading to a pivot here. Perhaps everybody will move up one spot with Josh Doan possibly joining the lead group, though Buffalo's second line has played well together and maybe the veteran Zucker fills in. Either way, he's on the first power play where he's tallied four points.
Canucks at Wild
Elias Pettersson (C - $6,100), Brock Boeser (W - $5,200), Jake DeBrusk (W - $4,900)
The Wild have given up 30.3 shots per game, which is subpar. They also maintain the league's worst penalty kill after similar stats last season. This stack is straightforward with this line also on the first power play…if everyone is healthy.
Pettersson struggled last year, but has posted eight points through 12 games - including three with the extra man where he's averaged 3:54. Boeser has potted four goals with at least 20 power-play points from each of the last two seasons, yet also left Thursday's matchup with an undisclosed injury. His status is up in the air, but fortunately Kiefer Sherwood conveniently slots in on that man-advantage unit. If you don't want to or can't wait to see Boeser's status, just swap in Sherwood. DeBrusk only has two goals and two assists, but both markers have come on the power play. And his 6.1 shooting percentage is bound to improve.
DEFENSEMEN
Zach Werenski, CLM vs. STL ($6,600): Werenski has a goal and assist in each of his last two outings, which isn't surprising as he went off for 82 points and 298 shots last season. As noted earlier, the Blues have a 4.27 GAA.
Justin Faulk, STL at CLM ($5,400): This matchup is worth flipping around as the Blue Jackets list a bottom-five penalty kill while also given up a league-high 33.0 shots per game. Faulk has tallied three power-play points with 21 shots on target. He's also directed three pucks on net three times.
