This article is part of our Yahoo DFS Hockey series.
Saturday's NHL slate is another pretty busy one, with nine games on tap beginning at 7:00 PM Eastern time. There are some obvious mismatches to exploit, and those are highlighted below as we delve into which players to target and which to avoid.
GOALIE
Andrei Vasilevskiy, TB vs. LA ($34): Now that Vasilevskiy's price has dropped a few bucks, he becomes a terrific value play in the right matchup. The Russian stud has bounced back from a three-game mid-January losing streak by winning five of his past six starts, and he remains a serious candidate for the Vezina Trophy. A home clash against a Kings team that's playing the second leg of a road back-to-back should allow Vasilevskiy to continue his recent winning ways, especially since Los Angeles ranks below average with 2.85 goals per game.
GOALIE TO AVOID
Frederik Andersen, TOR vs. OTT ($33): This looks like a terrific matchup for Andersen on paper, but recent trends suggest owners should think twice before penciling him into daily lineups. Seven of Andersen's last 11 opponents have gotten at least three pucks by him, while the Senators have turned things around of late with wins in four of their past five games and nine goals over the last two.
[Join the free NHL Yahoo Cup. $10K in total prizes with weekly winners]
CENTER
Eric Staal, MIN vs. CHI ($19): Staal won't stay this cheap for long, so grab him at $19 while you still can. With nine goals in his past 15 games and 12 points in the last nine, he's raised his average output to 8.1 fantasy points per game -- tops among sub-$22 centers. There's little reason for the veteran to slow down against a Blackhawks club that has dropped eight of its past 10 games and is still missing standout goaltender Corey Crawford (concussion).
CENTER TO AVOID
Danton Heinen, BOS vs. BUF ($17): With Brad Marchand back from his five-game suspension Wednesday, Heinen was dropped down to the third line and taken off the top power-play unit. He still dished out a helper in that game, but finished with just 4.9 fantasy points in 15:04 of ice time. It's not that Heinen's incapable of succeeding in this favorable matchup, just that many of his similarly priced teammates are much better positioned to do so.
WING
Travis Konecny, PHI at ARI ($17): Konecny isn't as reliant on the power play as most of Philadelphia's top scorers, as only three of his 27 points have come with the extra man. That distribution makes him a perfect fit for this matchup against a Coyotes team that's allowing the second-most goals per game (3.43) despite killing penalties right around a league average rate at 79.6 percent. The 29-year-old forward's also in the midst of the most productive stretch of his NHL career, with 17 points in his last 18 games.
Kevin Labanc, SJ vs. EDM ($14): Labanc continues to serve as a cheaper alternative to San Jose's stars while skating alongside them on the top line and top power-play unit. The Brooklyn native's fit right in with the big guns, firing an average of 3.0 shots on goal over his last 11 games while also totaling three goals and nine points in that stretch. Labanc's well positioned to add to his 13 power-play points against Edmonton's league-worst 71.5 percent penalty kill.
[Join a Yahoo Daily Fantasy Hockey contest or league today]
WINGS TO AVOID
Evander Kane, BUF at BOS ($21): Kane hasn't marked the scoresheet in 10 games now, and he has just one point -- an assist -- in the past 14 games. Turning things around won't be easy against a Bruins team that's allowing the fewest goals in the league.
Max Pacioretty, MON vs. NSH ($20): Montreal's most expensive winger will have his work cut out for him against a Predators team that's surrendering just 2.51 goals per game -- third-fewest in the NHL. Pacioretty's averaging fewer than 4.0 fantasy points per game during an active five-game goal drought and is always a risky pick given his minus-11 rating.
DEFENSE
Oliver Ekman-Larsson, ARI vs. PHI ($11): Ekman-Larsson's undoubtedly a rating risk, but his offensive upside makes the affordable blueliner well worth that risk in this matchup. He's built up some momentum with two assists and nine shots over his past two games, and is always dangerous with the extra man judging by his 42 power-play goals over the past five seasons. The talented Swede won't get a much better chance to improve those numbers than in a home tilt against a Flyers penalty kill that ranks third-worst at 74.1 percent.
P.K. Subban, NSH at MON ($24): Subban's been scorching hot for a while now, with 11 goals and 25 points over his past 24 games. He's also fired 26 shots on net over the past six games and is tied for the team lead with 18 power-play points this season. That power-play prowess coupled with the rest of his production makes Subban a strong choice against a Canadiens club that's allowing the eighth-most goals (3.09) while killing penalties at the seventh-lowest rate (77.9 percent).
DEFENSEMEN TO AVOID
Victor Hedman, TB vs. LA ($27): Hedman's multi-point outing Thursday was only his second such performance since the calendar flipped to 2018. Offense will be tough to come by against the league's second-stingiest defensive team, so Herman will have a difficult time living up to his hefty valuation.
Justin Faulk, CAR vs. COL ($19): Faulk's scored 12 of his 19 points on the power play while posting a minus-16 rating, so teams with strong penalty killing and good offense present serious problems for him. Colorado checks both boxes, as the Avalanche are scoring 3.15 goals per game (seventh-most) while killing penalties at 83.3 percent (third-highest).
