This article is part of our Yahoo DFS Hockey series.
The featured contests at Yahoo consist of the eight evening games beginning at 7 p.m. EDT. It's a deep player pool, and there are two rematches between the Blues and Avalanche, and the Sharks and Kings. The Rangers, Canadiens and Avalanche are the largest favorites on the docket, whereas the highest over/under totals are in the Senators-Canadiens and Rangers-Sabres tilts. Here are picks and pans for Saturday's action.
All statistics from Natural Stat Trick and Hockey Reference.
GOALIE
Carey Price, MON vs. OTT ($29): A 17-save shutout improved Price to a 6-1-2 record, .931 save percentage and 1.87 GAA through his past nine starts. This salary doesn't match his recent run, and the Canadiens are huge favorites Saturday. Ottawa has scored the seventh-fewest goals per game this season, too.
GOALIE TO AVOID
Kaapo Kahkonen, MIN at VGK ($36): While Kahkonen's .920 save percentage and 2.34 GAA for the year are rock-solid marks, he's lost consecutive starts with nine goals against, and the Golden Knights check in as one of the most difficult matchups in the league. Vegas has scored the fifth-most goals per game and boast a high-end 14-3-2 home-ice record.
CENTER
Mathew Barzal, NYI vs. PHI ($20): The Flyers have allowed the second-most goals per game in the league, including 4.41 per in March. It's a ripe setup for Barzal to stay hot, as he's racked up eight points including four goals through his past three games, and his salary doesn't break the bank.
CENTER TO AVOID
Aleksander Barkov, FLA vs. CLS ($33): Expected to return from a lower-body injury during this two-game series against Columbus, Barkov is a huge risk at this salary after missing the past six games. His salary has actually climbed higher while he's been out of the lineup. Just note, the Blue Jackets have allowed the seventh-most goals per game and probably shouldn't be viewed as an intimidating opponent.
WING
Artemi Panarin, NYR at BUF ($32): If you're looking to spend up Saturday, Panarin warrants attention. He's recorded 16 points including four goals through 11 games since returning from his personal leave and is up to a third-ranked 4.01 points per 60 minutes over the past two years. Obviously, the cushy matchup is also a huge draw. Buffalo has surrendered the third-most goals per game in the league, after all.
Carter Verhaeghe, FLA vs. CLS ($18): Scorching hot, Verhaeghe lands the noted favorable matchup against Columbus and has three multi-point showings through his past four contests for five tallies and three helpers. He's up to 32 points including 17 goals through 37 games for the campaign and has also seen an ice-time boost with an average of 22:17 per game, including 3:13 with the man advantage, the past four outings.
WINGS TO AVOID
David Perron, STL at COL ($22): While the veteran winger scored a goal and added an assist against Colorado on Friday, it was just the third time he's found the scoresheet through the past nine games. The Avs have also allowed the fewest goals per game in the league, so even with Perron's success last night, this remains a tough draw.
Kirill Kaprizov, MIN at VGK ($21): The rookie collected a goal and an assist during Thursday's 3-2 shootout win over Vegas, so expect him to receive chalky treatment ahead of Saturday's rematch. Additionally, with the Golden Knights allowing the second-fewest goals per game and sporting the fifth-best penalty kill in the league, the matchup is far from favorable. Kaprizov's salary also jumped significantly after Thursday's strong showing.
DEFENSE
Nick Leddy, NYI vs. PHI ($14): Not only is Philadelphia giving up goals in bunches, the Flyers also own the third-worst penalty kill in the league, and Leddy has been quarterbacking the No. 1 power-play unit of late. He's also collected seven assists through the past seven games, so from his salary range, he's a solid target.
K'Andre Miller, NYR at BUF ($12): In the noted soft matchup, Miller's a cost-effective option to add to a Rangers stack or as a standalone target. He's cooled off considerably with just four points through the past 25 games, but he logs big minutes (21:25 with 1:31 during 25-game stretch) and moves the needle in the peripheral categories with 33 shots, 44 blocks and a plus-14 rating for the campaign.
DEFENSEMEN TO AVOID
Ivan Provorov, PHI at NYI ($20): The Islanders have allowed third-fewest goals per game this season (2.35) and are 14-1-2 on home ice, so this is a tough matchup for Provorov and the Flyers. Plus, he ranks 44th among regular defensemen in points per 60 minutes this year.
Torey Krug, STL at COL ($18): As noted, Krug and the Blues land in a tough matchup. Additionally, after registering just a single assist during a three-game stretch, Krug is now sporting a three-game point streak. Still, he hasn't topped double-digit power-play points, and his 1.37 points per 60 minutes rank 34th among regular defensemen, which highlights his struggles with the Blues this season.
