A Saturday with double-digit games on the NHL slate always sounds good to me, and we have 10 starting at 7 p.m. EST or later. Here are my recommendations for your DFS lineups.
SLATE PREVIEW
Only one team is on the second leg of a back-to-back. The Penguins are at home for both games, but Tristan Jarry remains out. That's good for the Kraken, though they don't exactly excite offensively. Some clubs will be on the first of consecutive days with some instances where the goalie choice will really make a difference, but as of this writing a lot of those starters haven't officially been confirmed.
GOALIES
Jake Oettinger, DAL at CGY ($8,400): There are two poor starts in a nine-game sample size, but Oettinger still lists a .908 save percentage and 2.44 GAA during that time. I certainly feel like I can trust him against the Flames, a team that's only produced 2.27 goals per game.
Linus Ullmark, OTT at SAN ($8,300): Ullmark has posted a 2.14 GAA and .911 save percentage over his last five outings, which is more in line with what the Sens were expecting from the former Vezina winner. The Sharks have some fun, young players, though they all can't be Macklin Celebrini. And they're below-average for goals while only averaging 24.1 shots.
Karel Vejmelka, UTA vs. NYR ($7,800): Vejmelka has not played well this year, which is a concern. But in a home matchup against the Rangers, he might be just fine as they're bottom-5 in goals and bottom-10 in shots. The Mammoth rank first in shots allowed, so it's unlikely Vejmelka will have to face many pucks on Saturday.
VALUE PLAYS/ONE-OFFS
Cole Caufield, MON vs. TOR ($7,000): After finally getting to 30 goals last season, Caufield seems primed to hit 40 as he's currently at 13 with 55 shots and a 23.6 shooting percentage that'll likely regress. I'll grant Joseph Woll has steadied things in net since returning by registering a .912 save percentage across three starts, yet he's also faced at least 29 shots during each one while the Leafs give up an average of 31.
Jordan Eberle, SEA at PIT ($4,600): With a larger role and a jolt of energy, Eberle has been able to rebound with eight goals, six assists, and 53 shots on target through 20 games after 66 over 42 last year. We don't really know if Sergei Murashov is ready for NHL hockey as he's only made two starts and one of them came against Nashville. What I do know is that the Penguins are on the second leg of a back-to-back and the 21-year-old rookie who was in the AHL when the season started.
Oliver Bjorkstrand, TAM at WAS ($3,300): Bjorkstrand's 2.9 shooting percentage isn't and he's averaged 3:30 with the extra man. The Caps are surprisingly bottom-5 in penalty-kill percentage, so maybe Bjorkstrand can get on the scoresheet and maybe even light the lamp.
FORWARD LINE STACKS TO CONSIDER
Golden Knights at Ducks
Jack Eichel (C - $8,900), Ivan Barbashev (W - $4,200), Braeden Bowman (W - $3,200)
The Ducks are getting by defensively on the play of Lukas Dostal having allowed 30.0 shots per game while sitting 25th on the penalty kill. He made 36 saves last time out, yet also gave up three goals. That makes Vegas's top line a solid stack.
You can count on Eichel getting pucks on net with 84 so far to go with 11 power-play points. Barbashev doesn't participate much while up a man, but does have 17 points while potting 23 last year skating next to Eichel. The 22-year-old Bowman got called up for his NHL debut and immediately slotted in on the first unit and lead PP, where he's responded with four points - including two goals on the man-advantage.
Panthers vs. Oilers
Anton Lundell (C - $5,200), Brad Marchand (W - $6,600), Mackie Samoskevich (W - $3,400)
This is a familiar matchup with the play in net from the Oilers also recognizable as they enter with a 3.57 GAA with both goalies posting save percentages well below .900. With Eetu Luostarinen the latest player to suffer a fluky injury away from the ice, this is the current makeup of Florida's first trio.
In this new role, Lundell has seen his minutes increase by almost three a night and his power-play time go up by over two. That's led to 16 points overall, with six from the last six. Marchand went scoreless last time out, though that's been rare this year as he came in on an 11-game point streak. Samoskevich hasn't been playing this high up the lineup for most of the campaign, yet can claim nine points with five of those on the power play.
DEFENSEMEN
Morgan Rielly, TOR at MON ($4,900): One of the only positives this season for the Leafs has been Rielly's play as he's tallied 10 points in his last 10 games to give him 16 overall - and that's with only two PPPs even though he's averaged 2:41 while up a man. Montreal's goaltending has been a mess the last month or so as their GAA has ballooned to 3.60.
Brandon Montour, SEA at PIT ($4,600): It hasn't been quite the tenure the Kraken expected when they brought in Montour, but he's posted seven points and 29 shots during his last 12 matchups. I mentioned earlier the Penguins are the only team on the second leg of a back-to-back. Well, I don't know if you've heard this, but they're also kind of an older roster - one that could be particularly affected by having to skate for a second straight day.
Brent Burns, COL at NAS ($3,400): It's surprising to see Burns in a role where he's not participating much on the power play, though that'll happen when you join a team with Cale Makar since you want to try and win a ring. And it's not as if he's struggled with 10 points and 40 shots. Unfortunately for Nashville, Juuse Saros hasn't bounced back this year with a 2.97 GAA and .892 save percentage following a 2.98/.895.
