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Yahoo Daily Fantasy Hockey: Saturday picks

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Getty Images

By Sasha Yodashkin

Saturday’s evening slate consists of just four games, with half of the action taking place earlier in the day. Penguins and Sharks players will be popular against a pair of inferior opponents, but there’s plenty of value to be found in the other two games as well. Read on to find out which players offer the best bang for the buck at every position.

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GOALIE

Carey Price, MON at TOR ($27): Price is starting to find his game again, holding each of his last three opponents to two goals while posting a .929 save percentage in that stretch. Despite that recent improvement and his season-long 25 wins, 2.43 GAA and .918 save percentage, the 2015 Hart Memorial Trophy winner is the cheapest available choice in net at just $27. That deal is much too good to turn down against a Toronto team that has won just five of its past 14 games.

Goalie to Avoid

Robin Lehner, BUF at COL ($39): Yeah he’s playing Colorado, but that still doesn’t justify Lehner’s position as the most expensive goaltending option. The Swede has emerged victorious in just 17 of 42 appearances and is always fighting an uphill battle to pick up the 6.0 fantasy points that come with a victory due to a lack of scoring from the 24th-ranked Sabres offense in front of him.

CENTER

Nathan MacKinnon, COL vs. BUF ($16): This is an excellent buy-low opportunity on MacKinnon, whose career rate of 0.69 points per game and season mark of 0.66 indicate that his recent struggles won’t last. The 21-year-old center continues to skate on the first line and top power-play unit, and he is too talented not to turn things around soon after chipping in just one point in his past seven games. His price won’t stay down at $16 for long, and a date with one of only eight other teams that has been outscored by at least 20 goals presents a good opportunity for MacKinnon to start his ascent.

Center to Avoid

Claude Giroux, PHI at PIT ($22): Giroux is averaging just 2.5 fantasy points per game over his past 11, with no performance over 7.0 in that span. Turning things around will be difficult on the road against Penguins goaltender Matt Murray, who is 12-2-2 at PNC Paints Arena and sports a 2.27 GAA overall.

WINGS

Chris Kunitz, PIT vs. PHI ($14): Kunitz costs just $2 above the minimum, which makes the veteran a great bargain given his current role. He’s getting plenty of scoring opportunities while skating on the top line with Sidney Crosby and the second power-play unit, and he has a tremendous chance to cash in on those opportunities against a Flyers team that has surrendered 2.98 goals per game. Kunitz is a perfect pick for those looking to invest in the top-heavy Penguins offense without paying top dollar.

Evander Kane, BUF at COL ($19): Evander has been channeling his inner Patrick Kane with seven goals in his past seven games. His 3.4 shots per game put him on a top-10 pace this season, and generating chances won’t be difficult for the red-hot winger against an Avalanche team that has surrendered a league-high 3.31 goals per game. Kane’s minus-8 rating has been his biggest detriment this season, but that’s unlikely to be much of an issue considering Colorado sits 27 points behind his Sabres in the standings.

Wings to Avoid

James van Riemsdyk, TOR vs. MON ($22): Van Riemsdyk’s past 10 games have yielded few positives, as he has managed just three assists without a goal while topping 15 minutes of ice time only three times over that span. A Canadiens team that has allowed the eighth-fewest goals per game won’t make it easy for him to snap out of this funk.

Alexander Radulov, MON at TOR ($21): Radulov has struggled since Claude Julien took over the head coaching job in Montreal, with just three shots on goal and a minus-3 rating in three games. Until the Russian proves capable of delivering under the new regime, he carries too much risk to justify a $21 investment.

DEFENSEMEN

David Schlemko, SJ at VAN ($15): Schlemko has taken advantage of an increased role over the past three games, posting three assists, 11 shots, seven blocks and a plus-2 rating while topping 19 minutes of ice time twice. He’s just five shots short of ranking second behind Brent Burns among Sharks defensemen despite missing 12 games, and is due for an increase in scoring once his 2.2 percent shooting percentage starts to creep up. Vancouver’s shaky defense has allowed 2.83 goals per game, so this matchup presents a strong opportunity for the streaking Schlemko to maintain his recent high level of play.

Paul Martin, SJ at VAN ($12): Martin ranks second among Sharks defensemen with a plus-15 rating, and just one behind Marc-Edouard Vlasic for second in points with 19. The veteran has been a terrific under-the-radar asset all season, and he offers great bang for the buck against a subpar Canucks team for the minimum price. His mix of high floor and consistency is perfect for owners looking to exploit this matchup while maximizing their spending potential at other positions.

Defensemen to Avoid

Ian Cole, PIT vs. PHI ($18): With just 19 points in 59 games, Cole doesn’t carry enough offensive upside to make him worth $18. Justin Schultz is also due back for this one, which will cut into the increased role Cole has been granted by injuries of late. His strong rating and high blocks total give Cole a solid floor, but that can be found around the league for a much lower price.

Shayne Gostisbehere, PHI at PIT ($18): Gostisbehere is a hit-or-miss option whose minus-22 rating has often dampened his value. His offensive upside is capped against a goaltender who ranks seventh in GAA and fifth in save percentage, while Ghost’s frequent invisibility in his own zone could prove to be a major weakness against the most dangerous offense in the league. The rating risk isn’t worth the likely meager reward.

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