This article is part of our FantasyDraft NHL series.
It's a Saturday, so you know it's a busy day in the NHL. However, there are a whopping five games in the afternoon, and they aren't included for daily fantasy purposes. Even so, you have eight games worth of players to choose from, and here are some players that look intriguing Saturday.
GOALIE
Nashville Predators, NAS vs. COL ($16,000): After having the worst offense in the league last season, the Avalanche have been better this year. However, they've only put 29.3 shots on net per game, so they've been a little lucky on the goal-scoring front. Colorado is also 3-6-0 on the road, while Nashville is 5-1-1 at home. Pekka Rinne, for his part, has a 2.48 GAA and a .921 save percentage.
CENTER
Jordan Staal, CAR at BUF ($12,700): Buffalo is the only team playing on the second night of a back-to-back Saturday, after playing at Detroit on Friday. Since Robin Lehner started in the Sabres' last game, Chad Johnson (3.69 GAA, .885 save percentage) likely will be in net. Staal has 15 points through 17 games, including eight in his last four games.
Vladislav Namestnikov, TAM vs. NYI ($11,900): Namestnikov has started 60.6 percent of his shifts in the offensive zone, second most among Tampa Bay forwards. He and his linemates Nikita Kucherov and Steven Stamkos have torn it up to strt the season, and Namestnikov already has 20 points (including seven on the power play). The Islanders, meanwhile, have a team GAA of 3.22 and they've given up 32.2 shots on net per contest.
WING
Viktor Arvidsson, NAS vs. COL ($12,200): After notching 31 goals on 246 shots last season, Arvidsson has tallied seven goals on 62 shots through 18 games this year. He's also playing more minutes, and more time on the power play, this season. The Avalanche have a team GAA of 3.35 and they've allowed 33.7 shots on goal per game. Arvidsson is now a proven commodity, and a fine choice for your fantasy lineup.
James van Riemsdyk, TOR at MON ($11,800): Van Riemsdyk has started 57.1 percent of his shifts in the offensive zone, the most of any Maple Leafs forward. He's also notched seven power-play points, and the Canadiens have the 28th-ranked penalty kill this season. The Canadiens are down to third-string goaltender Charles Lindgren, and while he got off to a good start to the year he allowed five goals against Arizona in his last start.
Alex DeBrincat, CHI at PIT ($7,600): The Penguins have a 3.43 GAA, fourth highest in the NHL. They also have a team save percentage of .888, which is quite lackluster. DeBrincat seems to have found his footing at the NHL level. He has six goals and two assists in his last eight games, and he has a three-game point streak.
DEFENSE
P.K. Subban, NAS vs. COL ($10,300): Subban has been used heavily on the power play this season. He's averaged 4:08 per game with the extra man, and he's tallied seven power-play points in 18 games. Colorado, for its part, has the 23rd-ranked penalty kill in the league. Of course, the fact the Avalanche have a 3.35 team GAA definitely doesn't hurt Subban's potential for fantasy success either.
Cody Franson, CHI at PIT ($7,000): Franson has found himself with an unexpectedly large role for the Blackhawks. He's started 64.6 percent of his shifts in the offensive zone, and he's averaged 3:05 per game with the extra man. On that front, three of his five points have come on the power play. Franson has averaged 10.22 fantasy points per game, and now he gets a Pittsburgh team with a collective 3.43 GAA.
