This article is part of our Yahoo DFS Hockey series.
The featured contests at Yahoo consist of the three evening games beginning at 7 p.m. ET. It's a shallow player pool, and the Stars and Hurricanes are playing for the second consecutive night. Carolina is also the largest favorite on the docket, while the highest over/under is in the Toronto-Calgary battle. Here are my picks and pans for Saturday's action.
All statistics from Natural Stat Trick and Hockey Reference.
GOALIE
John Gibson, ANH vs. ARI ($20): The 27-year-old netminder practiced Saturday and could return to action against the Coyotes. Gibson is a worthy flyer from the shallow goalie pool at this salary, as he turned in a 33-save win during his most recent start. And any risk of his upper-body injury linger is mitigated by the low cap hit while the Coyotes have scored the eighth fewest goals per game in the league.
GOALIE TO AVOID
Landon Bow, DAL at CAR ($20): Assuming the Stars don't start Jake Oettinger ($29) for a second consecutive night, Bow would draw in and see NHL action for the first time since 2018-19. With Carolina scoring a healthy 3.19 goals per game and boasting the league's best power-play percentage, it's probably a matchup to avoid regardless of who starts for the Stars. The Hurricanes will also look to bounce back from a 3-2 loss to Dallas on Saturday.
CENTER
Vincent Trocheck, CAR vs. DAL ($21): The veteran pivot has found the scoresheet in all three games since returning from an upper-body injury to improve to a rock-solid 14 tallies, 14 helpers and 3.35 points per 60 minutes for the campaign. He was also on the ice for four high-danger scoring chances last night.
CENTER TO AVOID
Joe Pavelski, DAL at CAR ($25): Dallas will likely juggle its lines ahead of Sunday's game with so many injuries, but it's definitely worth noting Pavelski skated with every single forward on the team at five-on-five during Saturday's 3-2 win over Carolina and didn't register a single shot attempt. At his salary, you'll want to ensure he's set to play with top wingers. Pavelski has also missed the scoresheet in four of his past five appearances.
WING
Mitch Marner, TOR at CGY ($33): There are limited high-end options in the winger pool, so Marner stands out. He's turning in another elite offensive season with 46 points - including 13 goals - through 37 games and has also been on the ice for an incredible 16.01 high-danger scoring chances per 60 minutes. The Flames have an active 2-7 record with 30 goals against, so the matchup checks out.
Trevor Zegras, ANH vs. ARI ($11): You'll want to ensure Zegras returns to the lineup for Sunday's game, but the rookie is in play as an upside source of cap relief after registering six shots and seven attempts on Friday against Arizona. Zegras should receive power-play time and has started 64.7 percent of his five-on-five shifts in the offensive zone, so he's been positioned to succeed.
WINGS TO AVOID
Phil Kessel, ARI at ANH ($19): The veteran winger has found the scoresheet in six of the past seven games for six tallies, four helpers and four power-play points - including a goal and assist during Friday's 4-2 win over the Ducks. Look for a dip in production Sunday with Kessel recording a 30.0 shooting percentage during the stretch to climb his season-long mark to an unsustainably high 20.8.
Michael Bunting, ARI at ANH ($17): Wednesday's two-point season debut skyrocketed Bunting salary. And while he's showed off in the AHL this year with 19 points - with seven of those goals - through 16 games, the 25-year-old winger only has seven NHL games on his resume. There are more proven options in this salary range.
DEFENSE
Dougie Hamilton, CAR vs. DAL ($26): It's been a dominant stretch for Hamilton with three tallies, 16 helpers, eight power-play points and 63 shots through the past 17 contests while only missing the scoresheet once during the stretch. And with the highest salary in the defense pool, Hamilton could slide slightly under the radar and add contrarian value.
Zach Bogosian, TOR at CGY ($10): Currently in the midst of a productive stretch, Bogosian offers a modest floor and is a decent flyer at minimum salary. He's collected an assist, four shots and two blocks with a plus-5 rating through the past three games, and as noted this isn't a matchup to shy away from.
DEFENSEMEN TO AVOID
Mark Giordano, CGY vs. TOR ($17): The Flames have been matching Giordano up against the Auston Matthews-Mitch Marner tandem at five-on-five all season. And while the defenseman has recorded a respectable three points, it's capped his upside. After all, Matthews and Marner have a 63.0 Corsi For percentage at five-on-five while lining up opposite Giordano.
