This article is part of our Yahoo DFS Hockey series.
Saturday's 12-game NHL slate begins at 1:00 PM Eastern time. There's no shortage of selections available here, but the players below stand out from the pack as either guys to target or guys to avoid.
GOALIE
Joonas Korpisalo, CLS vs. ARI ($31): Korpisalo's won each of his past two starts and has a golden opportunity to extend that streak to three against the 7-19-5 Coyotes. While Columbus will be playing the second leg of a back-to-back, the team's massive edge in talent over an Arizona club that's scoring just 2.35 goals while allowing 3.51 per game should lead to an easy win for Sergei Bobrovsky's backup.
GOALIE TO AVOID
Frederik Andersen, TOR at PIT ($36): This doesn't project to be a goalie-friendly matchup, as Toronto's scoring 3.41 goals per game while Pittsburgh's found its groove with 26 goals and a 5-1-0 record in its past six. Andersen could easily get enough support to win this one, but it doesn't make sense to spend $36 on him with many cheaper options in less risky situations available.
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CENTER
Steven Stamkos, TB vs. WPG ($32): Look for Stamkos to outperform his lofty price in this matchup and once again finish among the top scorers on this slate. The NHL's points leader has racked up 19 of his 41 points on the power play, and Winnipeg sports a below-average 79.4 percent penalty kill. Additionally, Jets netminder Connor Hellebuyck has scuffled of late after a strong start, allowing at least three goals in three of his past four appearances. Stamkos also brings some favorable history against this foe, with 26 goals and 44 points in 32 career meetings, including goals in nine of the past 11.
CENTER TO AVOID
Dylan Larkin, DET vs. STL ($16): Larkin's in the midst of an eight-game goal drought, and he's averaging an ugly 2.9 fantasy points per game over that stretch. The risk of his minus-5 rating further plummeting against a seventh-ranked Blues offense that's scoring 3.20 goals per game is much greater than the chances of Larkin breaking through against the team's fifth ranked defense, which is allowing just 2.58 goals per contest.
WING
Jonathan Huberdeau, FLA vs. COL ($21): Huberdeau continues to be relatively affordable given his gaudy scoring pace. The 2011 third overall pick was limited by injury issues last season, but he's returned better than ever with 29 points in 28 games at age 24. It would be surprising to see him held off the scoresheet at home by an Avalanche club that's allowing the sixth most goals per game at 3.33.
Gabriel Landeskog, COL at FLA ($19): This game projects to be a high-scoring one, as Florida's been even worse defensively than Landeskog's own team with 3.39 goals allowed per game. Additionally, the Panthers have been forced to start James Reimer (3.70 GAA, .892 save percentage) in net recently with Roberto Luongo (lower body) sidelined. While a lack of depth has often hurt the Avalanche, Landeskog's personally been a two-way force with 10 goals, 18 points and a plus-9 rating in 23 appearances.
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WINGS TO AVOID
Mike Hoffman, OTT at SJ ($20): Hoffman's poor play has contributed to Ottawa's 1-8-2 record in the past 11 games, as he's produced just five points and a minus-5 rating during that stretch. Turning things around won't be easy on a personal nor team-wide level on the road against a Sharks team that's allowing the second fewest goals per game (2.37) while killing penalties at the league's second highest rate of 86.7 percent.
Jake DeBrusk, BOS vs. NYI ($18): DeBrusk's simply overpriced at $18. He's averaging just 15:02 of ice time per contest and is coming off a game in which he posted zeros in every category counted by Yahoo's format, even though his team beat the lowly Coyotes 6-1. Against much tougher competition in the hot-starting Islanders, the rookie winger's odds of contributing aren't promising.
DEFENSE
Brent Burns, SJ vs. OTT ($30): Burns is starting to show signs of life offensively with two goals and five assists in his past eight games after starting off with no goals and seven helpers in his first 19. The reigning Norris Trophy winner supplements his scoring with high shots and blocks totals, and his ability to jump into the play offensively is likely to seriously trouble the stumbling Senators. Ottawa's up to 3.29 goals allowed per game while Burns is still a few dollars below his usual price from the last couple of seasons, so this is a buy-low opportunity of sorts despite the hefty price tag attached to the defenseman.
Colin Miller, VGK at DAL ($13): Miller's looking to finish the calendar year strong, as he's kicked off December with 31.8 fantasy points in three games for an average of 10.6 fantasy points per contest. The former Bruin is occupying a second pairing role at even strength while also skating with the No.2 power-play unit, and has topped his season ice time average of 18:17 five games in a row. Miller's clearly underpriced based on his recent usage, and gets a nice opportunity to keep the good times rolling against a scuffling Stars club that's been outscored 8-2 during its current two-game losing streak.
DEFENSEMEN TO AVOID
Erik Karlsson, OTT at SJ ($31): If you thought Hoffman's recent stats were bad, wait until you hear Karlsson's. In the same pathetic 11-game stretch, the blueliner's looked completely lost with just one point and a minus-15 rating. The Sharks will eat him alive here if he doesn't raise his level on both ends.
David Schlemko, MTL vs. EDM ($18): Schlemko's simply not in the same tier as the rest of the blueliners in this price range. He hasn't gotten on the scoresheet in five games since making his season debut Nov. 29, and if you take away his fluky plus-5 performance in a 10-1 win over Detroit, Schlemko's average of 3.9 fantasy points per game would be worse than that of all defensemen priced at $14 or more. Considering he's never cracked 20 points in a season since debuting in 2008-09, paying $18 for Schlemko is ludicrous regardless of opponent.
