This article is part of our Yahoo DFS Hockey series.
Saturday's robust NHL slate features 10 games beginning at 1:00 PM Eastern time. Read on to see which players stand out as options to target in this slate and which players should be avoided.
GOALIE
Mike Smith, CGY vs. NSH ($26): Normally using a goalie that's facing Nashville is asking for trouble, but the Predators are far from their usual ferocious selves at the moment due to a rash of critical injuries. While Nashville's coming off a loss to a Canucks team that had been 1-8-1 in its previous 10 games, Smith enters having won each of his past five starts while allowing just seven goals over that dominant stretch.
GOALIE TO AVOID
Sergei Bobrovsky, CLS vs. WAS ($34): Bobrovsky's 3.04 GAA and .901 save percentage this season leave a lot to be desired, and he's been much worse than that over his past three starts. He's surrendered 14 goals over this most recent stretch, dropping the first two games before needing overtime to pull out the third. That's far from the form you'd like to see ahead of a meeting with a Capitals team that ranks fourth with 3.61 goals per game.
CENTER
Dylan Larkin, DET vs. NYI ($19): The Red Wings generally don't get much love in DFS, but Larkin's the exception. The 22-year-old center's scoring at a career-best pace with 11 goals and 26 points through 29 games, and there's little in his underlying numbers to suggest that this production isn't sustainable. The days in which he can be had for a sub-$20 valuation are likely numbered, so grab Larkin at this price while you can against Islanders netminder Thomas Greiss, who's coming back down to earth after a hot start with a GAA well north of 3.00 over his past eight appearances.
CENTER TO AVOID
Steven Stamkos, TB vs. COL ($27): Stamkos is still a good player, but he hasn't been $27 good this season. His average of 7.4 fantasy points is the lowest of all centers that cost more than $23 in this slate, and Stamkos' five points and minus-4 rating over the past eight games don't suggest a change for the better is coming.
WINGS
Phil Kessel, PIT at OTT ($26): Pittsburgh has plenty of other skilled skaters, but none of them can hold a candle to Kessel's power-play production. He leads the team with 12 power-play points after leading the entire league with 42 last season. You'll be hard-pressed to find a better time to maximize Kessel's skill set than against Ottawa's league-worst, 71.8 percent penalty kill, especially since he'll be brimming with confidence coming off a two-goal, two-assist performance in Thursday's win over the Islanders.
Reilly Smith, VGK at LA ($20): Smith's first season in Vegas was a rousing success, as he collected a career-high 60 points despite suiting up for only 67 games. He took a step back early in this campaign but has rounded back into form over the last 10 contests, piling up 13 points. The career 11.5 percent shooter is currently converting at a 6.6 percent rate, which is less than half of last year's 13.6, suggesting Smith's still due for even further improvement.
WINGS TO AVOID
Gustav Nyquist, DET vs. NYI ($23): Nyquist is far less reliable than his teammate Larkin, yet he costs $4 more. He's on a hot streak with five goals in the past six games, but considering the 29-year-old forward lit the lamp just twice in the first 23 games and has never eclipsed 54 points in a season, Nyquist's unlikely to keep this hot streak up much longer.
Jakub Voracek, PHI at BUF ($20): While Voracek has four points in his past three games, he preceded that strong stretch with a five-game point drought and has just one multi-point performance in the last 18. Voracek will need to demonstrate a more consistent scoring touch before he can be trusted, especially against a Sabres team that's been among the best in the league.
DEFENSEMEN
Rasmus Ristolainen, BUF vs. PHI ($21): Ristolainen's 28 power-play points since the start of last season are tied for the team lead over that period with Jack Eichel ($27) and Sam Reinhart ($25). All three make for enticing options against Philadelphia's 30th-ranked, 72.9 percent penalty kill, but Ristolainen will leave a much smaller hole in your wallet than either of his forward counterparts.
Neal Pionk, NYR at FLA ($17): As has been a common theme here, Pionk's another proficient power-play contributor primed for success against a vulnerable penalty kill. The young defenseman's ability to get the puck to the net from the point has helped him total a team-high 11 points with the extra man -- three more than second-place Mika Zibanejad. Meanwhile, the Panthers sport one of the league's 10 most generous penalty kills at 77.0 percent.
DEFENSEMEN TO AVOID
Drew Doughty, LA vs. VGK ($19): There isn't much offensive upside with Doughty, especially in this matchup. Not only does he have just two goals and a minus-9 rating, but he's much more likely to see the latter mark drop than see the former total rise against a Golden Knights team that's won seven of its past eight games.
Jamie Oleksiak, PIT at OTT ($18): This is a favorable matchup for the Penguins, but Oleksiak's not likely to take advantage. He's grossly underperformed his $18 valuation over the past 13 games, recording just three helpers without a goal while scoring 4.0 or more fantasy points only four times.
