This article is part of our FantasyDraft NHL series.
You made it through Friday the 13th without being murdered at the lake by a machete-wielding maniac in a hockey mask. Why not celebrate with some daily fantasy hockey? It's a Saturday, so naturally there are 14 games on the docket. Your options are abundant. Hopefully this list of players to target makes things easier for you.
GOALIE
Dallas Stars, DAL vs. COL ($16,100): These aren't last year's Stars who leaked goals with gusto. They have Ben Bishop in net now, and he has a .932 save percentage through three games. Dallas has also allowed only 26.8 shots on net per game this year. The Avalanche were last in goals per game last season (2.01) and is in the second night of a back-to-back in this one.
CENTER
Anze Kopitar, LOS vs. BUF ($13,200): Kopitar is trying to put last year's fluky 12-goal season behind him, and considering he has three goals in three games he looks well on his way to doing so. Plus, even with his bad luck he still managed 19 power-play points. The Sabres, meanwhile, had the 25th-ranked penalty kill last year. Also, they allowed the most shots on net per game (34.3) in the league. Both of those things bode well for Kopitar.
Victor Rask, CAR at WPG ($11,600): The Jets allowed 3.11 shots on net per game last year, and they haven't been any better this year. Their goals allowed average has ballooned to 4.25, and their goalies have a collective .884 save percentage. Rask notched 45 points last season, and he put a career-high 186 shots on net to boot.
WING
Jamie Benn, DAL vs. COL ($13,900): Benn is a former Art Ross winner who has put more than 200 shots on net in each of his last four seasons. He already has 16 shots on goal through four games this year. Colorado, in addition to being on the road for the second night of a back-to-back, had the highest goals per game average in the league last year (3.37). The fact that Benn isn't one of the most-expensive wings Saturday makes him a steal.
Jonathan Huberdeau, FLA at PIT ($11,400): Believe it or not, the Penguins have actually allowed the most goals per game this season (4.40). Sure, it's early, but Pittsburgh averaged 2.79 goals and 32.6 shots on net per game last year. Huberdeau tore it up upon returning from injury last season, and this year he has a point in all three of Florida's games. He also averages a career-high 19:30 in ice time.
Daniel Sedin, VAN vs. CGY ($8,600): The veteran Swede isn't quite the player he used to be, but he still put 216 shots on net last year. This season, he's started 71.0 percent of his shifts in the offensive zone, and last year he started 60.9 percent of his shifts in the offensive zone, the most of any Canucks regular. The Flames played on Friday, and both goalies ended up having to play in a 6-0 loss. That should help Sedin, who also is quite reasonably priced.
DEFENSEMEN
Drew Doughty, LOS vs. BUF ($11,200): Doughty has been a workhorse since he entered the league, and he's averaged more than three minutes per game on the power play every year of his career. That bodes well for Doughty in this matchup. As noted, the Sabres had the 25th-ranked penalty kill last year. Doughty only has one point, but he has 11 shots on goal, so that should change soon.
Aaron Ekblad, FLA at PIT ($10,200): Ekblad put a whopping 225 shots on net in 68 games last season, an incredibly high number for a defenseman. He hasn't been quite as prolific this year, but he does have three points in three games. Ekblad also started 59.7 percent of his shifts in the offensive zone last year, which is a lot for a defender. Pittsburgh, as noted, has really struggled defensively this season, and they gave up 32.6 shots on net per game last year, third most in the NHL.
