This article is part of our Yahoo DFS Hockey series.
The final Saturday of regular season NHL action doesn't lack for volume, with nine games making up the evening slate following a five-game day session. There are plenty of favorable matchups to exploit with each of the league's five worst defensive teams in action, and the players below are best positioned to take advantage.
GOALIE
Darcy Kuemper, MIN at ARI ($25): Kuemper knows another dud could lead to Alex Stalock taking over his backup job for the postseason, so expect the affordable netminder to bring his A-game for this favorable matchup. The Coyotes rank 27th with 2.35 goals per game and have little incentive to win with locking up a high draft pick and developing the youth ranking as their top two priorities at the moment. At just $25, Kuemper's high likelihood of racking up a victory makes him a strong low-cost investment to help splurge at other positions.
Goalie to Avoid
Frederik Andersen, TOR vs. PIT ($34): Andersen gave up four goals to the Lightning in Toronto's first attempt at clinching a playoff berth, which doesn't bode well for his chances of denying the league's top offense on his next try. With so many cheaper options to choose from, even the most delusional of Maple Leafs fans are unlikely to drop $34 on Andersen.
CENTER
Connor McDavid, EDM at VAN ($35): McDavid needs just three points to crack triple digits, and it'd be foolish to bet against him reaching that mark with consecutive matchups against the Canucks remaining. Vancouver has allowed 2.91 goals per game, and the league points leader will be motivated to exploit its porous defense with the Oilers still within striking distance of first place in the Pacific Division. He comes in with seven goals and 15 assists in his past 12 games, so there's no doubt McDavid has the skills to outplay his hefty price against a vulnerable opposition.
Center to Avoid
Adam Lowry, WPG vs. NSH ($16): It's unclear why Lowry costs $16 considering his best season to date has yielded a mere 28 points and plus-1 rating in 81 games. Leave the bottom-six forward on the bench against a Predators team that ranks in the middle of the pack defensively.
WINGS
Jamie Benn, DAL vs. COL ($30): Benn's seven-game goal drought will leave some hesitant to use him, but there's no better opportunity to snap out of a skid than a date with an Avalanche team that has allowed a league-worst 3.38 goals per game. The first-line winger has 323 points since the start of the 2013-14 campaign, and he could put himself over 70 for the fourth consecutive season if he gets on the scoresheet twice. His minus-9 rating won't be an issue against one of the few teams demonstrably worse than the Stars, while Benn's ceiling in this situation is as high as you'll find.
Jaromir Jagr, FLA vs. BUF ($14): Jagr is showing no signs of late season wear after having skated at least 18:36 in four of the last six games. The 45-year-old winger is available for just $2 above the minimum despite skating in a first-line role and ranking fourth on the Panthers with 44 points. Adding to that total shouldn't be difficult considering Buffalo has allowed 12 goals in the past four games and gives up a league-leading 34.2 shots per game.
Wings to Avoid
Vladimir Tarasenko, STL at CAR ($31): Tarasenko's nine goals and 21 points on the power play lead the Blues, but he's going to have a hard time adding to those totals against a Hurricanes penalty kill that has operated at 84.3 percent this season. While the Russian sniper has the talent to succeed regardless of opponent, he carries too much risk to justify spending $31.
Artturi Lehkonen, MON at DET ($17): Lehkonen's price is inflated following a career-best 27.0 fantasy points Monday against the Panthers, but he's unlikely to repeat that effort anytime soon considering he hasn't skated over 15 minutes in any of the past seven games. Buying high on the rookie third-liner is unlikely to pay off despite the beatable opposition.
DEFENSEMEN
Andrei Markov, MON at DET ($15): With Shea Weber (lower body) out for the remainder of the regular season, Markov becomes the top offensive weapon on the Montreal blue line. Those increased responsibilities could well pay off against a Red Wings team that has allowed 3.00 goals per game. Even if Markov doesn't see any notable uptick in value, his average of 6.1 fantasy points per game is tied with Andrej Sekera as tops among defensemen priced at $16 or below.
Oscar Klefbom, EDM at VAN ($19): Klefbom is just one of nine blueliners with over 200 shots, and his willingness to put pucks on net is likely to pay off against Vancouver's shoddy goaltending. Projected starter Ryan Miller ranks 28th in the league with a .914 save percentage and has fallen apart down the stretch with 30 goals allowed over his past nine starts. Klefbom comes in confident after assisting on all four of his team's goals Thursday, and he brings a much greater chance of contributing offensively than his affordable $19 price suggests.
Defensemen to Avoid
Brent Burns, SJ at CGY ($36): Burns remains the most expensive skater available despite managing only two goals and three assists in his past 15 games. He needs just one more goal to reach 30 for the first time, but lighting the lamp will be a tall order against a goaltender that has held his past 21 opponents to 44 total goals in Brian Elliott.
Rasmus Ristolainen, BUF at FLA ($18): Ristolainen's success is heavily tied to power-play production, with 25 of his 45 points coming with the extra man. Florida's second-ranked penalty kill will likely shut down that aspect of his game, just as it has to 85.1 percent of opposing opportunities with the extra man, and Ristolainen is far from an $18 value if you take away his power-play scoring.
