We have a huge 14-game slate scheduled for Saturday. Four games are scheduled before the standard 7:00 PM start for most DFS games; we’ll include them in the discussion for our picks as there are several very favorable match-ups on the board.

Getting right to the action, our best match-up on the night is Los Angeles at home against Edmonton.

As always, make sure to check out LeftWingLock for goalie confirmations.

All shot attempt numbers discussed are at even strength and score-adjusted unless otherwise noted.

TEAMS TO TARGET

The Los Angeles Kings

The Kings have lost three straight games for the first time since starting the season 0-3. The good news: Saturday night they face an Oiler team whom they have defeated four times this season by a combined score of 15-8. Edmonton has lost eight straight in Los Angeles, getting outscored 30-9.

Despite their recent struggles, L.A. is still the top possession team in the league at 57.5%. At home, they’re even better at an unreal 59.9%. Conversely, the Oilers are a very bad 47.4% on the road, 19th in the league.

For the Kings, they stop and start with Anze Kopitar. The center has seven goals and 16 points in his last 15 games. If you’re stacking the Kings, keep in mind they’re power play has struggled of late, going only 1 for their last 20. Drew Doughty has nine points and 34 shots in his last 15, while Kopitar’s main wingman, Jeff Carter, has 12 and 48 in that same span.

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Anaheim Ducks at Ottawa

The Ducks are three points behind Los Angeles for the Pacific Division lead and two points ahead of San Jose for second while owning a game in hand on both teams, so there is plenty of motivation for them against an Ottawa team who has lost three of four. The Ducks took the only other meeting earlier this season 4-1.

Jakob Silfverberg, Andrew Cogliano and Ryan Kesler have been the best line in hockey over the past 10 games, and will likely receive the most favorable match-ups in this one. Along with Sami Vatanen, who has been great on the power play in that span, they make for a very good stack option if you’re going that route.

Nashville at home against Columbus

The Preds are a solid 20-10-6 at home, while the Blue Jackets are 13-20-2 away from Nationwide Arena. Nashville is on a 13-2-5 stretch and has pulled within two points of the Blackhawks third place in the Central. Columbus is one of the worst possession teams in the league away from, coming in at a putrid 45.2%.

Filip Forsberg has eight goals in his last 14 games, and linemates Mike Riberio and Craig Smith should get the more favorable match-ups in this game. From the back end, Shea Weber and Roman Josi have continued to lead the way with 10 and eight points respectively in their last 13 games.

Fade City

Chicago facing a team like Calgary catches the eye right away, but keep in mind that the Blackhawks have struggled to the tune of a 3-5-2 record in their last ten, and Calgary is a respectable 20-15-3 at home this season. I’ll be fading away.

Both the Blues and Capitals played Friday night, so in a matchup of high-scoring offenses and close-checking defenses, this is a game that could easily see both teams light-up the scoreboard, or be a 1-0 defensive struggle. The Blues are playing great hockey right now, especially with Brian Elliott back in goal, but the Caps have been so good at home –this one really is just too close to call. It’s another fade for me.

I’d love to be all over the Rangers against the floundering Canadiens, but Montreal has outscored New York 8-1 this season, so this will serve as the third fade.

PLAYER RANKINGS

Center

1.) Anze Kopitar – Los Angeles Kings

2.) Sidney Crosby – Pittsburgh Penguins

3.) Jeff Carter – Los Angeles Kings

4.) Mark Scheifele – Winnipeg Jets

5.) Vincent Trocheck – Florida Panthers

6.) Steven Stamkos – Tampa Bay Lightning

Winger

1.) Filip Forsberg – Nashville Predators

2.) Jakob Silfverberg – Anaheim Ducks

3.) Corey Perry – Anaheim Ducks

4.) Wayne Simmonds – Philadelphia Flyers

5.) Blake Wheeler – Winnipeg Jets

6.) Patric Hornqvist – Pittsburgh Penguins

7.) Milan Lucic – Los Angeles Kings

8.) James Neal – Nashville Predators

Defense

1.) Brent Burns – San Jose Sharks

2.) Shea Weber – Nashville Predators

3.) Roman Josi – Nashville Predators

4.) Drew Doughty – Los Angeles Kings

5.) Mark Giordano – Calgary Flames

6.) Jake Muzzin – Los Angeles Kings

Goaltender

1.) Jonathan Quick – Los Angeles Kings

2.) John Gibson – Anaheim Ducks

3.) Pekka Rinne – Nashville Predators

4.) Marc-Andre Fleury – Pittsburgh Penguins

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