Cam Talbot makes a great cheap play for Daily Fantasy Hockey.

Top Budget Plays

Centers

Travis Zajac $3,800 – We are taking some big risks this weekend and our overall daily fantasy recommends will be different but Zajac is worth taking a flier on because his value and price have dipped so much. When a player has struggled so mightily as far as goal scoring over the last 28 games, the center is starting to shoot a little more on his front foot. It is noticeable and maybe a sign that Zajac made an adjustment. On Thursday, the forward busted out with a goal and three assists in the first period! He is also playing close to home in Winnipeg and that does not hurt.

Wingers

Kerby Rychel $2,900 – This is a sign to keep taking the risks as Rychel is going to be down around $3000 more than likely come Saturday. He may not shoot the puck a ton but did have a multiple point game on Tuesday against Washington. It was a nice night for the 21 year forward as he was able to have a solid game against arguably the league’s best team. Calgary has an awful time on the road and if there was a time for a play, Rychel will definitely avoid Calgary’s top defensive pairings.

Defensemen

Francois Beauchemin $5,600 – Though Beauchemin had a huge drop on other sites, it was not quite as precipitous on DraftKings. He had been struggling but still blocking some shots. On Wednesday, he scored and chipped in an assist during the Colorado Avalanche’s 20 shot barrage on Buffalo. Dallas is definitely slumping defensively and 1-5-2 in their last eight games. Granted, they should bounce back but Colorado could sneakily score a few goals.

Goalie

Cam Talbot $6,800 – This is a risk only because though Talbot is likely to start, one never knows sometimes. Talbot has been red hot despite the wins not quite coming in bunches. He has a .937 save percentage over his last ten starts. The goalie was rewarded with a three year, $12.5 million extension during the week in part because of his perseverance and better play. A wounded Nashville may be dangerous because the Predators are going to try and put up a lot of shots. However, that could play right into Talbot’s hands.

Since we saved some money on the budget plays let’s look at the few of the pricey options that are worth paying up for today.

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Centers

Tyler Seguin $8,500 – Dallas cannot keep slumping like this forever. That is why a player like Seguin is likely to be a hair lower owned than normal. The shots have not quite been there as the center is averaging just about a shot less a game of late. He is also shooting wide a bit more than usual as he is squeezing the stick just a bit tight. Colorado has been on a very solid run over the last 20 games or so but something has to give here. Right?

Wingers

Blake Wheeler $6,800 – Though Jamie Benn will make a great choice for mini-stacks and even line stacks, we have to consider the Bryan Little and Blake Wheeler mini-stack as well. The odd thing with the right winger is that he still is shooting below 10% on the year and is averaging right around 3.5 shots per contest. Winnipeg tends to perform really well against New Jersey and the Devils penalty kill was just burned twice on Tuesday against Calgary and despite the numbers has looked leaky of late.

Defenseman

Oliver Ekman-Larsson $6,100 – There is really little or no explanation needed here. Though Arizona has struggled a bit of late, Ekman-Larsson has not with around a point a game pace in his last dozen contests. The defenseman is still logging top ice time and in all situations. His power play presence really anchors Arizona in every way. He has six power play points in the last ten games and is on pace for a 20-25 goal season once more. Ekman-Larsson has exceeded expectations all year but especially against Los Angeles.

Goalie

Tuukka Rask $7,900 – This is a little bit of a risk but Columbus comes in like a toilet bowl that opens and closes an awful lot. Rask has looked better in his last few starts and even slayed the Montreal beast in Montreal with a 38 save effort on Tuesday. Boston will have their ebbs and flows and so will Rask. However, with a Columbus offense that can go cold. Columbus has a poor defense and penalty kill as well (bottom third in the league) which can only increase Rask’s win probability. It is a safer play than most.

Chris Wassel has been playing DFS for the last year and has played Fantasy Hockey for over two decades. You can follow him on Twitter @ChrisWasselDFS. Please note that this is a large Saturday slate. We are targeting only the nine game evening schedule and will have all the breakdowns on Twitter.