Use Blake Wheeler for daily fantasy hockey success on Saturday.

Top Budget Plays

Centers

Antoine Vermette $3500 – The center is almost a punt play at the least. However, playing against Edmonton may set up somewhat okay as the center will get depth match-ups mostly. He has three assists in his last two games and five shots on goal. This is quite the risk but honestly, it is a medium slate where it may be okay to go a little outside the box in an effort to achieve some better results.

Wingers

Dale Weise $3400 – There is just a theme here that we must go insane. Weise has seven points including four goals in his last nine games. New Jersey is a team that is just limping to the finish line. The Flyers are a team playing with some pride. Weise is also showing that flash of offense that most expected more often in this campaign. He does not get a ton of ice time but 12-13 minutes may be all he needs to deliver value.

Defensemen

Noah Hanifin $3400 – Hey, why not! Hanifin has five points in his last nine games while average just about two shots per night. Every game counts for Carolina at this point and they draw against a Dallas team with the worst road penalty kill in the entire league. Hanifin has a little more power play potential than usual. He also has the most speed among the Carolina core of blueliners. He can make some Dallas players look silly in this one.                

Goalie

Andrei Vasilevskiy $7400 – This is a dangerous GPP play but every night is a must win for Tampa or it feels that way. They survived against Detroit despite playing some sloppy defense and won 5-3 behind some timely Vasilevskiy saves. He will have to play even better against a Montreal team that sometimes gives Tampa trouble. The Lightning goalie is almost facing 32 shots per 60 right now.                 

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

Connor McDavid $8400 – People will run to this as it will be chalky. That just means McDavid will be owned at an elevated rate. He had a nice run of points and has 16 points in his last ten games! Expect him to get some opportunities against Anaheim as the Ducks are one of the more undisciplined teams in the league on the road. It is almost to the point where he is the play every Saturday for the past several weeks. He has delivered each Saturday and exceeded value every single time. Anaheim’s penalty kill has been giving up a lot of chances and at even strength, unblocked shot attempts keep getting through at too high of a rate.

Wingers

Blake Wheeler $6500 – Though we may be going hard against Ottawa, it is justified given that the right winger is shooting like he did a few years ago. He has 29 shots on goal in his last ten games and has four goals. Power play points and shooting percentage is elevated and still rising. The right winger will be a hair more owned because of the six-game evening slate. However, Ottawa could easily give up three or four goals. Erik Karlsson is out for at least Saturday and maybe another game or two so Wheeler and Winnipeg is going to become quite a play.                 

Defenseman

Victor Hedman $6700 – Again this might be a chalky play but Hedman has nine points in his last ten games. That includes two goals, seven assists, 23 shots, and 15 blocks as well. Six power play points in the previous nine contests never hurts either. Montreal may not be the greatest match-up but there is still enough potential anyway. The recommendation is to give it a go or try to spend down to Justin Faulk or Shayne Gostisbehere.

Goalie

Steve Mason $8000 – The choices out there may appear to be better but this potential to work well. He has four straight wins while allowing just eight goals. New Jersey’s offense does little unless it is on the power play a lot. At even strength, they are 29^th in the league on the road and almost 30^th. A weak offense that is just playing out the string may be just appetizing enough for DFS players to take in cash lineups. New Jersey is not expected to put up a ton of shots on net. There is risk but there is also reward here.

Chris Wassel has been playing DFS for the past couple years and has played Fantasy Hockey for over two decades. You can follow him on Twitter @ChrisWasselDFS. We are targeting the six-game evening slate to give readers more of a range on what to go on. Finally, please note that Saturday’s slate has several options and smaller Late options. Thanks for reading and enjoy the slate daily fantasy hockey fans!