The NHL schedule, in most of our fantasy leagues' third week, continues to be predictable – not.  Minnesota hasn't lost in regulation, while Winnipeg hasn't lost at all. The Nashville Predators took big steps over the off-season and haven't put it fully together thus far. And if the season ended this morning, Toronto, Boston, Colorado, and Edmonton would be making golf reservations. Yes, it's early. A defenseman, Cale Makar, leads the NHL in scoring, and Connor Hellebuyck ($7900) would win the Vezina (wait, that one seems okay). 

Looking at DFS plays – only the games starting at or after 7 pm Eastern – always comes down to matchups.  Here goes:

Home is where the points are.

Anaheim Ducks at New York Rangers

For sure, the Ducks wished that New York could have taken a victory over the Stanley Cup champs on Thursday, but I fear they will be flying into a loaded hornet's nest on Saturday evening. Jonathan Quick ($8300), same price as Igor Shesterkin) may get the start, but it probably won't matter. Artemi Panarin ($9200) has 14 points in seven contests, but there's also good meat in Vincent Trocheck ($6900), Mika Zibanejad ($5900), Chris Kreider ($5700), and Adam Fox ($6100).  Yes, I just rattled off the top power-play unit, and not by accident. The only hesitation should be that Lukas Dostal ($7000) has a .936 SV%, topping – thus far – several far more highly paid netminders, including Shesterkin. You also wouldn't have enough fantasy money left to fill out a lineup, but it'd still be fun. 

San Jose Sharks at Vegas Golden Knights

There's history here, and no one should discount the Sharks' expected effort, BUT Vegas is on the back end of a B2B, both at the Fortress where the Knights are unbeaten in five games by a combined score of 27-13. Ilya Samsonov ($8400), likely to start today, is 2-1-0 – both wins at home – and has a 1.95 GAA and .944 SV%. Tomas Hertl ($5300) has awakened in his last two contests with five points and seven shots.  Mark Stone ($7800) leads the team with 14 points, tied for NHL's second with Panarin and just one behind Makar. Alex Pietrangelo ($5600) has nine assists. Consider also Ivan Barbashev ($5700). Three scores in the past two games and nine of his 11 points posted at home. Seven goals on 16 shots isn't sustainable, but it's a great ride. Oh – there's this Jack Eichel guy ($9200) with 13 points in eight games, but that cost is too rich for me.

Columbus Blue Jackets at Nashville Predators

The Preds' come-from behind 3-2 win last night will hopefully turn these guys back around into the playoff contenders we all projected before their 0-5-0 start. The biggest offseason signing, Steven Stamkos ($6200), has yet to join the party – his single point, a power-play goal on 23 shots, won't stay dormant. Expect an outburst soon. It's not just Stammer, though. Only Filip Forsberg ($8300) has seven points, and much of the top players' stats are with the man advantage, as 5-on-5 play has been ordinary. Still, this team knows that leading only San Jose in the Western Conference is a big problem. 

And the train rolls on.

Winnipeg Jets at Calgary Flames

The Jets are going to lose eventually, but not tonight. Hellebuyck has six of the team's seven victories, and sports a 1.66 GAA and 0.940 SV%, although he's far from the only story in Winnipeg. A balanced offense features Mark Scheifele ($7400) and Kyle Connor ($7600), each with five goals, five players having five of more assists, and five players who've taken at least 17 SOG (matching Eichel's team-leading number in Vegas). D-men Josh Morrissey ($5900) and Neal Pionk ($4500) each have posted a point-per-game starts, each have about two shots and blocks per contest. My value play tonight is team captain Adam Lowry ($3200), just five points but affordable in the lineup.

Last week: Is "success" defined as putting out a not-so-confident $5.00 bet and winning $6.22?  I basically got my money back, and the saving moment was Jordan Eberle's overtime game-winner in the late game. Igor Shesterkin led the points producers, not a surprise. 

My lineup:

Centers: Zibanejad and Hertl

Wings: Stamkos, Barbashev, Lafreniere

Defense: Fox and Pionk

Goalie: Hellebuyck

Utility: Lowry

Have a great weekend!