The pressure to perform and come up with a winning performance is ratcheted up for DraftKings owners as we hit the final stages of the regular season. Finding the perfect lineup derived from the six games in the early part of Saturday's schedule is a challenging proposition.
Before the teams hit the ice, here's a look at the top players at each position and the best value picks to help put together a winning lineup.
C Ryan Getzlaf, Anaheim Ducks (OPRK: 25th; FPPG: 4.0) $7,400
Ryan Getzlaf is the engine that makes the Ducks go, and he comes into this matinee game with the slumping New York Islanders with a ton of momentum.
Getzlaf and the Ducks were trailing the Boston Bruins in the late stages of their game on Thursday night, but Anaheim found a way to win. Getzlaf assisted on Corey Perry's game-tying goal in the final minute and then scored the winner with a vicious wrister in overtime. He also had five shots on goal against Boston.
Getzlaf has scored 24 goals and 44 assists this season, and he has four goals and three assists in his last 10 games. The Islanders are a halting 3-5-2 in their last 10 games, and Getzlaf is in a perfect position to pound them while they are down.
W Chris Kreider, New York Rangers (OPRK: 15th; FPPG: 2.7) $4,700
The Bruins are the perfect matchup for Chris Kreider. First, Kreider comes into the game having hit the 20-goal mark for the first time in his career, which should give him a burst of confidence. He also scored two goals in New York's 5-1 victory over Ottawa on Thursday night. Kreider has scored three goals and three assists in his last 10 games, firing 27 shots on goal in that time.
An even bigger reason to go with Kreider is the current state of their opponents. The Boston Bruins (0-3-3) are slumping, and most of their defensemen don't have the speed to cope with the explosive Kreider. Look for the Rangers to try to get the puck to Kreider on stretch plays or to the outside, where he can use his speed. He may have another two-goal game on Saturday afternoon.
D Johnny Boychuk, New York Islanders (OPRK: 14th; FPPG: 3.6) $5,000
Johnny Boychuk can bring it from the back end, and he has been delivering for the Islanders since they added him to their lineup just before the start of the season. Boychuk has pounded home eight goals and 25 assists this season, and he has been a strong fixture on the power play with five goals and 10 assists when the Islanders have the man advantage.
The Islanders need leadership at this point, and Boychuk has a load of that commodity. He was a member of the Stanley Cup-winning Bruins in 2011, and he went to another Stanley Cup Final with them two years later. He knows how to make big plays when his team needs them most, and he should be able to take advantage of the Ducks, who will be playing the third of a four-game East Coast road trip.
G Marc-Andre Fleury, Pittsburgh Penguins (OPRK: 30th; FPPG: 5.0) $8,400
We would never offer Marc-Andre Fleury up if this was a playoff game, but since the Penguins are hosting the lowly Arizona Coyotes in the regular season, we figure it is safe to go with the Penguins' goalie.
Snide remarks aside, Fleury has enjoyed a terrific year and has a 32-17-8 record, a 2.27 goals-against average and a .921 save percentage with nine shutouts. Fleury may very well have an opportunity to pick up his 10th bagel in this game.
UTIL Matthew Nieto, San Jose Sharks (OPRK: 10th; FPPG: 2.0) $3,700
You probably haven't been paying much attention to Matthew Nieto, but he is a gritty, underpriced forward who just may pay off for the San Jose Sharks in a big way against the Philadelphia Flyers.
Nieto has scored just eight goals and 16 assists in 64 games this season, but a closer look reveals that he is starting to figure it out. He has four goals and three assists in his last 10 games, and the 5'11", 190-pounder is not afraid to go into the dirty areas and take a hit just to make a play. Look for him to get involved on the scoresheet here.
Stats courtesy of Hockey-Reference.com and DraftKings.
Steve Silverman covers daily fantasy sports for Bleacher Report. Follow and interact with him on Twitter.
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