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DFS: Mystery Men - Saturday's Top Sleeper Picks

Tom Szczerbowski / USA TODAY Sports

The first Saturday of the NHL season also features the first large slate of games. Only the Kings and Jets are getting the night off. To maximize value in GPP play, you will have a slew of options to set your roster apart. Here are a few picks who should be scarcely owned, but could return value tonight.

G: Petr Mrazek, Red Wings (at Hurricanes)

With Jimmy Howard starting on Friday night - and earning a shutout against Toronto - the Red Wings confirmed they were going to roll with Mrazek on Saturday. It still wouldn't be a shock if Mrazek wrestles the primary gig away from the veteran keeper sometime this season.

Name Win-Loss GAA SV%
Mrazek 16-9 2.38 .918
Howard 23-13 2.44 .910

By a narrow margin, Mrazek had better numbers last season. He's much younger than Howard and a cushy start against the Canes' punchless offense is a good way for him to make a statement.

C: Cody Hodgson, Predators (vs. Oilers)

Make no mistake, Hodgson was awful in 2014-15. He ran himself out of Buffalo with 13 points over 78 games. He was a minus-28, which would seriously hurt his value in daily fantasy if he still played for the Sabres.

Granted, Buffalo may be improved, but Nashville should be a playoff team. Hodgson won't be hurt by his plus-minus, and he is bound to have a better season - it'd be near impossible not to.

Year Goals Assists +/- PPP
2011-12 19 22 1 14
2012-13 15 19 -4 5
2013-14 20 24 -26 19
2014-15 6 7 -28 1

The Sabres completely abandoned him on the powerplay. He showed effectiveness in 2013-14, even if he wasn't superstar material.

His floor is in the basement, however, so he's purely a hail mary to start the season. A favorable matchup at home against Edmonton is still intriguing for the 25-year-old.

C/W: Curtis Lazar, Senators (at Maple Leafs)

In reality, Lazar is setting up as a left wing on the Senators' second line. Depending on your DFS site, he's listed either as a winger or as a center. Either way, he's a bargain.

Consider his teammate, Alex Chiasson. Chiasson is skating on Ottawa's fourth line while Lazar is both on the second as well as being featured on one of the power play units. Chiasson costs more in DFS.

Lazar didn't have the best campaign as a rookie - 15 points in 67 games - but Ottawa looks to be confident in giving him an opportunity to make significant strides. Lazar is 20-years-old and he's already got a goal.

Get him while he's cheap, and especially while he's lining up against whichever Toronto tender happens to be in net. The Leafs got shelled last night by the Red Wings and figure to be tired.

D: Jeff Petry, Canadiens (at Bruins)

Only P.K. Subban had more ice time than Petry in the Habs' season opening win against the Maple Leafs. Considering Montreal locked him up for the next six seasons, this should be the norm.

He doesn't have a ton of firepower - only seven goals and 15 assists in 78 games between Edmonton and Montreal last year - but the more ice time he gets, the more production can follow. With Petry expected to see time on the second power play unit, a few more goals could follow.

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