Counterattack: Shine a Light on Allen and the Blues

Here are the top against-the-grain selections for Saturday's 12-game slate.

G Jake Allen, Blues (at Stars)

Rostering a goaltender facing Dallas, the NHL's top-scoring team at 3.2 goals per game, isn't usually a recommended course of action. As a contrarian play, though, Allen makes sense. St. Louis, with Allen in goal, has won five straight games overall, the most recent two being victories over the playoff-bound Blackhawks and Ducks.

Allen has allowed just 11 goals in those five games, and the Blues' offense has provided at least four goals of support in four of those five wins. On the season, Dallas has lost three of four meetings to St. Louis, and should the Blues come away with a win Saturday, they'll overtake the Stars for the division lead. Likely to be low-owned, Allen could be a difference maker in GPP formats.

C Ryan Nugent-Hopkins, Oilers (vs. Coyotes)

Back from a lengthy absence, Nugent-Hopkins should play his first game since Jan. 18. A favorable matchup couldn't be more in the cards, with the Coyotes allowing the second-most goals per game overall, though they're coming off a 4-1 win in Calgary on Friday.

A top-six role seems assured for Nugent-Hopkins, who had compiled eight goals and 22 assists in 46 games prior to his injury.

D Andrew MacDonald, Flyers (at Panthers)

Likely best known for having such an onerous contract that he's been buried in the minors for much of the season, MacDonald has one bona fide fantasy skill: blocking shots. In 13 NHL games this season, he's registered 37 blocks, including a whopping 10 on Friday in a road win against Tampa Bay.

MacDonald also contributed a power play assist in the victory, and has three points in his last five games, with those assists helping to complement his shot-blocking. He's not an offensive dynamo on the level of teammates Shayne Gostisbehere and Mark Streit, but did have 36 points in 43 AHL games this season, and has significant upside as a low-priced DFS option.