Filling in Your Saturday NHL Lineups
Here are theScore's sample NHL daily fantasy lineups for Saturday, March 12:
Cash Game Without UTIL
| POS | NAME | OPPONENT |
|---|---|---|
| LW | Jeff Skinner (CAR) | at BUF |
| LW | Jonathan Huberdeau (FLA) | vs. PHI |
| RW | Lee Stempniak (BOS) | vs. NYI |
| RW | Nikita Soshnikov (TOR) | at OTT |
| C | Mark Scheifele (WPG) | vs. COL |
| C | Jeff Carter (LA) | vs. NJ |
| D | Drew Doughty (LA) | vs. NJ |
| D | Dion Phaneuf (OTT) | vs. TOR |
| G | Jonathan Quick (LA) | vs. NJ |
Quick is the best bet to return a win against the low-scoring Devils, especially with the red-hot Carter providing offensive support. Soshnikov shoots enough to be a safe selection at his price, and scored against Ottawa a week ago. Stempniak provides exposure to high-powered linemates Brad Marchand and Patrice Bergeron, and has a goal and five assists in his last five games.
GPP Without UTIL
| POS | NAME | OPPONENT |
|---|---|---|
| LW | Alex Ovechkin (WAS) | at SJ |
| LW | Jaden Schwartz (STL) | at DAL |
| RW | Nikita Soshnikov (TOR) | at OTT |
| RW | Mats Zuccarello (NYR) | at DET |
| C | Ryan Nugent-Hopkins (EDM) | vs. ARI |
| C | Jeff Carter (LA) | vs. NJ |
| D | Andrew MacDonald (PHI) | at FLA |
| D | Kevin Connauton (ARI) | at EDM |
| G | Jake Allen (STL) | at DAL |
Fitting in the pricey Ovechkin requires going cheap on defense; Connauton still carries a significant goal threat, while MacDonald blocked 10 shots Friday and has chipped in with three assists in his last five games. Allen should be a decent low-owned option against the Stars. A flier is taken on Nugent-Hopkins, who looks set to return from a lengthy injury absence.
Cash Game With UTIL
| POS | NAME | OPPONENT |
|---|---|---|
| C | Mark Scheifele (WPG) | vs. COL |
| C | Jeff Carter (LA) | vs. NJ |
| W | Nikita Soshnikov (TOR) | at OTT |
| W | Craig Smith (NAS) | at VAN |
| W | Vladimir Tarasenko (STL) | at DAL |
| D | Shea Weber (NAS) | at VAN |
| D | Kris Russell (DAL) | vs. STL |
| G | Jonathan Quick (LA) | vs. NJ |
| UTIL | Mikhail Grigorenko (COL) | at WPG |
Injuries on defense have provided a power play role for Russell on top of his reliable shot blocking; he has two assists and 14 blocks over his last three games. Scheifele has a six-game point streak (six goals, three assists), while Smith has four multi-point efforts in six games.
GPP With UTIL
| POS | NAME | OPPONENT |
|---|---|---|
| C | Charlie Coyle (MIN) | |
| C | Mike Ribeiro (NAS) | at VAN |
| W | Alex Ovechkin (WAS) | at SJ |
| W | Craig Smith (NAS) | at VAN |
| W | Mats Zuccarello (NYR) | at DET |
| D | Brent Burns (SJ) | vs. WAS |
| D | Andrew MacDonald (PHI) | at FLA |
| G | Garret Sparks (TOR) | at OTT |
| UTIL | Marko Dano (WPG) | vs. COL |
Fitting in both Ovechkin and Burns requires cheaper selections elsewhere, namely with Sparks and budget forward options like Dano, Coyle and Ribeiro. Zuccarello could benefit from the return of Rick Nash to the Rangers' lineup, and had a goal and two assists in his most recent outing.